pushing

there are moments of extreme tension in the creative process: when a brush stroke goes astray and the painting seems to be ruined. the thing i saw in my head is no longer possible and i’m fearful that the whole thing may be a wash. but i can’t just give up! who would i be then? a quitter. so i press on, expanding my consciousness and pushing what was there in incorporate the stray. not stopping at the point where is seems okay, but lifting it to the point of being completely essential…nearly paramount to the piece. that’s what training is for, to whisper in your ear when everything goes wrong, “happy accidents.”