Artists & Illustrators — June 2017

76 Artists & Illustrators

6

TAKE A BREAK

When was the last time you took a break? I try to take a

mini-break every 15 minutes or so when working. The purpose

of this two-minute pause is to stop you overworking the piece and

help you look at your painting or drawing in a more critical way when

you return. It is one of the greatest attributes of producing art that,

when you are so engrossed into the process, you forget everything

around you. It is also, however, during these absorbed moments that

you can often overwork and forget to look critically at your painting.

Taking a short break and distracting your brain by looking at

something else – for example, a page of a book or a different artwork

• means that when you return again to what you were working on,
  you should be able to see more clearly what works and what needs
  more attention.
  Peter runs a programme of art courses at the National Trust’s Claydon
  Estate. http://www.peterkeegan.com

74 Peter Keegan.indd 76 06/04/2017 16:24