What's the Difference Between Freesyle, and Intuitive Painting?

When I reached the stage of choosing a name for my studio, I intuitively chose "Freestyle Painting." The truth is, I hadn't even encountered this term before – and maybe that's exactly why it attracted me so much?

I also experimented with intuitive painting, but believe it or not – I connected with it less. Why? What's the real difference?

It took me years to put my finger on the distinctions. After all, both approaches deal with personal, authentic, and liberated painting. In both, we relate more to the process than to the result. So how are they different from each other?

Intuitive Painting – Inner Listening

Intuitive painting focuses on deep listening to the inner world. The process begins by turning attention inward and listening to feelings, images, and messages that arise from the subconscious.

Often, I begin my painting sessions (and my workshops) with a short meditation practice. One might think this is exactly like intuitive painting – looking inward... but it's not.

For me, meditation is focusing on the here and now. Neutralizing criticism, comparisons, and expectations. I treat meditation as a practical and effective tool for concentration. True, when you persist with it, significant processes occur that touch the soul, but the meditation done before a painting session has a clear and immediate purpose.

And what about thoughts? Those I try to leave outside the studio as much as possible. To let the creative flow run and allow it free movement.

Freestyle Painting – Joy and Awareness Together

Freestyle Painting doesn't focus on emotions and doesn't deal with listening to the inner world. Its guiding principle is enjoyment, letting go, and freedom. It's liberated from rules, but at the same time, Freestyle Painting also has an intellectual and conscious part.

This is usually the part that involves quite a bit of frustration and struggle – the part I don't reach in the one-time workshops I lead (why complicate things?). This is the part that deals with examining composition, color harmony, color values, and more. The part of conscious decision-making.

In this context, I deeply connect with Picasso's statement: "You must know the rules well in order to know how to break them."

Sometimes Breaking Rules, Sometimes Not

This is how I feel about Freestyle Painting. Sometimes my paintings "follow the rules" and sometimes less so. But I do ask myself at an advanced stage of creation whether I love the result. If not – it's not finished as far as I'm concerned. Why waste good canvas on a painting I don't love?

In such cases, I simply let go of the painting and continue to play. And enjoy.

What do you think? Which approach speaks to you more? I'd love to hear about your experiences with Freestyle or intuitive painting.