Sometimes, giving ourselves permission to paint an abstract piece can bring release! Today I decided to make a mess on a canvas, turned up the tunes, and rediscovered the joy of painting again.
For a few days, I have been finishing two large paintings on canvas of the human figure (36in x 36in each). They've been in process for a couple of months. While I'm thrilled with how they turned out, I am a bit exhausted from all the analyzing and thinking and deciding whether to make one more tweak here or there. I want my work to look loose and not over-worked, you know?
I've found myself a little burned out lately, lacking inspiration and motivation. So, I decided to give myself permission to make a mess on a canvas and not care about the result. I'm not satisfied with what I created, but that's not the point.
The point is to experiment with color, texture and form. When we release attachment to the end result, making art becomes play instead of work.
With a great playlist running, I found the joyfulness and playfulness of my art practice again. I remembered why I started painting to begin with.
Here is an abstract piece I created with exactly this intention: to let go, to release, and allow inspiration to flow freely. It is called "The Best Is Yet to Come," and that sums up exactly how it made me feel.
