Doubt Revisited

I wrote a post three years ago about doubt (see December 30th 2013). For most artists some doubt regarding their work is unavoidable and even desirable. But I have always viewed self doubt as a lack of confidence and therefore a character flaw. That is until I came across this quote by Henry James: "We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art."

Female Nude, oil pastel on toned paper, 10 1/2" X 9", 2016

I am currently going through an uncertain period with my painting. To say that I have doubts relating to multiple aspects of my work would be an understatement. Before reading James I would have been doing some major hand wringing right about now. But what a comforting option he has given me.