An Artist's Process

Zorro photobombs my shot of the painting, “Kentucky Gorge” in his effortlessly glamorous way

I can be very protective of my process.

I realized this in high school when a classmate stole my sketchbook to look through it, and I nearly clawed her eyes out, leaping across the table to get it back.

Letting people in on my process is something I'm actively working on. I'm not fully comfortable showing people the imperfect sides of myself yet, and that includes my art. 

If someone sees my work halfway done, I'm afraid that they'll judge the way it looks, that they won't be able to see its potential like I can. I've been so worried that their doubt will seep into me and make me stop believing in my own process.

A still from the time lapse video of my largest landscape painting to date, “Kentucky Gorge”

I've come to realize that this is just anxiety manifested. That if people are like me, they'll enjoy seeing the process, they'll enjoy being a part of the journey. 

So with all of this in mind, I made my first ever time-lapse video of my artistic process. Here you can see that initial sketch I would've attacked you for. You can see the work at its half-way point, far from perfect. You can see my indecision and my revision. You can see me. 

(And let’s be honest, more imporantly, you can see the real scene-stealer, Zorro)

I hope you enjoy! There will certainly be more to come. 

THE FINISHED PIECE

The finished painting, available in the Shop. “Kentucky Gorge,” acrylic, 30” x 48”