I was recently listening to an interview with a musical synthesis composer (Alessandro Cortini) who mentioned a process of working that allowed for unexpected things to happen that he wasn’t in complete control over and how this would take him to new creative places. I’ve employed this same idea in my visual work. His process involves digitally programming some settings that when used with different “patches” creates something unexpected. The visual equivalent for me is to create complex layered images that when changing the order or blending mode of one of those layers gives a completely different take on the overall image. When I was painting with mixed media, I’d often pour wax over a piece in progress, or otherwise irrevocably change it, so as to create something that might surprise me and take me down a new path.
Having the need to be in control over the art can stifle it, while letting go and staying open to something a bit beyond what you’d normally do is a good habit to form.