Dear Artist,
All my life I’ve been trying to figure out ways to improve my painting. That includes study of the work of those I consider masters, trying to get the hang of their ideas, techniques and processes, and, on my own part, simple, garden-variety toil. Over the past twenty years or so, I’ve built up a word list that has been gradually added to and subtracted from. At one point the words actually added up to 365. I called them “Keys.” They could be both negative and positive. They might be everyday common sense and they might be personal preferences. They pop up mainly while painting, afterwards when vetting my work, and often when I’m walking in the woods with Dorothy. These words remind me where I am, what pitfalls I’ve fallen into on previous occasions, what I am doing wrong right now and, from time to time, what I might be doing right.
Daffodil, Tulip and Hyacinth, 2018
Oil on board
35 x 28 cm
by Serena Rowe (b. 1977)
You may have heard of the concept of “name it and claim it.” When you identify something that’s going on — a method, a technique, an attitude — and put a name to it, a natural human tendency is to hang on to it and to more readily make it your own. Naming often nails down a situation. In my occasional forays into mentoring and workshopping, I also found myself encouraging painters to build lists for themselves — lists that might reflect their own techniques and tastes. Inevitably, I had to explain some items in my own list.
An alphabetical list that might encourage thought and the building of your own lists can be found after the letter. You might find some on my list to be self-contradictory, but that’s the nature of the beast. While anyone can paint, it’s difficult to paint well. If it were easy to paint well, perhaps everyone would be doing it. Our work is also complicated by the fact that we often don’t know what glue we’re in until we’re already into it. A life in art seems to be forever a work in progress. If you catch my drift, you may find that your own words and phrases will pop up and down like a whack-a-mole. As the lady said, “How do I know what I think until I hear what I say?”
Dahlia, Dahlia, Gladioli 2019
Oil on board
60.5 x 46 cm
by Serena Rowe
Best regards,
Robert
PS: “My own words take me by surprise and teach me what to think.” (French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, 1908-1961)
Esoterica: I recently printed out and ran my list past a group of artists in a two-hour Q and A. The participants seemed to be stimulated, and some great discussions arose. Some participants have continued to fire off input by email. Without completely throwing away the mystery of it all, I’ve added a short explanation after each key. “A word,” said Ludwig Wittgenstein, “is a struck note on the keyboard of the imagination.” It’s my sincere wish that your imagination might at least be teased. It’s also my hope that from my list you get a few ideas for your own list.
Reaching, 2021
Oil on board
59 x 41.5 cm
by Serena Rowe
365 Words and Phrases
Abstract core — abstraction strengthening realism
Activation — magic spots that direct the eye
Arial perspective — going back easy
Art schooly — some march to a different drum
Avoidance activity — the thief of productivity
Bee-action — brushwork like a bee at flowers
Big picture — broad design trumps fiddling
Blocked — some artists simply are
Box canyon — places you can’t get out of
Bravura — confident, flamboyant brushwork
Broom and whisk — brush size for style
Butterfly mind — your key to imagination
Chair and feet — hat on and how you work
Chiaroscuro — form by light and shade
Cigar time — civilized, reflective self-crit
Circulation — moving the eye around a work
Clientosis — too much attention to customer
Colour surprise — unexpected pictorial focus
Coming to light — basic principle of life
Commit and correct — a creative principle
Condition — What’s happening in there?
Constipation — creative tightening up
Counterpoint — the secondary leitmotif
Defocus — softening up for mystique
Desire — the world’s greatest power
Distractive creativity — gifted subconscious flow
Edgemanship — know your edges
Educosis — work blinded by education
Ego-force — the power that billows your sails
Eye control — management of the viewer’s eyes
Faxification — imited range of tonal values
Flow — automatic right-brain painting
Focus — here’s the climax?
