Until the Fat Lady Sings

A few months ago I 'finished' the series of paintings I started during CVP. I was happy with them all. But when I hung them for the Skipton Art Trail, a funny thing happened. Suddenly, I could see that some paintings were really strong, but a few were actually not as good as I had thought. (It's so odd that I couldn't see it until they were all hanging).Anyway, today I removed the wax finish from one of them and went back in.This is how it looked this morning:There are things I like about it, but I think the issue is that I tried to force it. I wanted it to be a red landscape with a big sky, so I pushed it in that direction. I have learned that this rarely works for me.I am much happier when I paint intuitively and then respond to whatever happens. Thought and intention just seem to kill things for me.Anyway, I had battled this one for quite some time, trying to find a way to make it work. I can't remember what happened - perhaps I just got sick of the struggle and convinced myself it was done! But now I can see that it wasn't good enough.So I worked on it again today, entirely intuitively. I thought I would keep some of it - but the painting had other plans. Besides a few tiny patches of red, there is now nothing left of that original painting and I can't say I'm sorry.I don't think this one is done yet - I need to leave it alone and then look at it fresh tomorrow - but I am so much happier.There is a freshness and an authenticity to this piece that the other one didn't have. It's also a step forward.If I start a painting with an intention, I am already limiting myself to the possibilities I can imagine (which by definition are the things I have already done). But when I start with no idea in mind, my intuition is free to experiment and that's what I mean by a step forward ... ideally, I think each painting should be a little different from the last - should go into new territory. I think this one does and that makes me happy.Once again I see that the best things happen when I get out of my own way. I do think this is finally sinking in!What about you ... does any of this feel true for you? Or do you work better when you start with a plan?