Post 9 -psycHYPNOTIC - The Initiation of Imperfection
December 10, 2024
A Return to Creative Flow
When I began seriously creating geometric art in 2023, I became captivated by its structure and precision. Yet, there was a lingering curiosity that kept asking me to do more. At one point, the phrase “melt your geometry” popped into my mind. It was a playful invitation to explore what might happen if I let those structured forms flow freely.
I sketched a few ideas of geometric forms dissolving into fluid, organic shapes. But I eventually returned to my current style. It wasn’t until the end of 2024 that I felt called back to this concept. This time, it clicked and I finally understood how to balance structure with movement, merging the precision of geometry with the free nature of organic forms.
Left: “Melt Your Geometry”, Right: First Sketch for This Piece
A Creative “Trip”
As I worked on this drawing, it became a an inside joke with myself: This feels like I’m drawing a drug trip. My curiosity about people’s experiences of altered states of consciousness seemed to weave into the process. So, I explored videos on visual hallucinations and others’ accounts on the subject. Colours became an important part of the exploration too. I let them come to me intuitively, experimenting with their relationships in my sketchbook. I even used the pen feature on my iPhone to preview how some ideas might look. It was a playful way to explore the visual flow.
Left: The iPhone colour Planning, Right: In Progress Stages
Then came what I initially saw as “a mistake”. A coloured in section in the border didn’t align how I’d planned. After this surprise, I left it alone and moved on to another section. But as I revisited it later, an idea appeared on its own. Darken the border to create an enclosed effect! I decided to accept the pattern’s deviation and continue applying the same “mistake” to the rest of the pattern around the edge.
To my surprise, the “mistake” transformed into a design element that brought the entire piece together. It worked itself out, effortlessly creating a pleasing enclosed effect I didn’t plan on, all without the stress of overthinking. That moment felt like a spiritual invitation to let go of perfectionism. Letting go of control allowed the process to flow freely, and I learned how liberating it can be to embrace what feels imperfect.
Left: The “Mistake”, Right: The Innovation
For four days, I immersed myself entirely in the process with my face glued to the page. It was a deep dive into creation, free from distractions. When I finished, I joked to a friend that I’d been on a four-day trip powered entirely by creativity.
The Inner Critic
No creative journey is without its challenges. My inner critic had a lot to say, pointing out potential “flaws” in every part of the piece. It’s so easy to get caught in self-judgment, especially when the full image hasn’t come together yet. But I found that patience and curiosity helped quiet that voice. Slowly, as the colours and forms began to harmonise, the process became less about judgment and more about trust.
This experience reminded me of an important truth. Life, like art, rarely reveals its full picture while we’re in it. It’s tempting to critique an incomplete work, but often, the magic lies in surrendering to the process and letting the journey unfold itself.
The Geometric Layout Without Colour
Post Destination Thoughts
Now that the drawing is finished, I find myself missing the unknown, the thrill of discovery that came with each new line and colour. It sounds cliché, but there’s a lot of wisdom in the idea of enjoying the journey more than arriving at the destination.
This piece feels like a gift, not just for its visual beauty but for what it taught me about myself and my art-making process. Every artwork becomes a teacher, encouraging growth, reflection, and embracing uncertainty. I am deeply grateful.
‘psycHYPNOTIC’ – 2024
Thanks for reading!
-Garrett Porter