In preparing works for a one-man show, I was pressuring myself to have every painting be about a "grand theme" and I was searching around for a subject. I was feeling almost as stressed as if I had a deadline for an illustration project.
This didn't make any sense. I finally had to stop and realize that it was OK to give myself the freedom to paint something beautiful. If I just relax and trust the process, the themes emerge and the art takes care of itself.
Additional images from PATHLESS
Share your thoughts…
We’d love to hear your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, questions, etc!
Like what you see? Subscribe!
We’re posting art every day on Substack. Don’t want to miss anything? Subscribe to get a weekly email including a recap of daily art posts.
To receive every art post by email, you can opt-in by visiting your account and then clicking the toggle for Daily Art.
Stunning -- when you "relax and trust the process, the themes emerge and the art takes care of itself" your pure mastery emerges unfettered... in other words, Pathless. Thank you for the beauty as well as the background on your process, Michael. Endlessly fascinating.
You and Audrey have a marvelous 2025, full of health, joy, prosperity, and cherished moments.
Absolutely beautiful.