Form — when all else fails
Glaze down — toning a painting for mother colour
Grace notes — extra nuances for added interest
Gradations and flats — main ways of treating areas
Grey power — sophisticated, delicious neutrals
Guilt — the thief of power
Half-closed eyes — the way to really see
Hard and soft — the two buddies of joy
Homeostasis — the creeping crime of equality
Horizontality — the alpha of back and forth
Infectious dilettantism — good enough is okay
Interlocking patterns — hidden design strength
Iron will — the power to overcome
Joy stroke — where visual happiness prevails
Kitch and callow — beginner’s potholes
Leave out — subtraction as creative ploy
Leave out a primary — a winning colour device
Limited palette — less is more
Literary entrapment — the “red” barn
Lost and found — the music of disappearances
Low expectations — aim low and hit the mark
Magic hour — a great time to paint
Mishmash — a work of too many subjects
Mother colour — chosen colour pervading all
Nap time — the shut down that reboots
Overworking — the boo-boo of perfectionists
Painterly senility — watch for it as you age
Paucity — absence of; key to pictorial charm
Photographosis — photo dependence; it shows
Pink focus — noses and elbows; a convention
Plein air cure — the advent of authenticity
Point system — every work has its points
Pomodoro — the tomato of time
Pump priming — methods of getting started
Put more into it — adding without cluttering
Rebrushification — change brushes; often up
Reflected light — the gentle lift that reads
Scumble — dragging a lighter colour over
Secondary easel — a change of personality
Squeeze out — first thing in the morning
Stringy and thready — a terminal danger
Studiothrombosis — art and you can die of this
Style alert — triggering the advent of style
Surface quality — the work you love to cruise
Syncopation — boogie-woogie energy
Syntagma — similar forms montaging
Talk back — let the painting speak to you
Three four five — stepping back well into
Three sixty — rotate your view
Time inversion — slow work that looks quick
Toil — the professional’s secret weapon
Too one two — a simplistic work
Toolitis — the reliance on tools
Verticality — the power of up and down
Volume — the benefits of making many
What could be? — the golden question
Zips and flourishes — Final focus fun
Black Petunia, 2021
Oil on board
40 x 55 cm
by Serena Rowe
This letter was originally published as “365 words and phrases” on October 11, 2013.
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“A word after a word after a word is power.” (Margaret Atwood)
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84 Comments
Interesting, I could relate to several. Thank you Sara. As I read I was wondering to myself if your dad had formal art education? A post with insight on him would be interesting to many, I think.
I was just thinking this morning before I read this of the word “ambiguous.”
Two that resonate the most with me these days are ‘box canyon’, where I find myself frequently, and ‘grace note’, which often gets me out of the box canyon…
This is so refreshing! Just the idea of effectively expanding your vocabulary is worthy of attention.
It really should be ‘trending’, but unfortunately the opposite seems to be the case.
We seem to be living in a time when the Journalism, Marketing and Politician communities have reduced their vocabularies to a bare minimum while constantly employing an ever-increasingly irritating group of ‘generic’ terms to describe or respond to whatever topic may be at hand. It shows an appalling lack of imagination. And articulation.
Politicians, and others, for example, now appear to have only two possible choices of words to describe their feelings about absolutely everything. They are either “disappointed” or they are “excited”. That’s it. Disappointed or excited.
Meanwhile, the latest word to appear in every conceivable setting from the weather to the pandemic to policy? Impact. The days of ‘consequences’ or being ‘affected’ are evidently over. We now have ‘impacted’ and ‘impactful’. Here’s my list of words and terms that all appear constantly, despite their being vague, meaningless or just wrong……
Going forward. Moving forward. Loved ones. Family and friends. Friends and family. Iconic. Epic. And yes…Canadians.
And “That’s a great question!” Every time anyone asks a question of a politician, panelist, or whomever, that’s the response. Really? Are they all GREAT questions?
