CONTROLLING OUTCOMES
These Blue Dress paintings have encouraged and taught me to stop trying to control the outcome of a painting. I have a very vague vision of where I want to go, I begin, and then let it take me. My heart knows when it is finished. More on that in a future blog. “Untitled Blue Dress Painting # 4”, 16”x 12”, pencil, charcoal, acrylic and collage on wood. © 2020 David Limrite
“The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.”
Jackson Pollock, Artist
Controlling Outcomes
I think I am finally starting to get it through my thick skull that I cannot control outcomes.
I don’t know why I even thought I could. But, I am pretty sure that I have thought I could for probably my entire life.
Now that I really think about it, I don’t think I have ever been able to control the outcome of anything or any situation. And, I certainly don’t have any evidence to prove that I have.
I can exert influence. I can try and steer things in the direction I want them to go. I can hope. I can think positive thoughts. I can wish.
But control the outcome? No way!
This goes for creativity and art-making as well.
With my current skills, talent, ideas and experience, I can take my vision, exert my influence, begin and head in the direction of where I want my painting to go.
However, as I get older and gain more experience, I am learning to let go. Trust. Make the art I make. Get out of my own way. And, create from my heart and soul rather than from my brain. I am learning to begin the journey with each new painting, and see where the path takes me.
Oh, I still try and force paintings to go where I want them to go. But, I still cannot control their outcome. No matter how hard I try.
I create anyway. I relax while loving the process. I begin. Settle in. Spend quality time with my painting. Meander. Get lost. Find my way. Get lost again. Push on. Trying not to control the outcome. And, as a result, I usually come out on the other side with something I did not expect. And, more often than not, it is far better than I could have created it by forcing it to be something that it did not want to be.
Best,
David