“Our species is the only creative species, and it has only one creative instrument, the individual mind and spirit of a man.”
John Steinbeck/ Author/ “East Of Eden”

Not What I Envisioned At All

So… here was the situation:

I worked really hard on a small painting. I let it sit and marinate for a few days. I decided that I wanted to re-work it a bit. I thought I could make it better. Or, I felt that it was just not complete. I don’t remember which.

In any case, I’m ready to go back into it and my significant other (who has an incredible eye, and whom I trust completely) takes a look at it and says she loves it the way it is.

Now what do I do?

Because I trust her eye and intuition, I decided to leave it as it is for a few days. This forced me to, or allowed me to, look at it in a different light.

I decided that it did need something, but just not a complete overhaul like I previously thought it did.

I asked myself, “What little do I need to do to this piece in order to retain the integrity of the original piece, and yet give it what I think it needs to be complete.

I ended up making just a few marks to clarify some of the contours of the figure, while trying to hang onto the mystery and concealment.

As artists, I think that second-guessing comes with the territory of creating. Which can involve someone else saying something about the piece in question, or just battling with our own mind about it.

What helps me is to set some very specific goals for each painting, so that I have a defined path. During the creation of the piece, I try and stay on that path as best as I can. But I also allow some room for flexibility and changes in motivation. Most of the time I am able to stick to my goals and predetermined path.

The moments when I have allowed myself to be flexible and wander off the path with my painting, usually results in something unexpected and interesting. Even if the finished product is not at all what I envisioned.

The painting I am talking about is the one at the top of this blog.

I am curious what you think of it. Does it need more or even less? Stay off the path, or get back on it as quickly as possible?
Best,

David

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