Anything Goes

May 9, 2025


One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from studying the past masters of art is simple, but profound: anything goes. In the world of great art, there are no fixed rules, no definitive formulas, no guaranteed pathways to mastery. The only real constant is the artist’s own unique perspective—and it’s that perspective that can illuminate our shared humanity in ways that are new, challenging, or even uncomfortable.

Looking back through the history of art, it becomes clear that the greatest artists weren’t those who followed the rules—they were the ones who broke them. Caravaggio painted saints with dirt under their fingernails, dragging the divine down into the streets. Picasso fractured time and space on a canvas, turning a single moment into a kaleidoscope of emotion. Basquiat scrawled poetry in paint, using graffiti as a gateway to the galleries. These artists didn’t wait for permission to innovate; they trusted their instincts and let their visions lead the way.

There’s a freedom in this realization, but also a challenge. Without a rulebook, there’s no safety net. Each artist walks the path alone, navigating their own uncertainties and doubts. It can be terrifying—but it’s also what makes the journey meaningful. Because when anything goes, everything becomes a possibility. The canvas is not just a surface—it's a mirror, a window, a battleground, or a dream.

Studying the past masters has taught me that greatness isn’t about replication or perfection. It’s about honesty. It’s about risk. It’s about seeing the world through your own eyes, no matter how strange or vulnerable that vision might be. When you stop trying to fit into a mold, you give yourself the freedom to create something that has never existed before.

Remember this: the rules are yours to make, and the path is yours to walk. In art, anything goes. And that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.