By Marlene Lowden, Creativity Editor
Imperfect action is something I strive for when I paint. Really, I do. I want to capture energy, freedom, pure expression and that requires letting go. I switch my brushes every few minutes, I mix my own colours quickly, often on the wet canvas, I paint with my left hand, purposely going the opposite direction that I’ve been working. In the beginning stages, I flip the canvas around working from a different point of view. I flick paint, splatter (everything), and love drips. I do the happy dance over freakedly awesome “mistakes.”
When I’m in the “flow,” it is freedom, it is timeless, it is joy, contentment, it is childlike, and it is addicting. It certainly is not perfection, getting it right, being on target, controlled, or disciplined. I react to what is there, I respond to what I see and not what I think I see or wanted to see in the first place. I continue to work like this as much as possible – allowing the painting to unfold, ideas begin to generate about what colour to add or take away, what shapes are working for me and which ones are not.
Playful. Fearless. Freedom. Imperfect action.
So I’ll practice. I’ll paint more, I’ll pick up the pen, return the call, press send, share how I feel, unroll my mat, walk out the front door, dance, make a multitude of mistakes, be vulnerable and share my work in progress with you.
