-The Cycle of Applying Gained Knowledge-

      Application of acquired knowledge is the most fun you can have and the fastest way to progress.   Like in many situations and fields, to be successful means to maintain a harmony.  
         So Why do you always hear about the tortured artist?  It's because artists get caught up in the cycle of learning and applying.  As artists progress, the weight of acquiring knowledge tends to outweigh the application of knowledge.  It is really easy to fall under the spell of staring at gorgeous paintings by great painters and then think to yourself, "I'll never be able to paint like that."  Well, you are right if you continue staring down the long road of master painters who all decided to pick up the brush at some point.  And those artists in the museums that you love looking at---they picked up the brush everyday and made bad paintings.  But you have to learn to balance the bad with the good.  To spend time thinking and time doing.  One cannot exist without the other.
      Read the color charts, and then put them away because the cycle of knowledge versus application needs to be like a swing going back and forth.  Going back and gaining knowledge and going forward with the brush.  After you read this, do a drawing-- then read some more and draw some more.

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