The words that make me smile are those ending with with “itis” and “osis”…implying that there may be cure for these if we stay true to ourselves and practice opening doors of painting using these and our own “painter’s keys.” One of mine is Emotionality – be sensitivity and passionate at the same time. Thank you for this letter.
Nap time — the shut down that reboots
for me it is
Bath Time—the shut down that reboots
I couldn’t possibly expand on this list. Love them all, they go from wise to practical to inspiring, to down right chuckle worthy… like “rebrushification”.. hahahahaha Love it!
Meanwhile, the latest word to appear in every conceivable setting from the weather to the pandemic to policy? Impact. The days of ‘consequences’ or being ‘affected’ are evidently over. We now have ‘impacted’ and ‘impactful’. Here’s my list of words and terms that all appear constantly, despite their being vague, meaningless or just wrong……
Fantastic letter, very impactful.
I am thankful to you for providing both the information and the ideas that I requested. I will make an attempt to comprehend it more completely so that I may proceed.
It would appear that politicians and other individuals, for example, have only two alternative words to choose from when attempting to express their emotions over everything and everything. Depending on the situation, they are either “disappointed” or “excited.” And that’s it. Either dissatisfied or optimistic.
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Thank you for sharing this list of so many beautiful words! Pomodoro is my favorite one (both word and food)! :)
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This article on creative prompts is truly inspiring! It’s fascinating how seemingly simple concepts like the Pomodoro technique or exploring reflected light can unlock new artistic pathways. I especially appreciated the reminder about avoiding Studiothrombosis; taking breaks is crucial. papa’s games need rest too! Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderfully thoughtful collection of ‘Keys’—each word feels like a gentle nudge back to creativity, technique, and self-discovery. The concept of naming those painting quirks and traps is truly inspiring. If this post had a profile, it certainly wouldn’t be некрасивый профиль—it’s rich, meaningful, and beautifully crafted.
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Thank you very much! More power
I also found myself encouraging painters to build lists for themselves — lists that might reflect their own techniques and tastes. Inevitably, I had to explain some items in my own list the baby in yellow free.
Thank you so much! Wishing you continued success!
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I deeply appreciate you sharing that with me; your input is genuinely valuable and helps me immensely. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort!
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This is a beautifully reflective piece on the lifelong process of learning, self-awareness, and refinement in art. The idea of using “keys” as reminders feels both practical and deeply personal much like how a Naples Chiropractor focuses on mindful adjustments over time to support balance, alignment, and continued progress rather than a single, quick fix.
Seeing the list of 365 words, I felt inspired. It’s like TextideoAI turns ideas into viral content, and Robert’s words do the same for art. While sipping coffee, I thought, could I create my own list? It’s a bit challenging but exciting.
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This is a beautifully reflective piece that captures the lifelong journey of learning, self-awareness, and artistic refinement.
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The 365 words list is quite intriguing. I found myself nodding along with entries like butterfly mind and bravura, feeling like I was walking in the woods with Dorothy. It’s like a casual chat over coffee, making you wonder how these words will shape your next painting session.
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I love the idea of a personal keyword list for creative focus. It reminds me of how naming a style can help you own it.
It’s an amazing article providing valuable insights, keep doing the great work.
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I also found myself encouraging painters to create their own lists—ones that reflect their individual techniques and personal tastes. Inevitably, I had to clarify a few items from my own list as well.
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I wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you for this post. I’ve been struggling to wrap my head around this specific topic for a while, but your explanation finally made it click for me. The way you broke everything down was incredibly clear and easy to follow. It’s rare to find content that is both technical and accessible, so I really appreciate the effort you put into this. Keep up the great work!
This is honestly one of the most helpful articles I’ve read on this subject in a long time. You managed to cover all the important details without making it feel overwhelming, which is a hard balance to strike. I’ve actually bookmarked this page so I can come back and reference it later when I need a refresher. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us—it saved me a lot of research time!
