The "White"

There it is....that dreaded blank blank blank white sheet of paper. What now?

When faced with that blank sheet, many people feel blank themselves. What to do? How to get started? How to leap that chasm of stark white blankness and land on the other side with shape, form and color? Every artist since the beginning of time, amateur or professional, has faced the dilemma:
How does ART start?

What is it about the blank white paper that can be so daunting?

Today as I worked with an art therapy client, the tension of filling in the "white" surfaced. It seemed like an overwhelming task and she verbalized her concern that it would take a lot of time.

I wondered, can you give yourself permission to spend the time?

What to create? She began with lines and switched colors. When sharing her art, she discussed the continuous dialogue that was going on in her head about what was appearing, and was it okay. Her inner critic was active! How do you silence the inner critic? Or is it possible to work with it? What do you think?

My favorite quote by Vincent Van Gogh:

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."