Finding Joy and Creative Possibility in Unfinished Work

Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

Do you often feel guilty or frustrated when you see a piece of unfinished art in your studio? Instead of seeing that as proof of something wrong with you or your art practice, let’s transform your relationship with your works-in-progress and unlock new (and often overlooked) possibilities!

In this episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast, learn how unfinished work holds the key to your next creative breakthrough. I explore the various types of incomplete pieces and the emotional baggage attached to them, how to overcome the self-criticism surrounding unfinished work, how to know when it’s time to release your hold on partly-done artwork, as well as advocate for embracing the untapped potential of unfinished art as part of creating a positive practice.

1:39 – How I tend to categorize unfinished work
5:05 – Internal and external reasons for leaving paintings unfinished

6:58 – Common negative thoughts about unfinished work and my philosophy for creating a positive art practice
13:05 – How to embrace the idea of letting go of a painting without feeling like a quitter

19:42 – Other ways you can utilize unfinished paintings

23:58 – How to know when it’s time to let go of a piece of incomplete artwork

28:47 – What trusting in your creative process and the potential of unfinished paintings offer you

Mentioned in Finding Joy and Creative Possibility in Unfinished Work

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Chapters

1. Finding Joy and Creative Possibility in Unfinished Work (00:00:00)

2. How I tend to categorize unfinished work (00:01:39)

3. Internal and external reasons for leaving paintings unfinished (00:05:05)

4. Common negative thoughts about unfinished work and my philosophy for creating a positive art practice (00:06:58)

5. How to embrace the idea of letting go of a painting without feeling like a quitter (00:13:05)

6. Other ways you can utilize unfinished paintings (00:19:42)

7. How to know when it’s time to let go of a piece of incomplete artwork (00:23:58)

8. What trusting in your creative process and the potential of unfinished paintings offer you (00:28:47)