Do We Paint for Process or Product?

This question haunts me today.  I started reading the book "Life, Paint, and Passion:  Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression" (by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley) today.  I'm also reading "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.  "The Artist's Way" deals with unblocking one's creativity--a 12 week recovery program to reclaim your creative self.  Both books are fantastic.  In fact, Julia's book made me start wondering yet again if I'd like to go to art school and maybe be an art professor.  But "Life, Paint, and Passion" warns of basing too much emphasis on what others and even oneself think of one's work.  The reader is encouraged to paint spontaneously and intuitively, with no adherence to technique.  If blue feels right, you paint it.  Everyone knows how to paint anything, and if they don't, they invent it, just as children do.  This idea deeply resonates with a wild, bohemian aspect of myself.  To not be tied to society or people or what anyone thinks sounds incredible yet maybe impossible.  And when I was doing art for product rather than for joy of the process, I did get discouraged and burnt out.  

Yet in "The Artist's Way," Julia warns about doing too much too soon, as that is a surefire way to burn yourself out (lesson acknowledged!).  

I wonder if, as with many things in life, the middle road is the most balanced way.  On the one hand, I agree with "Life, Paint, and Passion" that if you've lost the ability to create without borders what is deeply meaningful to you, you've lost everything.  Maybe it isn't really even art

if it doesn't mean something to the artist (what do you think?).  But I don't think it's necessary to completely throw out technique.  Different techniques can only add to the ways you can express yourself through painting.  Sometimes you may feel like painting a raw emotion simply for the pleasure of the process of painting.  But sometimes you also want to accurately document the sweet line of your lover's chin against the moon or the way a tree branch melts into the sky.  

What do you think?  This raises so many questions in my mind.  It would be fascinating to hear what you have to say.  Does one paint for process or product?  

Today I want to just quit everything, flash the bird to real life, pack up, and go to art school.  : /

Life feels like it will be so ordinary if I don't.

The funny part is that life is going well.  I'm happy.  But I just don't want this forever.