I put my mind to finishing Main Street II yesterday. You get in that groove where everything goes clickety-clack smooth and all problems become trivial and melt away. You know that groove? 12 hours yesterday and back at it again today, all day. But–sigh–it’s not to be. I’m tired, that is, mentally exhausted, and the figure on the right needs more work. Not a lot but but not a toss-off either; I need to be sharp.
Have you heard of kopophobia? It’s the fear of being mentally or physically exhausted. Sometimes I think I have that. When I screw up a painting, it’s often due to pushing past exhaustion. I’ve learned to occupy myself with physical activity when I’m mentally exhausted, such as stretching canvases, or putting grounds on them, or working around the house.
Most of the time when I’m painting, it’s relaxing, or maybe a better word is refreshing, and I can’t bear to stop. But sometimes it’s exhausting. I don’t play an instrument, but I imagine painting is akin to playing an instrument. After a concert, the musicians must be exhausted and need to recharge their batteries. That’s how I am this afternoon. I need to recharge. Maybe I’ll cut the grass.