The Process

Intrinsic motivation is that inner spark that pushes us to create or act simply because we love it — because it brings us joy, curiosity, or a sense of meaning. It’s very different from extrinsic motivation, which is all about doing things for rewards, approval, or recognition.

I have always been one to want to understand my mind, to research and gather some kind of understanding. The deeper emotional fulfilment in the creative process than when creating for external validation. That really resonated with me, seeing these patterns in my own journey.

When I have lost touch with that inner drive, I have felt stuck — caught in cycles of burnout, procrastination, and comfort-zone safety. Without that spark, it felt harder to grow, harder to open myself up to change. As I kept working on my practice, letting my mind release control and the need for perfection became a distant thought, pushing past the limits of comfort and breaking out of my safety zone. Time passed and I found joy in the process itself. By loosening my grip on control, I was able to free myself from anxiety’s tight hold.

I discovered that mistakes weren’t failures at all, but actually catalysts for growth — emotionally, psychologically, and even in terms of healing childhood wounds. Mistakes carried lessons. They sparked curiosity, ignited discipline, and made the whole process feel alive again.

Embracing the unpredictable and finding beauty in imperfection became transformative for me. My intrinsic motivation flourished, and instead of fearing the unknown, I began to chase it.

I think I need to start all my artworks feeling like I instantly and severely messed up. Because that’s how this piece started and I have absolutely fallen in love with the process, creativity and potential this piece held. I went down this rabbit hole and did not stop and I think I am in wonderland because I am in wonder of this artwork. 

The trail of emotions left by this artwork is beautiful to look back on from the fear and uncertainty when I first started excavating the fabric from underneath the plaster, when I began my search for texture and unearthing the potential of this piece. Then when excitement and intrigue became bigger than my uncertainty, letting go of control completely using a screwdriver to pick away at the plaster. In some areas scuffing the fabric till it began to fray, chipping away the plaster revealing colour variations in the fabric. 

The sensory experience of this piece is something I haven’t experienced before, from the sight of the fabric being unearthed to the scuffs and distressing of the fabric in certain areas and how the varnish has made invisible cracks visible, the contrast created between the fabric and plaster but it having a look of weathering and passing time linking all the elements together, engraining details so deep into this piece that sight simply isn’t enough to fully experience this artwork. 

Touch has become trivial in this work, like in some of my past work but in a new direction, fully immersing into this artworks potential, because, honestly to look isn’t enough and the amount of time my hands have touched and crafted this piece, other deserve to experience. And I know this piece wasn’t meant to be looked at because that only gives you 50% of the physical and emotion capabilities this piece of art possesses. It was made to be touch and to be felt, for the viewer to experience the texture that has been dug, crafted, excavated and engraved into this piece. So, this is Un-sensored.

I really do feel like this piece has open up a new dynamic and chapter for my career and artist journey, and kind of excited that this is my first official artwork for 2026.

*The full process is up on my Instagram (@emilyannrice_)