Calm Under Pressure
The Purple Gallinule
A quiet look at the process behind two abstract paintings created in one session.
This edit captures the moment before certainty.
When decisions are still forming and the work hasn’t made up its mind yet.
I’m less interested in perfection and more interested in staying calm while creating under pressure. Letting motion lead and trusting the hand to figure it out.
Sometimes the most important part of the work happens before the piece knows what it’s going to be.
Creating art, especially abstract painting, is much like navigating a journey with no fixed destination. From my personal experience, the moments before a painting 'decides' what it wants to become are incredibly powerful and often the most transformative. I’ve found that maintaining calmness during this uncertain phase is key—not only to creative freedom but also to producing authentic and compelling work. When I paint, I deliberately shift my focus away from seeking perfection. Instead, I let the motion of my hand guide the outcome, trusting the intuitive process rather than trying to control every stroke. This approach often relieves the pressure that many artists feel, allowing a natural flow to develop in the piece. It’s amazing how the artwork begins to reveal itself when you stop imposing strict expectations and embrace the unknown. From a practical standpoint, remaining relaxed under pressure involves mindful breathing and giving myself permission to make ‘mistakes.’ Each uncertain brushstroke becomes an opportunity for discovery rather than a problem. This mindset can be applied not only during painting but also in various creative pursuits and even daily life challenges. Watching a piece evolve in real-time, especially in a session where two paintings are created simultaneously, offers profound insight into the creative journey. The initial stages are often filled with tentative movements and subtle shifts in direction. Yet, these are the moments when the deepest artistic expression happens—when the soul of the painting starts to emerge quietly. For other artists or enthusiasts reading this, I encourage embracing the process before certainty. Trust your instincts, stay calm, and allow your art to breathe and develop naturally. Sometimes, the magic happens in the space of not knowing, and the final masterpiece is richer for it.
