Accidental Art: The Beauty Found in the Creative Process Itself

Art has a way of surprising you, revealing beauty in places you’d least expect. While working on an intricate coloured pencil drawing—one of my more detailed and time-consuming pieces—I became mesmerised by the remnants of the process. This piece demanded precision because of the painstaking technique I used, with each coloured pencil stroke carefully placed, as though creating an embroidery without threads. The sandpaper block I used to sharpen my pencils became its own kind of art, a canvas marked with vibrant swatches of colour, textured and raw.

These strips of sandpaper, initially just utilitarian tools serving a single purpose, began to take on a life of their own. They captured the energy and emotion of the drawing process, echoing its colour palette and spirit. Their accidental nature is what made them so compelling. Instead of discarding them, I set them aside and later arranged them into simple yet striking compositions for a series of photographs—two of which are featured here.

The drawing itself was born from an exercise given by Elisabeth Gallante, an exceptional teacher and a renowned artist in her own right, as part of an experimental drawing class at the Visual Arts Centre in Montreal. The goal was to explore symmetry by drawing, with the tool of our choosing with both hands simultaneously on large sheets of paper, engaging the whole body in the process. I used graphite pencils, my favourite go-to drawing tool for its simplicity, ubiquity, and versatility. This unconventional approach pushed me beyond my usual methods with this familiar medium, resulting in mirrored compositions that felt both controlled and organic. I enjoyed the exercise so much that I created several of these deliberately imperfect symmetrical designs to colour in later. All but one remain unfinished, waiting patiently for a time when my studio space feels more organised and inviting.

Once the outline of this particular piece was completed, I painstakingly coloured it in, layering colours and hues in what felt like a spontaneous approach to create depth and texture. The intricate details reminded me of embroidery, a thought that became a playful inside joke as I imagined one day learning to embroider with actual thread and needle to enhance these pieces—despite knowing I’m far more skilled at turning thread into hopeless knots. The finished work, now proudly framed, stands as a testament to the dedication and care poured into its creation. Though it’s yet to find its place on my walls, it serves as a constant reminder of the unexpected beauty that emerges throughout the creative process.

A creative journey captured in four images: the top photo reveals the full composition in progress, its symmetrical design unfolding through vibrant colours and intricate details. Just below, the strips of sandpaper—unexpected artefacts of the process—stand as bold, abstract works in their own right. The drawing, completed in 2013 as part of an experimental art class, reflects a meditative exploration of symmetry and precision. Finally, the close-up detail invites you to linger on the fine textures and delicate layering that make this piece so tactile and alive. Together, these images highlight the interplay between precision and spontaneity, where even the smallest fragments hold their unique beauty and story.

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