Experimenting with Art
Art

As artists, we often find ourselves sticking to what we know—a familiar colour palette, a technique, or a subject we know we can execute well. Why? Because it works, it’s safe, and it feels comfortable. But what if we stepped off the beaten path? What if we tried something completely new?

Now is the time to do just that. Experiment.

Exploring new materials, techniques, or perspectives can be exciting and liberating. When you stop worrying about the result, you open up to those magical, unexpected moments of creativity.

Of course, not every experiment will succeed—and that’s okay. Sometimes, you’ll end up with something you don’t love. But even then, you’ll have gained valuable insight: “I tried that, and it’s not for me.”

Start with a question mark. Allow yourself to embark on a journey of discovery. Resist the urge to control the process; create and let the work reveal itself as you go.

Abstract artists often excel at this, letting their paintings speak for themselves. As a landscape painter, I sometimes find it challenging not to steer my work toward a preconceived outcome. But every time I try something new, I’m reminded that painting is a practice, an act of learning, exploring, and growing.

As Rick Rubin writes in The Creative Act: A Way of Being, “Taking a wrong turn allows you to see the landscapes you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.”

So why not take that wrong turn? You might be glad you did.