Thirtieth Connection: The First Challenge

The first challenge is always that the paper seems so vast and so empty. Sometimes I begin working from an actual study but more often I start with an idea of a series of layers- each layer has its own gesture and shape and has its own way of interacting with the space of the compostion. While I was working on this drawing, When the Trumpet Calls c2003, (shown here as a detail of its upper left corner) a friend came for a studio visit. We talked about my process and how it is highly intuitive. She asked me "How do you know you're not making a mistake?" This surprised me and I realized it was something I did not consciously take into consideration. So my answer was both "I don't know." and "Its not about making mistakes."