Growth Cycle: Exploring New Directions in My Painting Journey
GROWTH CYCLE. acrylic on canvas. 72 × 36 inches (183 × 92 cm)
If you’ve been following my work for a while, this latest painting may surprise you.
GROWTH CYCLE marks a bold new chapter in my creative evolution — a large-scale abstract painting unlike anything I’ve created before, and may never again.
Why the Change?
For most of my career, I’ve been fortunate to be represented by art galleries across North America. Naturally, galleries appreciate a cohesive, recognizable style that appeals to specific collectors. Over time, however, those expectations can make it easy for an artist to slip into comfortable habits — painting in ways that feel safe rather than exploratory.
Recently, with increasing tariffs and complex shipping logistics between Canada and the U.S., I decided to pause and take this as an opportunity to reconnect with pure experimentation. Without the pressure of gallery deadlines, I gave myself permission to explore, play, and rediscover what drew me to painting in the first place.
The 10,000-Hour Syndrome
You may have heard of the “10,000-hour rule” — the idea that mastery in any field requires roughly 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. But I recently listened to a TED Talk suggesting that after reaching technical mastery, many people stop evolving creatively. Once our skills become second nature, experimentation often fades.
That thought struck a deep chord. After years of honing technique, I realized it was time to invite uncertainty back into the studio — to make room for intuition, discovery, and creative risk-taking.
Allowing the Painting to Paint Itself
GROWTH CYCLE emerged from this process of letting go. Rather than planning the composition, I allowed the painting to unfold through intuition and energy — much like nature’s own growth cycles.
The result felt almost self-directed, as if the painting itself knew where it wanted to go. This experience reminded me of writers who say their characters “write themselves.” My recent paintings seem to be painting themselves — guided by something beyond conscious control.
Here are a couple of short YOUTUBE reels taken in the studio while I was creating this painting.
YouTube Short Reel 1
YouTube Short Reel 2
The Beauty of Uncharted Territory
After so many years of working in a consistent style, I admit it’s both exhilarating and uncomfortable to move into unfamiliar territory. My instinctive habits often try to resurface, but I’m learning to trust this new rhythm. The colors feel lighter, the forms more fluid — and there’s a renewed freshness in the air of the studio.
Change is never easy, but growth — in art and in life — depends on it.
I don’t know exactly where this new direction will lead, but that’s part of the excitement. For now, I’m simply following the energy.
Let me know if you’ve fallen in love with GROWTH CYCLE and would like to know more.