I’m new to painting, but the idea of keeping a personal list of “keys” to reflect on techniques and habits sounds like a great way to grow over time. Seeing works like Daffodil, Tulip and Hyacinth by Serena Rowe also reminds me how much patience and self-reflection art requires. That steady improvement feels similar to fnf where the Boyfriend keeps battling new opponents to prove himself and win the heart of Girlfriend.
This really resonated with me. The idea of building a personal list of “Keys”—both positive and negative—over decades of practice is such a powerful concept. It’s a reminder that growth is a slow, deliberate accumulation of insights, not just a single breakthrough. As someone who works with character design, I’ve started my own list of visual and narrative “keys” that help me push past creative blocks.
Your point about the list being a mix of “everyday common sense” and deeper principles is spot on. Sometimes the simplest reminder is the most powerful tool. I find a similar process helps when I’m using an original character creator; having a mental checklist of core traits, conflicts, and visual motifs makes the creative flow so much smoother. Thanks for sharing this wonderful approach.
This really resonated with me. The idea of building a personal list of “Keys”—words that can be both positive and negative reminders—is such a practical and profound tool. It’s a form of deliberate practice that goes beyond simple toil, which you mentioned. It reminds me of how we approach strategy in the games I enjoy; you have to internalize core concepts before they become second nature.
I run a site where we try to do something similar, breaking down complex game mechanics into essential guides and principles for players. It’s a constant process of refinement, much like your word list. If you’re ever curious about that kind of applied learning in a different context, we have a ton of resources at our Anime Tactical Simulator wiki. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful process—it’s inspiring for any creative or analytical endeavor.
This really resonated with me. I love the idea of a curated, evolving list of “Keys” to guide your practice. It’s so much more personal and effective than just following generic advice. It reminds me of how I approach other interests, like gaming. For instance, when I’m trying to master a game’s mechanics, I find that having a central, well-organized resource for strategies and updates is invaluable. It’s similar to your word list—a personal toolkit. I often rely on a clean hub for current King Legacy codes and fruit guides to streamline that process. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful approach to creative growth.
Robert, your list is a treasure trove. I particularly resonated with “Plein air cure” and how getting out into the world reboots the creative system. I’ve been exploring how different geographical locations impact my own creative “flow”—it’s fascinating how some cities seem to unlock a specific kind of “Bravura” while others lead to “Studiothrombosis.” I recently used an Astrocartography Chart to map out my personal creative hotspots, and the alignment between my past travels and these energy lines was uncanny. It’s a great tool for anyone feeling “Blocked” and looking for a change of scenery.
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The idea of curating a word list that gradually reaches 365 entries really resonates with me—it reminds me of building vocabulary in any craft, where each term becomes a building block for better work. I appreciate how the artist emphasizes both studying masters and putting in deliberate practice, which aligns with what makes tools like this tool valuable for tracking and refining one’s creative process over time.
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This is genuinely one of the most useful articles I’ve come across on this topic in quite a while. It covers all the key points thoroughly without feeling overwhelming, which isn’t easy to achieve. I’ve even bookmarked it so I can revisit it whenever I need a quick refresher. Thanks for sharing your knowledge—it really saved me a lot of time and effort!
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It’s fascinating that you spent twenty years curating a list of 365 words and phrases — that kind of intentional vocabulary building must translate directly to more precise, confident brushwork. I’ve been pairing traditional painting practice with tools like this resource to generate 3D references that speed up my own study of form and light.
This is such a comprehensive collection of words and phrases — incredibly useful for anyone looking to expand their vocabulary and communication skills. I found myself bookmarking several entries to revisit later, especially for professional writing. For creative professionals seeking new tools, ai-3d-model-generator.com offers excellent 3D model generation that pairs well with detailed visual storytelling. Thank you for putting this together! I also found ai-3d-model-generator.com really helpful.
Building a personalized vocabulary list over decades really shows how intentional study shapes artistic growth; I’ve found that the Fruit Love Island tool helps me organize reference phrases the same way, making it easier to revisit key ideas while I paint.
