Creative advice from Smokey Robinson

Among the Grasses, 30"x30," Oil on panel, ©Lynn Goldstein, more info here​​

Sometimes a painting is completed in what feels like minutes. The art seems to simply drip off my brushes almost fully formed. When this happens I feel as if I have been handed a gift from the gods. More often,  a painting takes bloody forever, which makes me wonder how I ever thought that I could do this thing called art-making. The piece may sit for days, weeks, and months before I bring it to the finish line. 

The painting above is an example of a painting that took forever, and went through many iterations. Check out the way it used to look before I altered it below. 

What does this have to do with advice from Smokey Robinson? Read on....

My love of music led me to a  terrific book entitled, Smokey Robinson: Grateful and Blessed, narrated by the great songwriter himself. What joyful listening! I highly recommend it. 

I was riveted hearing Mr. Robinson discuss his creative process, and was particularly interested when he said that it took five years to come up with the lyrics for Cruisin,' while it took five minutes to write the words to Shop Around. Hearing this, I realized that if someone as creative and impressive as Smokey Robinson can take his time writing the words to a song, then, by golly, I will simply embrace the time that it takes for me to complete a painting no matter how long  the process lasts! 

So, the advice I received from Smokey Robinson? He didn't say this, but I am going to extrapolate from his experience to relax into the process and enjoy the ride. Hope this helps you if you are a fellow artist.  If you are not an artist, I hope what I have written helps you to understand part of the creative process. 

Among the Grasses, progress being made. I kept looking at this in a thumbnail view
and I didn't like the tree on the right. Changes had to be made. ​

Among the Grasses before I made changes

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