Permission to paint ugly

Even after all my years at art school, I still fell for the biggest lie of all time:

It has to be nice.

But…

There’s a moment when the work stops trying to be liked.

When you stop making polite work.

Not because you suddenly “found your style.”

But because you gave yourself permission.

Permission to make something that isn’t pretty.

Permission to disappoint the invisible audience.

Permission to let the work be honest first.

That’s when polite work starts to break.

In The Origin Method, this is the moment—where the work either stays polite, or becomes yours.

For most artists this is a real aha moment. It was for me too, all those years ago.

Here is my short studio note I recorded for you. (3 min.)

So if you’re struggling with your art:

stop trying to make it nice.

Give yourself permission.

Make ugly art.

So now my question to you: Where are you still trying to make it “nice or polite?

Leave one sentence. I read them.

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