I want you to picture a typical brainstorming session. A group of smart, capable people are gathered around a whiteboard. There’s a palpable pressure in the air—the pressure to be brilliant, to find the "right" answer, to come up with the next game-changing idea. Someone throws out a suggestion. It’s a little unusual, a bit left-of-field. A moment of silence hangs in the air, followed by the subtle but unmistakable signs of judgment: a skeptical glance, a polite but dismissive, "I’m not sure how that would work."
And just like that, the creative energy in the room deflates. The walls go up. People retreat into the safety of the conventional, the predictable, the "representational." The fear of being wrong has suffocated the freedom to explore.
This is one of the greatest challenges in business and in life. We are conditioned to seek approval, to produce predictable outcomes, to colour within the lines. But true innovation, the kind of breakthrough thinking that builds great companies, doesn't live within those lines. It lives in the realm of experimentation, intuition, and the freedom to make a mess.
For years, I searched for ways to cultivate this freedom in my teams and in myself. I found the most powerful teacher not in a business book, but on a blank canvas. My journey as an Australian artist into the world of abstract art has been the ultimate lesson in letting go of judgment and embracing the exhilarating freedom of pure expression.
A Conversation Without Words
My process for painting a landscape or a sunset is one of observation and translation. But my approach to creating abstract art is completely different. It is a process of surrender.
When I stand before a blank canvas with the intention of creating an abstract piece, I don't begin with a finished picture in my head. I often begin with just a feeling, an energy, or a single colour that is calling to me. The first mark on the canvas is not a line or a shape; it is the start of a conversation.
It's a dance between intuition and action. I might lay down a bold swathe of deep indigo, and that colour will ask for a spark of vibrant orange in response. A smooth, blended texture might call for a rough, energetic mark from a palette knife to create tension. I am not dictating the outcome; I am responding to what the painting needs, moment by moment.
There is no "right" or "wrong" in this process. A drip of paint that runs down the canvas is not a mistake; it's an unexpected event that adds a new layer to the story. This is the very essence of Naomi Simson abstract art. It is about getting lost in the pure joy of colour, light, and the texture of the materials—the substrates. It’s about allowing the painting to reveal itself. This is a deeply vulnerable but incredibly liberating way to create, and it requires you to silence your inner critic and simply trust the process.
The Lesson in Colour, Form, and Texture
While abstract art is free from the need to represent reality, it is deeply rooted in the principles of composition and colour theory. The way elements are combined on the canvas is what creates the emotional impact. These principles are powerful metaphors for how we build our teams and strategies in business.
- The Energy of Contrast: In art, placing complementary colours like blue and orange next to each other creates a visual vibration and dynamic energy. In a business context, this is the power of "constructive tension." A team where everyone agrees all the time is a team that is not innovating. You need the contrast of different perspectives, different skills, and different opinions to spark new ideas and challenge the status quo. A great leader, like a great artist, knows how to balance these contrasting elements to create a dynamic and exciting whole.
- The Power of Harmony: Conversely, using analogous colours—shades that sit next to each other on the colour wheel, like blues and greens—creates a sense of calm, cohesion, and harmony. This is the feeling of a team in perfect alignment, everyone working towards a shared vision. It’s the consistency of a well-defined brand, where every touchpoint feels part of the same beautiful story. A successful business needs periods of both harmony and contrast to thrive.
- The Story in the Layers: A captivating abstract painting is rarely flat. It has layers of texture, hints of colours from underneath, and a history of the artist's marks. This is the complexity and richness of any great enterprise. The final product the customer sees is just the top layer. Underneath are the layers of trial and error, the early prototypes, the lessons learned from failures, and the deep foundation of your company's values. True appreciation comes from understanding the depth of the story.
Your Permission Slip to Play
In our results-driven world, we have forgotten how to play. We feel guilty for doing anything that doesn't have a clear, productive outcome. But play—the act of doing something purely for the joy of it, without fear of judgment—is not an indulgence. It is a biological necessity for a healthy, creative mind. This is the very heart of creative wellbeing.
Engaging in abstract creative expression is a powerful form of art therapy for stress. It provides a non-verbal outlet for the complex emotions that come with leadership—the anxiety, the pressure, the excitement. It’s a way to process these feelings and clear your mental slate.
You do not need to be an artist to receive these benefits. My invitation to you is to give yourself a "permission slip to play."
- Keep a doodle pad: The next time you're on a long phone call, just let your pen wander. Don't try to draw anything specific. Just make marks, lines, and shapes. Notice how it helps you focus and de-stress.
- Have a 'messy' session: Get some cheap paints and a canvas, put on some music, and just play with colour. Don't try to create a masterpiece. The goal is the process, not the product. The goal is to remember what it feels like to create without an agenda.
- Write without editing: Open a blank page and just write whatever is in your head for ten minutes. Don't worry about grammar or spelling. Just let it flow. This is a powerful way to untangle your thoughts and break through creative blocks.
This practice of non-judgmental creation is a vital part of business innovation. It creates a safe space in your own mind to explore wild, unconventional ideas—the very ideas that your "sensible, professional" self might otherwise dismiss.
The Freedom of the Blank Canvas
The blank canvas is a beautiful metaphor. It represents pure, unlimited potential. It is the beginning of a new business, a new project, a new chapter in your life. But for many, that potential is paralysing because it comes with the fear of getting it wrong.
My journey as an Australian artist has taught me that there is no "wrong." There is only the courage to make the first mark, and the willingness to see where it takes you.
My hope for you is that you can bring a little of the abstract artist’s freedom into your world. Give yourself permission to play, to experiment, to make a mess. Let go of the need to be perfect, and you might just create something truly brilliant.
