The Death of Preciousness

Le Bill Murray du Avant Garde

The Precious Thing

Into Action!

Some interest has developed over this "kill the precious thing" idea. I'll expand on the theory for this Friday's Tips.

In the 1984 movie, The Razor's Edge, the character played by Bill Murray ships overseas to drive ambulance in World War I. He becomes a battle-hardened veteran, and when a "green" medic arrives with a spiffy new ambulance, Murray goes ballistic. Literally. He draws his service revolver and shoots out the headlights, holes the fenders, and generally disfigures the precious new truck.

That's more or less what I mean by "kill the precious" in your art. Some mark, passage, color, figure or shape that you have created may be just what is getting in the way of advancing your work. Kill it. Tissue over it, rub it with an eraser, or cover it with sizing. Now you're free to find the real reason for this painting.

Ready to walk the razor's edge?


Literary Ambulance Drivers of WW I.