The Thief of Joy aka Comparison

16x20 Back Staples Canvas 

Acrylic paints, gloss varnish 

Black, metallic green, tan, and white 

Story Behind the Piece 

I needed to take a break from Art.
I was stuck in a rut.
It seemed like nothing I painted was good enough.
I would spend hours painting, finish my piece look at it and scrape the canvas.
This cycle was endless until I got to the point where I just didn’t paint.
Sooo I would spend hours watching videos, scrolling through art pages and feel inspired but hadn’t gotten up enough courage to actually paint because I was scared.
What if I mess up again?
What if I try this and I fail?
How come all these other artist can do this but I can’t?
Am I an artist?
Am I creative?
These are some of the things I would say to and question myself about.
What is the real problem? I asked myself repeatedly.
COMPARISON!
I was looking at all these other great artist and comparing my art to theirs.
I was going in with another artist work in mind and was disappointed when mine didn’t look like their’s...
That’s when the light bulb 💡 clicked on!
I have to paint like me!
I have to dig into my style!
I have to tap into emotions!
What is my heart saying?!
I have pour that onto the canvas.
I have to go in with a clear mind but keeping value, color, composition and balance in mind but being free in MY art!
Out of that Epiphany I put on my headphones, gather my supplies and “The Thief of Joy” was created.
I dug deep into my emotions.
Expressing what I had been feeling over the last few weeks and out came the monster who had been robbing me of my joy!

*Note: This piece was created in landscape it wasn’t until I turned it portrait that the green with envy one eyed thief was revealed.