I began my morning bemoaning the fact I had taken a misstep on a canvas I have been working on^†. I even started a whining post about how I’d moved ahead, applied some paint, and now hated the outcome from which there was no turning back.

Instead of posting it, I closed the browser window, saw Lin off to work, and then carried the canvas into the back yard and applied even more of the same paint. I didn’t expect that to make any difference in my feelings toward having yet one more canvas not headed in the direction I initially intended it to go, but lo and behold, the new direction I just found isn’t so bad after all. In fact, I think I like it.

Since I had a really busy Sunday (very unusual for me), I think I will be taking today off from my normal life and spending more time with the canvas today. In fact, my goal is to have it declared finished by the time the sun sets. I really need to start pressing myself more on getting paintings finished … or rather … being able to declare something finished instead of working it to death (at which point I always declare it hideous and ruined).

Today’s mission, which I have chosen to accept is to put things on that canvas and have something that could be hung on a wall by the end of the day. No plan. No intentions. No thoughts in my head about the finished project. I’m just going to play with the stuff I have available to play with and get messy. I’m going to have fun with it, if I have to forced myself to do so. Yes, today I am going to pretend I am five years old and just got my first real art supplies.

And when I am done, no matter how much I hate it, I promise to post a photo of the finished product.

1. † Actually, I began my morning bemoaning the fact I have three cats who think waking me up 30 minutes before my alarm goes off is acceptable, but that’s a daily complaint, isn’t it? [↩]