How I Define Creative Freedom

I’ve started a new series of paintings.

I’m calling it 101 Imperfect Faces, because yes, I’m aiming to paint 101 faces.

But I’m not interested in pretty little portraits or getting proportions all right and glorious.

I’m interested in releasing the essence of the spirit that is calling to come forth from my brush and my mark making.

I think it sounds more mystical than it really is.

Technically I’m just trying to call it quits once I hit that point where the painting becomes all about fussing and fixing.

That’s where all the juice is anyways —
in those awkward spaces and
those incomplete phases —
in morning bed head
and those words we wished we had never said.

In truth this is how I define creative freedom.

That place where I choose to end, so the painting can begin.