BLANK CANVAS COUSIN

Imagine building a puzzle and you’re holding two pieces that ALMOST fit, but are one piece away from one another.

An idea that’s almost there.

Sometimes this feeling lingers for longer than invited. It’s a distant cousin to the “blank canvas” theory I believe (or it very well could be). It’s knowing what you would like a piece to look like, and not being sure if you can achieve it. Whether it be because of practice, mediums, scale, the list goes on. So you sit there, in the studio, ready to CREATE-- but not quite getting up.

The thought itself is more daunting than the exploration process, than getting the work done, actually! I suppose it’s pretty obvious, and we all know it, but sometimes we as creatives do not have the patience to hear it (especially because we know it’s true). And the funniest part is it’s usually already a thought we’ve had before and it CAN be that simple. It CAN be just an additional step to what you’re already making. The evolution of an artists personal work is fascinating and continuously a conversation of the finished pieces talking to their predecessor.

What did this piece achieve that the previous didn’t?

What extra step was made to move me into the right direction?

Did I over do it this time?

I think if you aren’t constantly asking yourself these questions while creating, you aren’t being honest enough with yourself. It isn’t a simple task, either. It requires self awareness and discipline, which are far easier said than done.

With all that being said, I’ll pop off to the studio now to get some painting done and stop procrastinating.

I’m just being honest with myself.

Catalina Penagos Soto