From “Learning how to Learn from Masters: Module 4. Facing the blank canvas”
If you have been following the program without distractions (and all other difficulties and obstacles life tends to throw our way), it’s probably a good time for you to start your final study. Review your sketches and colour charts, decide how you want to start, and face the blank canvas!
What if you’ve been doing all the exercises diligently, but still don’t feel ready to start: the blank canvas scares you, and the masterpiece overwhelms you?
The first thing I want to say is that’s entirely normal: even the greatest masters know the fear of blank canvas, and these masterpieces are overwhelmingly beautiful. The sequence of practices I suggested is designed to help you overcome these fears and doubts, but ultimately, you just have to start — because nobody is every entirely ready.
That said, there are still options to make yourself feel more ready and an bit more confident. First, there are various detours, additional explorations into different aspects of painting I suggested last week. Secondly, you can start with a detail study (Practice 5.2) (as you will see if you click this link, I have decided to follow this route myself before I begin my own final study…).