Blog

The other day an onlooker was watching me paint and made the comment “That must be so relaxing.” I smiled and nodded politely, but inside I was thinking ‘You have obviously never painted before.’ I guess people assume that because they get a relaxing feeling from looking at a painting, the experience of painting it must also be relaxing.

I can only speak for myself, but I would not describe the painting process as particularly relaxing. For me it takes energy, focus, commitment, and no small amount of mental effort. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it immensely, but I enjoy it in the same way as I have enjoyed playing sports… The satisfaction comes from the process of learning and growing and gradually developing higher and higher degrees of mastery. And just like in sports, the day-to-day experience can range from exhilarating to downright miserable. So yes, there are days when painting can be relaxing, but I don’t think it’s in the same way the nice lady on the street had in mind.