When to Think & When NOT to Think with Jacqueline Sullivan

Intuitive painting doesn't mean no thinking. Jacqueline Sullivan (Ep.91) says it just means be careful WHERE you're thinking.

We have this idea of an intuitive painter spending a whole painting purely reacting, reacting, reacting.

But Sullivan encourages students to step back and look at their work. When you do, you are more able to do something incredibly important to abstraction: Make a clear decision.

Once you have that clear intent, head back into the painting and do it.

Put it to Practice

This sounds simple on paper but it takes some practice.

As artists we have a tendency to try to do all the things at the same time.

But each single decision will lead to the next decision. It's a winding line not a pile.

So if you find that you're struggling with a piece, check in with your pace.

Make sure that you are creating room to step back from the piece and really LOOK at it. Get really clear on a single thing you can do NEXT.

This may take a little bit of thinking to figure out. This part isn’t always fast.

Then once you have an idea on what to try next, turn off the thinking and head back into the painting to see where that choice leads.