Here are the ten phases of painting, at least in my book:

•  Enthusiasm - Defined as the stage when I have selected an image and can just picture it in my head how it will turn out. I can't wait to start the new project and tend to dive in head first, almost before cleaning my last pallet.
• Optimism - The drawings look good and I've got it transferred to the canvas and have blocked in the color. Everything is going swimmingly and I lose myself in the project.
• Fear - Suddenly something looks off. The more I try to resolve the issue the worse it seems to get.
•  Avoidance - Every time I walk past my studio I wince in pain at the...
•  Loss - Of all of my previous enthusiasm and optimism. I find excuses not to paint. This is when a good deal of housework gets done. Even brass gets polished.
•  Resolve - Gritting my teeth I convince myself I can fix this and move ahead.
•  Despair - Prior fears get the best of me and I start doubting the whole thing.
•  Distance - I start looking at it from 20 feet away and, hmmm, it doesn't look half bad. I check it out in the morning as I head down for my coffee and again at night before I go  
•  Renewal - I take a "to hell with it" attitude and forge ahead. Inevitably the background gets finished and things begin to look good. I add highlights and deepen shadows and I squeak through to...
•  Ta da! It all falls into place and I come to love the thing that a few days ago was a hopeless mess.

Such is the life cycle of a painting. I named this one Relativity because time seemed to have stood still during its completion. If I hadn't been tracking my hours at the easel I would have sworn it took me weeks and weeks to finish. It didn't...it was a relatively quick finish. The pain and agony are forgotten and I start thinking, mmm, maybe I should start painting people again.

Painting: Relativity © Lissa Banks 2018