“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.” – Albert Einstein

In 2017, during a painting session in Kuala Lumpur, a woman wished not only to observe me while I painted, but also to work on her own canvas at an easel beside mine.

I can no longer recall exactly what I had planned to paint—or if I had even made a plan at all. While laying down a background color and blending in small touches of oil paint, I suddenly noticed that two faint specks on the canvas seemed to resemble Einstein’s gaze fixed directly upon me. It was vague, too uncertain to pursue further, yet I mentioned it to the woman next to me.

I continued dotting paint across the canvas, opening myself to inspiration. Moments later, those same two tiny marks once again struck me as Einstein’s eyes. I shared this with her, and she replied: “Then why not paint Einstein?” Although I had no intention of painting him, I immediately answered: “You are right—I will.”

Those eyes, with their meditative, out-of-the-box expression—seeking new insight—were already there, and I knew I must not alter them. Around them, I now had to build his recognizable face. I quickly searched on my phone to study his untamed hair in old photographs. That part of the painting, bound by reference and rational thought, became for me the least convincing.

Fortunately, I soon surrendered again to the flow, and through a colorful, intuitive approach, I painted a boundless environment of energy and creativity around him. To my delight, visitors later shared that they immediately felt they were looking into Einstein’s world. Another special experience—thanks to Einstein himself.