Impulsive

12″ x 12″ x 1.5″ mixed media on wood.

Sometimes our (human) impulses get the better of us.

Impulsive /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/: Acting or done without forethought (Oxford Dictionary)

Impulsivity alone can be very productive. Painting is very impulsive for me. While my creative process involves emotions as well as thoughts, the act of painting is very impulsive and done mostly without forethought. In situations of crisis, impulsive actions can save lives.

But impulsivity is not always functional and can be downright destructive. Indeed, in medical books, impulsivity is considered an “undesirable behavioural trait” and is often joined by traits like “aggression” and “hostility.” But one of the things that makes humanity so powerful is our ability to reflect and consider complex ideas. Impulsivity avoids complexity. But sometimes, complexity follows impulsivity. Or, rather, impulsivity demands complexity, which moves us in a direction toward further awakening/awareness/enlightenment. At least we hope that is the outcome.

Again, in this sense, this painting refers to the recent American election. The avoidance of complexity and impulsive actions are hurting many. Any good that comes from that reflects the good in humanity – that wilful engagement with complexity, no matter how difficult and dangerous. On a more personal level, I think of my own impulsive actions and how I have followed them up and grown from that.