My nephew, at about 7 years of age, when asked "where are you going?' replied, " I'm gonna go see what I get up to." This response is dear to me in that it describes what happens when I go paint.

I believe it is this openness, this willingness to be a beginner that is needed to achieve the proper state of mind to paint.

"Insight preceded by humility". —Anne Truitt

The lost dune paintings.