Unexpected Flow
I approached the chair today with very little faith. My plan was to “wrap up” a piece that I’ve been stalled over for a week. I’ve lost whatever energy I had for it, and I need to send it on its way. Whether that is a good place like a frame or a dead end like the back shelf, it needed to get there! I’m a big believer in finishing.
I’m not sure if I conceded or completed the painting but it is tucked away so I won’t start analyzing it again tomorrow morning. If I do, I need to be kicked. What surprised me today was the quality of my painting session. Starting with low energy and low expectations, I knew working with the blahs would kill my little piece dead, way dead. So I carefully selected my CD’s, straightened up my palette, and tried to focus the way I’d focus the lens on a camera. This painting deserved my best today if it was even going to achieve mediocrity.
And what happened was a pleasant surprise. I let go and painted. I fell into a groove and did one thing after another, trusting my instincts. I probably couldn’t save it at this point but I could make good decisions TODAY - so that’s what I tried to do. Two hours later, I didn’t know what time it was or how I felt about the piece - because I hadn’t been constantly evaluating, I’d been painting.
That is FLOW. For me, it can happen when I’m working on a second rate piece just as easily as a successful piece. It sure doesn’t guarantee good decisions - I wish it did! It does mean I’m in the right mindset to make good choices though, and it gives me the illusion that I know what I’m doing! Sometimes a little confidence is helpful too.
I don’t think I saved my stalled piece from mediocrity today but I may have gotten my head in a healthy place for my week in the studio. And I definitely had a couple of nice hours in the chair.
