The Art of Patience
Some paintings arrive with a clear vision, while others begin as nothing more than a trace of color left on my palette. Regardless of where they begin, they always reveal themselves in unexpected ways. This practice of patience has become not only a way of painting, but a way of moving through life.
People often tell me they do not have the patience for oil painting. For me, patience has become one of the greatest gifts of the process. My work is rooted in a willing presence, allowing each painting the time and attention it needs to reveal itself.
Each piece begins differently. Some start with a clear vision, while others begin as nothing more than a play of color left behind on my palette. Regardless of where they begin, the paintings unfold in ways I could never have anticipated. Through the process, new forms, textures, symbols, and relationships emerge, often carrying a sense of intuition and something beyond what I could have consciously imagined.
The timeline of a painting is unique to its own becoming. While some works unfold quickly, others remain with me for years. I have learned not to force their completion before they have fully expressed what they are becoming. The layers, details, and hidden relationships within each piece reveal themselves gradually, and I have come to love the quiet dialogue that develops between myself and the canvas.
Because of this, I often work on several paintings simultaneously, moving between three and eight pieces at a time. For many years I questioned this process, wondering if it reflected a lack of focus. Over time, I came to understand it as an essential part of my practice. Each painting has its own rhythm, and allowing space for that unfolding has become one of my greatest strengths as an artist.
This process has also become a reminder of something I believe applies far beyond the studio: that growth cannot always be rushed or forced. There is a quiet wisdom in allowing things to unfold in their own time, trusting that what is meant to emerge will reveal itself when given the space to do so.