Learning to watch and look, observe, see.  And yes: learning to paint. Once you make progress and grow, then you learn. And I would love to see in my own paintings just that little sparkle of universe, of life, of amazement. I hope you do too. After all; painting is a lonely job where one can think a lot, and listen to documentaries or music. Mostly I listen to silence.  But to keep a positive eye and intensity going, that’s where progress lies. It is all too easy to get sucked in repetitive thoughts.

Learning to be amazed, and stay amazed is not to be done on automatic pilot. The capability of using childlike amazement is one of my joys and also goals in my works in progress. Joy and dedication sometimes blend into passion, and that is where surprises happen.

Sometimes it’s hard to decide when a painting is done; more often than not I fill nooks and crannies afterwards. Knowing when to stop is useful, but I have to discipline myself. Edgar Degas said: Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things.