Creative Destruction

At a recent abstract course I was reaching for words to describe the process I use in abstract art or any art for that matter—a state of mind which I have come to appreciate over the years—in which I alter, at times destroy, the stuff I've laid down.

Do you recognize the hesitation, even fear of this process? As the painting emerges we look so desperately for something we love that we indulge it, let it hang around, play it safe.

After many years of this I can feel over-attachment creeping up on me. When I hear it, leaning into my ear, whispering, “that part is really beautiful…surely you are not going to paint over it….” or, when I am writing…”no one ever said that so well—how could you ever edit it out?” that is when I know I have to consider getting rid of it, or at least messing it up. In writing I’ve heard it called “murdering your darlings.” The reason it’s important is because we become so attached to a tiny piece that we can’t see the needs of the whole. I think of it as creative destruction.

I have become attached to this process. I love the surprises it creates, I love the rich and textured surfaces that emerge. Like the post painting, which I made painting over a print.

Of course, it can get out of hand. Here is a large landscape painting I did a few years ago.

And here it is now.

I love the abstract but I should have put that landscape away and given it some time to let me love it!

I’ve been doing some creative destruction on my website lately. Re-designing, editing out what is not needed anymore, finding the focal points of my painting and teaching practice and building around them.

I hope you like it!