A quotation from Dan McCaw's excellent book A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art

" When we begin painting, most of us set a goal to depict things realistically, as close to what the objects look like as we can. Rendering ( painting realistically)*....seems like pure magic. But learning to render is simply an acquired skill.
Attempting to draw what we see will sharpen our ability to observe....Rendering enables us to analyze and understand form and lighting. It is a valuable tool on our shelf of artistic choices. But can the act of rendering jeoparize creative vision? It can, if we become prisoner to the form and fear the validity of our own artistic voice. "
* my words

I have been struggling recently with trying to break out of the prison of rendering realistically and trusting in my 'own artistic voice'. More accurately, trusting that I HAVE an artistic voice at all.

This Bowl and Book is painted faithful to the form...quite real looking.
The Iris and the Egg and Spoon are still recognizable objects, but less literally painted.