Art as a flow of energy
Today I am thinking about art in a new way: art as a flow of energy. You see, this morning I felt low. I read a thread on one of my social networks which confirmed that the cost of everything is going up, and incomes are going down. It made me question my chosen path, worry about my employability, re-evaluate my strategy.
Then I sat down to paint. I do this because I need to. It is my moment in the day of calm. It’s MY time, where I listen to a podcast, get lost in the world of whatever I’m creating, and put aside all my problems for a short while.
Today I listened to Kate Shepherd’s “Creative Genius” podcast, the episode from 22 May called “Unapologetically You”. It was gentle, soothing and encouraging. And when Kate said she had pulled the word “resilience”, it was just the word I needed to hear today. Because today I need to dig down into my resilience, in every way, in all parts of my life.
I’m currently working on two paintings. The one below is almost finished:
“The Wisdom of Butterflies” - Watercolour 22'“ x 30 “ on Arches paper
This one is newer, and is still forming.
“Escape into Imagination” - Watercolour 22” x 30” on Arches paper
This morning I only worked on the top painting. All I did was sit quietly and fill in the indigo blue background. And right at the end I painted a few more orange flowers. And I realised that this painting is giving energy back to me. It’s allowing me to pause, take some breaths, and just paint. It’s not demanding, it’s giving back. It’s refilling my well.
Today I didn’t have energy to give to my newer painting. That painting needs mental and physical energy. It needs bravery, exuberance and daring. When my “well” is fuller, I will give these things to this painting. In return, it will give me surprises, and seeds for my next painting. And so it flows.
So today my thoughts are that art is not about the commodity. It’s about the energy that is transferred through the commodity. And, I hope, that the viewer – whether it’s the person who buys the painting, or people who see some of the process on Instagram or Youtube, gain some energy when they see it. Maybe they gain a story. Maybe they gain a moment of calm while they drink in the colour relationships, the motifs, the way the paint flowed and blended. Maybe they gain inspiration to go and make their own painting. And so the energy flows.
If this has resonated with you, please let me know! You can leave a comment below, or shoot me an email. If you want to support my journey, please sign up to become a studio insider, or follow me on Instagram or Skillshare or YouTube.