Building a curated word list over twenty years is a smart way to systematize artistic growth, and it’s a reminder that progress often comes from tracking the language we use to describe our craft. That kind of structured reflection is exactly why I’m a regular visitor to samaudiolab.com for insights on refining both technical skill and creative voice.
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The concept of “Plein air cure” really hit home for me. Robert mentioned how getting out into the woods with Dorothy helps reboot the creative system. I’ve personally found that it’s not just about being outdoors, but where specifically we are that shifts our perspective. Sometimes a different city or a specific coastline can unlock a sense of “Bravura” that felt stuck back home. I’ve been using tools like an Astrocartography Chart to figure out which locations naturally align with my creative flow, and the results have been eerily accurate for my last two retreats.
This exploration of artistic vocabulary is fascinating, and while these “Keys” are excellent prompts for painters, I wonder if a similar structured approach to visual generation, like what’s offered by seedance 2.0, could offer artists new avenues for discovering these very same “words.” It’s inspiring to see how naming and categorizing aspects of the creative process can be so powerful.
This artist’s approach to building a personal vocabulary for painting is brilliant, and I found myself particularly drawn to the idea of “naming and claiming” creative moments, much like how one might personalize their expressive zalo style sticker; it’s a fascinating parallel in finding precise language for abstract concepts.
Love the unique selection of words here! They really encapsulate different emotions in art. Also, have you considered how language shapes our perception of creativity? It’s fascinating!
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The idea of using a curated list of “Keys” to vet your own creative output is such a fascinating way to bridge the gap between intuition and technical discipline. It reminds me of how we use specific symbols to ground ourselves in meaning; for instance, I often look at Tattoo Meanings to find the right terminology for a concept before it’s even visualized. Your process of adding and subtracting words over twenty years suggests that your “vocabulary” of mistakes and successes is actually a living, breathing part of your studio practice. I’ve found that having those specific, non-negotiable descriptors—whether they are about light, composition, or emotional weight—prevents that “aimless” feeling when you’re halfway through a piece and lose your direction. Do you find that these words ever conflict with each other during a single session, or do they generally work in harmony to guide the brush?
The idea of having a personal “word list” to vet your own work is such a fascinating way to bridge the gap between intuition and technical execution. I particularly liked your point about how these keys can be both positive and negative; it’s easy to focus only on what we are doing wrong, but using specific vocabulary to recognize what is actually working can be just as vital for growth. I often find myself doing something similar when I’m analyzing spatial compositions or color palettes. I actually found a similar perspective on AI Interior Lab that complements this well, especially regarding how specific descriptors help refine a visual vision. It’s almost like building a mental compass that prevents you from getting lost in the “toil” you mentioned. Do you find that these words change as your style evolves, or do the core “keys” stay relatively consistent over the decades?
The idea of using a curated list of “Keys” to audit your own creative process is such a practical way to handle the self-doubt that inevitably creeps in during a long project. I particularly resonated with the mention of these words popping up during walks in the woods; it’s often in those moments of idle movement, away from the canvas, that the subconscious finally sorts through the technical mess we’ve made. I’ve found that having a vocabulary for my mistakes helps prevent them from feeling like failures and instead turns them into specific technical hurdles to clear. It reminds me of how I use pattern recognition when I’m playing Mahjong Solitaire CC to stay focused on the larger structure rather than getting lost in individual tiles. Do you find that your list has shifted significantly in tone over the last twenty years, or do the core “positive” keys remain relatively constant even as your technique evolves?
The idea of using a curated list of “Keys” to navigate the pitfalls of the creative process is such a practical way to approach self-correction. I particularly resonated with the notion that these words surface during mundane moments, like walking in the woods, rather than just while sitting at the easel. It suggests that our subconscious is constantly processing technique and intent even when we aren’t actively working. I’ve tried to implement similar reflective habits to track my own progress, and I found a similar perspective on OrbitDash that complements this well regarding how structured feedback can sharpen focus. Do you find that these words change as your style evolves, or do the core “Keys” remain relatively constant throughout your twenty years of painting? It seems like a living document that grows alongside the artist.
