As an artist I sometimes think I have to control my paints, brushes, colors, and other materials but, the truth is, there is no control. The only thing I have is the ability to manage my tools and see what happens. Control is a myth in my mind. Furthermore, I would be creating a blockade between myself and my creativity if I were to have a death grip of control on my materials. Always thinking that my shapes or colors don’t look like how I see them in my head. I have found the less I try to control OUTCOMES the more I involve myself in the PROCESS.
You see, there are relationships between colors when they are placed next to each other just like there is a relationship between textures and shapes. Some colors bounce off one another and some shapes take on a language that communicates a message to the viewer. When I restrict myself to creating imagery specific to the way things look in my mind, I am ignoring some of the physical attributes that may freshly emerge when I put these things together. Also, many times I am inspired by the way things looks as I get them down on canvas or paper. This inspiration is a new pathway in creativity; staying in the process.
Where does allowing come in? I must allow myself to change elements of an artwork just as I must allow a conversation with a friend grow. Ever have someone on the other end of the phone have a one-sided conversation with themselves? When you can’t get a word in? It really sucks. But when I allow someone else to speak and share with me their thoughts and ideas, the conversation changes and takes different routes…its organic…and its meant to be this way. So when I allow my colors, paint marks, or shapes connect in a conversation, I allow the artwork to make itself. I am only the generator, the person in the process, allowing the work to be an organic flow.
