Mel McCuddin and the Art of Embracing Chaos (and Life)

I just have to say it: I love art that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Perfection is overrated, if you ask me. And that’s exactly why Mel McCuddin has become a bit of a secret inspiration for me. If you haven’t heard of him, McCuddin was an American artist known for his quirky, expressive paintings – somewhere between abstract madness and figurative beauty. He painted people, animals, and things that looked like… well, something straight out of a dream. Or a nightmare, but in a good way.


Starting Without a Plan
What fascinates me most about McCuddin is how he worked. He always started without a plan – he just threw paint onto the canvas and saw what happened. Honestly, I find that kind of admirable. Here I am, trying to write something, and I spend half my time obsessing over how to begin. McCuddin? He just went for it – literally. Eventually, the shapes and figures would emerge, almost like magic.

It makes me think: How often do we hold ourselves back because we want a perfect plan before starting something? I’ve definitely been stuck in that trap. But McCuddin reminds me that it’s okay to start out in the blue – or maybe the yellow with a splash of purple. Whatever happens, happens. Maybe it’ll be beautiful. Maybe it’ll be weird. But at least something happened.

Perfect Imperfection
Another thing I love about McCuddin is that he didn’t care about painting perfect figures. Many of the faces he painted look like they just woke up from a really strange dream. And I love that! Life is weird. We’re weird. So why pretend we’re not?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent way too much time trying to make things look “perfect” – whether it’s writing something, dressing myself, or just trying to act like I have it all together. But life isn’t a polished Instagram feed. McCuddin reminds me that it’s better to laugh at your own mistakes than pretend they don’t exist.

What McCuddin Taught Me
McCuddin passed away in 2022, but his art lives on. And for me, it’s not just his paintings that matter – it’s his philosophy. The courage to start without knowing where you’ll end up. The bravery to let the weird and imperfect take up space.

I think we all have something to learn from him. The next time I try something new – whether it’s writing, painting (no, I can’t paint with oils, just digitally, but that’s not the point), or baking a cake without a recipe – I’ll try to channel my inner McCuddin. No stressing about the outcome. Just letting the process take me somewhere.

A Small Challenge for You (and Me)
So here’s the deal: What if we just started? Pick up a pen, paint something weird, dance to a song that makes no sense. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it’ll never come. But the chaos? That might just turn out beautiful – and fun.

Thank you, Mel McCuddin, for teaching me (and maybe now you too) that art – and life – is all about finding beauty in the unexpected.


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