How to use the right brain state to improve creativity

We achieve a right brain state when we shut off conscious thought and do what seems to come instinctively. Most artists who paint abstract make use of this technique, so if you want to go a little more abstract you need to get into a right brain state of thinking.

This goes against conventional advise as it means when we are painting we are not constantly thinking of every mark we make. We just let the painting process flow and see what comes out.  If nothing else it is a fun way of working and I feel there is more energy in the paintings. Sometimes it can feel like the art makes itself, or reveals itself on the canvas.

Many artists work like this - it is a much less rigid way of painting. I find listening to music or a podcast helps. I never work from photographs and my landscapes and seascapes are not paintings of an exact location - it is the feeling of the beach or the meadow that I want to get onto the canvas, not the geography, so working in this more free and less constricting way helps my work.

One word of caution - it is sometimes difficult to know when a painting is finished and we must stop before we over-paint it. Take a step back and analyse your work - this is one area where you need to think about the next step. 

I now have 8 paintings which are all still unfinished, but look promising. I am hoping to launch a new collection soon of small landscapes. I don’t usually show my works in progress, but have  posted one here. Let me know what you think.