The OOPS! Box
What happens when you have worked on something and it has gotten to a place where you decide it’s super ugly and ready for the cylindrical file? In my art classes students are NOT allowed to trash their work because they don’t like it. Does that make me a mean teacher? I don’t think so.
As artists we come up with ideas and try to execute them. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not. I find I usually get to a place where I have to stop and let the work rest. I revisit it later and revise and edit where needed. This could be just a few changes or I might even gesso over the entire thing.
Here’s how it goes in my class:
I explain the Number One Rule - We don’t throw out our art work or art supplies!
I read them the “Beautiful OOPS” book by Barney Saltzberg.
I explain that I expect them to work through the “ugly” stage and not give up.
If all else fails, and they have really tried, they are free to put their work in the OOPS! Box. (A box that contains rejected work used for collage)
How about you? Do you have a pile of artwork you aren’t happy with? Guess what you are in the ugly phase! It’s time to revisit and revise.
Check out this video by Patty Palmer! She has a lot of great content on Youtube that I find very inspiring and useful!