When the painting isn't working

Ever sit down to paint, and it comes so easy you can't believe it? I wish that happened every time I paint, but those sessions seem to be the exception rather than the norm. And, when a painting isn't working, the only thing to do is wipe it out. Prolonging the inevitable is torture, and trying to fix  a painting gone wrong isn't gonna make it any better, ever.

I tell myself that the process is more important than the outcome, that I learn something every time I paint, and I paint everyday. Even after all the years I've painted, I know that progress is a life-long journey and the longer one paints, the steeper and slower the learning curve.

Humans, well animals too, respond to intermittent, positive reinforcement. This is why a trip to Vegas can wipe out your checking account. So, the times when painting is HARD and doesn't come easily, we persevere because of the times when it does work.

I also know that if I don't paint everyday, I'm not going to get better. Don't beat yourself up if a painting isn't working. Know that the subconscious remembers everything and that knowledge and experience will work for you in the next one.

I would love to know what other painters feel about this topic.
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