Destroying a Painting

Sometimes the only way forward is to undo everything.

I’ve taken paintings back almost to nothing more times than I can count. It’s uncomfortable, but necessary.

That act removes what’s predictable and opens space for something more honest. It resets the work and forces a new direction that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

Collectors don’t always see this stage, but they feel its effect. It adds depth, complexity, and a sense that the painting has been through something.

That history becomes part of the work’s identity. It’s not just what survives—it’s what has been lost and rebuilt that gives the painting its weight.

Call to action:
Would you risk destroying something to make it better?