The idea of using a specific vocabulary to audit your own creative process is fascinating, especially the way you mention these “Keys” appearing during mundane moments like walking in the woods. It suggests that the subconscious is constantly processing technical decisions even when we aren’t standing in front of a canvas. I’ve often found that labeling a specific feeling or error helps prevent it from becoming a permanent habit. I actually stumbled upon a similar approach to tracking personal progress and patterns on OrbitDash that helped me stay more mindful of my own repetitive tendencies. Do you find that your list has become more abstract over the years, or do you still rely heavily on concrete, technical terms to guide your hand? It seems like a wonderful way to bridge the gap between instinct and intentionality.
The idea of using a curated list of “Keys” to navigate the creative process is such a fascinating way to bridge the gap between technical skill and intuition. I particularly resonated with the mention of how these words pop up during walks in the woods or while vetting finished work; it suggests that the subconscious is often working on the problem long after the brush is put down. It reminds me of how people often look for specific Tattoo Meanings to anchor a visual symbol to a personal truth or a lesson learned. In a way, your 365 words act as a personal lexicon for your growth, much like how a symbol can represent a life milestone. Do you find that certain words become more dominant during specific seasons of your life, or does the list remain a relatively stable compass regardless of the subject matter you are painting?
The idea of using a specific vocabulary to vet your own creative output is fascinating, especially the way you mention these “Keys” appearing during walks in the woods. It strikes me that much of our best problem-solving happens when we aren’t even sitting at the easel, but rather when our subconscious is allowed to wander. I’ve often found that identifying a specific feeling or technical error—like “overworked” or “too clinical”—is the only way to actually fix it. I actually found a similar perspective on FrontWars.io regarding how defining specific tactical patterns can help improve performance, and it applies to art just as much as strategy. Do you find that your list has shifted significantly in tone as your style has evolved over the last twenty years, or are the core “negative” pitfalls you encounter still largely the same? It seems like a very disciplined way to bridge the gap between intuition and technical execution.
The idea of using a curated list of “Keys” to navigate the creative process is such a fascinating way to bridge the gap between technical skill and intuition. I particularly resonated with your mention of how these words surface while walking in the woods or during the vetting process; it suggests that creativity isn’t just about the time spent at the easel, but about how we process our environment. I’ve often found that when I’m stuck in a creative rut, it’s because I’ve lost the vocabulary to describe what’s actually missing from my work. I actually found a similar perspective on lily lovebraids that complements this well, specifically regarding how identifying specific patterns can help break through mental blocks. Do you find that your list is becoming more specialized over time, or do you intentionally keep it broad to allow for those “garden-variety” moments of discovery? It seems like a living document that grows alongside your maturity as an artist.
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What stands out most is how these phrases balance technical advice with psychological insight. Many art discussions focus heavily on materials or technique, but this collection deixar foto 4k recognizes that painting is equally about mindset, observation, confidence, patience, and self-awareness.
The idea of maintaining a personal vocabulary of “keys” to navigate the creative process is such a practical way to handle the self-doubt that inevitably creeps in during a long project. I’ve often found that when I’m stuck, it isn’t a lack of technical skill holding me back, but rather a failure to name the specific feeling or direction I’m missing. Your mention of these words popping up while walking in the woods resonates deeply; there is something about being away from the canvas that allows the subconscious to finally categorize those technical pitfalls. I actually used a similar reflective approach when exploring visual concepts through myink ai to help articulate exactly what I wanted a design to convey. It’s fascinating how much our progress depends on that bridge between a vague intuition and a concrete word. Do you find that your list has shifted significantly in tone as your style has evolved over the last twenty years?
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