Thanks so much Michele! And yes, that damn ugly stage!! At least with experience, we know what it is and can push through it rather than giving up (even though sometimes I still feel like doing that!!).
And yes, totally agree about deadlines and limited time factor – soooo useful and motivating!

Thanks Susan! Good for you pushing through the ugly stage and any stumbling blocks. Work can be resolved if you push through and take the time to look at it (and time away from it). It also helps to look to advice from others (as you have done with me – thank you!). I have been impressed by your tenacity and applaud your efforts to bring your work to a successful place.

HI Gail
I totally empathize with you… For the past two paintings (as you have recalled, my soda boy portrait) and the one that I have just finished (Gotta Tango), I hit the stumbling block/ ugly stages and there were times that I just wanted to give up. But, pushing through helped! Just keep trying different things till they work! The soda boy has become one of many people’s favorites and I am pretty pleased with the tango piece so far. I think for the past 6 years of painting pastel, there has been only one painting that I had given up and discarded:).
Susan

Many thanks Cliff! You made me laugh with your comment about relating to painting everything ‘correctly’!

Oh my gosh Curtis you are so right about a set up for a fall. And you are by no means alone! Perhaps best if you can ask, “What will I learn in this next piece?” Or perhaps “The next piece I’ll try this [insert some experiment with colour or line or intensity or subject or…].

Painting possibilities are everywhere Patricia but sometimes it does take a bit of digging to see them.
And try to paint just for you!!

MaryLee thanks for sharing your own ugly stage. What you describe about building over an inaccurate drawing would be incredibly frustrating especially when it’s something like a face or a building where correctness matters. Let us know how your promise to slow down goes!

Pushing through can really test you but think of the ugly stage as the first draft. I know all the great pieces of literature didn’t emerge fully formed as we read them! So go ahead and paint on Jane