Creating a dreamscape

I've been working on a series of pieces ready for showing them locally in the Oasis Café in Leigh on Sea. I'd best describe my style of working as both abstract and intuitive - I rarely pre-plan pieces of work but focus on the colours I am using and see what emerges in the moment of painting.

 

Instead of preparing via sketchbooks, my preparation is moving into the right mind-set to paint. Often this is re-focusing from my role as mama to my role as artist. Learning to create rituals and events that help me transition more smoothly so the paint flows and inspiration finds room to come forth and show me what needs painting. I've found meditation early in the day, before I paint, so helpful for this transition time.

Meditating before painting allows me to stop and slow down. It is a sign that I am taking time for myself, stepping aside from other responsibilities and slowing right, right down and focusing on the breath. Focusing on possibility. Instead of hearing what I should be doing, hearing the words and letting go. I like the idea that this can help bring me the space in my head to come to a piece of work afresh, even if I've had a big break from painting.

 

This piece of work has been unfolding from an initial range of colours - greens, teal, yellow, silver and reds. The colours dance together. Photographing the work in progress helps me see how they fit together. It helps me assess what is working and what my need tweaking or changing. Sometimes changes are small, sometimes I feel a big swathe needs reworking. This is the joy of working from the heart and the soul. It feels what is working. I am working on learning to trust what is working, where the painting is, what it needs and when it is done. I am learning to find my own style. To say yes, this feels like my work and that feels good.

 

To be comfortable in sharing how I get there, the good and the bad, or rather the messy and the not quite feeling right. It's a stage, just as some of the uncomfortable things we go through in parenting, in life, in growing into our skins as a mama, is a stage. It can be uncomfortable in the moment. I can be hard on myself. I need breaks. Yet when I approach it with joy, and myself with grace, I find new possibilities coming through in the painting. Until it whispers - this is what I need. This is what you need. This is the message that needs to come through right now. This. Yes this. Trust this.

 

Until next time friends.