What is Intuitive Painting To Me, and How Do I Do It?

To me intuitive painting means trusting the creative muse to show up and turn my painting into something I love.

This means, I start out with no idea what my painting is going to be.  (a lot like my doodling)

Painting like this is very intimidating, but also very freeing.  Because you just keep going until it becomes what it is supposed to become.

Another question that comes up for me when I am doing a large canvas.  How do I know if I am done, is it finished?  I trust my gut here.  It's something I'll just feel.  Almost like a tap on my shoulder saying stop, it is done.

I love the feeling I get when I am painting, and suddenly I am swept up in the muse.  I don't notice time at all.  Hours can pass in what seems to me like only moments.

Writing for me is the same way.  I remember once when I was working on a novel.  I became so engrossed in what I was writing that I didn't even notice that I had been at it for hours.  In the late afternoon my employer called me and inquired why I hadn't made it to work.  What?  I missed going to work that day without even realizing it.

I guess this is why I struggle to write, or even paint.  I need such a large amount of time to allow myself to find that muse.  Once, I am there, I do not want to be disturbed.  It feels so good to be caught up in all that wonderful creativity. Quitting to make dinner, or go to work is such a rude interruption.

This is a large canvas that I recently painted.  I loved how effortlessly this painting came together. Each hour was pure pleasure.