Here I am face-to-face with a big flat empty surface to begin a painting.
What shall I paint? How do I begin?
There is a certain fear factor inherent in not having a preconceived idea for the project, but that is usually my dilemma at the beginning. Eventually, overcoming the fear, meeting the challenge, I command myself to
BEGIN!
APPLY SOME PAINT!
GLUE DOWN SOME COLLAGE MATERIAL--ANYWHERE!
PAINT SOME MORE!
TEAR OFF.. SCRUB...SAND THE SURFACE!
The space isn't empty anymore, and interesting effects may be happening.
Enjoy and, yes, even curse the process. Is there anything good going on here?
It is exciting chaos that requires perseverance and patience. There is joy in defining beautiful shapes and their edges; adding pattern for order and rhythm.

Some aspects demand being preserved for the sake of the composition. Sacrificing beautiful areas that draw too much attention is often painful. Color washes can help calm the chaos, and allow a center of interest to present itself. Pulling the whole thing together is a struggle that's worth the effort when it all looks...well.....just right.

THAT'S MY JOURNEY TO ARRIVE AT THE FINAL DESTINATION.