Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Prepare to Soar

 Hello friends! I am currently without a computer which is making artistic posting difficult. I have logged onto my son's computer to do my best. Unfortunately I do not have access to my photo editing tools so I am unable to crop and adjust them but I wanted to post anyway just to connect with you all.

With the beginning of 2012 and my chosen word of responsiblity, I had this idea that I wanted to create a painting that would reinforce my theme for the year and just inspire me as I moved through the days.

I ways lying in bed thinking about it one night and I got very. I had this vision that the painting would turn into a tree and I immediately got upset with myself. I didn't want to go into it with any preconceived ideas about what it would turn into.

The next morning I got up determined that I would not be boxed in and I would just be open to whatever there was for me in the paints. I started just by making shapes and laying down color.
Then I added some detail and some messy and fun lines, swirls, and dots.

At one point I got this great idea to put down some blue painters tape and paint over it and see what happened. I had the best time with this. It felt free and fun!


When I peeled off the paint I winced. Ooohhh what a mess! What on earth had I done? What could I even do with this mess?!


I decided to just outline some of the shapes and see what happened, trying not to freak out because that always causes an immediate shut down. I took a deep breath, stayed open and trusted that something would come out of this.

I actually have my painting area in a corner of my bedroom and at one point I just decided to lie down and look at. It gave me an opportunity to take a breather, step back and see it with different eyes. I stayed there for quite a while when all of the sudden I saw it...

A bird!!!

It took some time to flesh it out and to decide how it would truly emerge. I would get up and paint a bit and then lie back down on my bed to look at it and then when properly inspired I would leap up and begin painting again.

I played around with it and thickened lines, added to it, took away from it and just had fun.

Each brush stroke felt like a revelation and I knew this painting was the perfect inspiration for my year of responsibility. Of course at first glance you may wonder what a bird has to do with responsibility. I know, I thought the same thing. But then I had this thought, yes, birds fly. They soar among the tree tops, swoop down and around and feel the wind lift them up. They also have the responsibility of building their nests, searching for food, and caring for their young among other things. Hmmm, it sounded suspiciously like my own life.

I found a quote that fit perfectly with the painting and the meaning behind it:

He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand ad walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.
                                  --Friedrich Nietzsche


This is a visual representation of my intention for 2012!

6 comments:

  1. Always, I hold my breath for your journey, not out of anxiety, or fear, but out of sheer excitement and anticipation. I hold my breath because I loose awareness of the part of me that gets sucked so completely into your world and your amazing art. Always in awe of my BIG sister.

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  2. oh michelle, the process is just the most gorgeous bit of it all! love it so much. xoxo

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  3. Oh my goodness ladies, you've made my day with your kind and beautiful words. Thank you so kindly!!!

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  4. How wonderfully inspiring :) Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I love it! I liked it when it was messy and chaotic too, because life is just like that sometimes. It's wonderful how the art led you to a conclusion that clarified and solidified your theme for this year. One of the many reasons why art is more than just pretty pictures.

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  6. I love how much detail you shared about the process and working your way through it. Sometimes that means stopping back and letting the image have time to speak back to you!

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