Entries Tagged as: intuition
Red Leap
November 7th, 2010, Comments (25)
And now for something completely different! Or at least it feels very different from what I've been up to this month so far.
For day 7 of Art Every Day Month, again, I began with an intuitive/spontaneous approach. I took a piece of rice paper and roughly traced a leaping figure in sharpie marker that I found in a magazine (changing a few elements...I gave her flowing hair.) Under her, I wrote the word "leap."
Later, I took a piece of 6"x12" canvas paper, and squirted paint directly onto it, red and golds, then sprayed some purple-ish spray onto that. When that dried, I used gel medium to put the rice paper over the painted piece. It wasn't quite as transparent as it has been with past experiments, but it made a cool effect. I let it dry, tore away the excess rice paper and voila!
The shapes in the rice paper make it look like she's leaping through a forest to me. Although all the reds make it feel like she's leaping over or through fire.
Sometimes it amazes me the things that will come flowing out, if given the time and space to do so. This piece is just right for me today.
Quiet Umbrella
November 5th, 2010, Comments (22)
Today for day 5 of Art Every Day Month, I felt the urge to work in collage. I had no idea where I was going, but this image came along as I worked. At first I thought I'd put more color into it, striped socks, colorful boots, and such. But after I painted in the figure, she seemed to want to stay this way. A little more somber. So for now, she'll stay as is, more quiet. This piece is about 4"x4" with collage and acrylic on panel. Hope you all have a beautifully creative weekend!
Pink Mermaid
November 3rd, 2010, Comments (24)
After a busy start to the day, I created day 3's art in the late afternoon.This one was fun to do. I simply wet a piece of watercolor paper, then dripped pink, blue, and turquoise inks onto it to create shapes. I also added some water to create some drips. Then I propped it up while it dried, so it was in my view, and I occasionally looked at it as I worked on the computer. Eventually I saw part of the shape of a mermaid and I used more ink to bring it out. She's about 11"x14".
Intuitive Art Resources
May 26th, 2010, Comments (5)
What are some of your favorite intuitive art resources? I thought I'd share some of mine and see if you guys had any to share too.
Books:
Life, Paint, and Passion by Stewart Cubley and Michele Cassou
Trust the Process: An Artist's Guide to Letting Go Shaun McNiff
No More Secondhand Art by Peter London
Painting from the Source by Aviva Gold
Art from Intuition by Dean Nimmer
And there are loads more books to read, but that's a start. I've taken a lot of classes on intuitive art making, including one with Aviva Gold. Every teacher has a slightly different approach, but I generally enjoy the process and like learning from different folks. I'd love to take a class with the fabulous Chris Zydel!
Other intuitive art resources:
An old post about letting your art speak to you.
Another old post about my painting of Ophelia, that started with a dream and continued as I followed my intuition.
A video of artist, Jonas Gerard painting in an intuitive fashion:
I'll be announcing June's theme shortly (holy moly! I can't believe it's nearly June!!)
Releasing Fears
May 19th, 2010, Comments (18)
I think one of the stumbling blocks to creating intuitively is fear. Actually, it's a stumbling block for any kind of creativity. But it's not a road block. Meaning, it might make you stumble, but it doesn't have to make you stop in your tracks. And even more interestingly, you can use these fears as a way in.
What happens when you can get in touch with your fears, notice them, learn from them and then create with what you find? Fear can be powerful, but through looking into it, it can be transformative and a source of power and strength in you.
I was contemplating all this after listening to Goddess Leonie's beautiful Releasing Fears meditation. I just adore Leonie's voice and her gentle way of leading you deeper into yourself. After listening to the meditation, I had a strong urge to paint the piece above. I followed my intuition as it led me to the image and the way to create it. And I felt so much better after I'd completed it.
How can you use your fears as a way in? If you asked your fears what they have to teach you, what might they say? How might it feel to take in that information and then let go of the fear? What might your fears inspire you to create?
Along with the Releasing Fears meditation, I also highly recommend the Divine Dreaming meditation if you have any trouble sleeping or just want a soothing meditation to relax to. And if you're looking for more of the beautiful and amazing Goddess Leonie, check out her Creative Goddess e-course, which begins on the 30th of May. Leonie rocks my socks. You can get all the details for her class here.
Intuition, Art, & the Right Brain with Jennifer Lee
May 13th, 2010, Comments (6)
I'm so thrilled to be able to share my chat with the fabulous, Jennifer Lee! Jennifer is an amazing coach, writer, artist, and author of a soon to be published book. And she's my dear friend!
Listen in as we talk about the process of Intuitive Painting, how you can try it out for yourself, and how the right brain and intuition interact. Click below to listen here or right-click (ctrl-click on a Mac) to save to your computer and listen to later.
Jenn's Right Brain Business Plan e-course is starting up again on May 17th and I highly recommend it for any creative entrepreneurs out there who want to put a creative spin on a task that can feel a bit intimidating. Jenn is a great guide and coach and the plans her students have created are so cool!
You can find out more about Jenn on her website and blog. And you can also find her on Twitter @artizencoaching.
Thanks, Jenn!
Intuition amongst the Trees
May 11th, 2010, Comments (22)
One of my favorite places to connect with myself and my intuition is in Nature. I love going through walks through the woods, perusing local neighborhoods and sitting near bodies of water. Sometimes just by myself, sometimes with an ipod, sometimes with a sketchbook to write or draw in, and sometimes with a camera. Oh, and trees, which I love to draw and paint, strike me as great growing souls with their own personalities. I love being amongst the trees when I need to get in touch with that still, small voice inside.
I was thinking about all this as I finished up this tree swing painting yesterday. Makes me want to get on a swing sometime very soon.
Where do you go to connect to your intuition? Do you have a favorite spot? Could you make some time to go there this month?
Talking Intuition with Bridget Pilloud
May 7th, 2010, Comments (7)
I had the pleasure of speaking with the fabulous Bridget Pilloud this week and I'm so thrilled to be able to share it with you! Bridget is an Intuitive, Healer, Teacher, Writer, and all around awesome person.
Bridget has some great tips and tools to share about how to connect with your intuition in your everyday life and also as you create art! I especially loved her suggestion to "let your brain take a back seat" as you create. And of course the impromptu visit from Leo the cat was fun too! 
You can listen to the interview below or right-click (ctrl-click on a Mac) to save to your computer and listen to later.
Bridget is planning an exciting year-long Field Expedition to the Energetic Body to start in June! Keep up to date with this and all the other amazing things Bridget is up to at her blog, Voila and follow her on Twitter @intuitivebridge.
Tapping into Your Intuition through Art
May 5th, 2010, Comments (16)
One of my favorite ways to tap into my intuition is through making art. There's something about the fact that it's non-verbal for me, which helps me to get in tune with the part of me that speaks in dream-like imagery and is more in touch with what's going on under the surface. When I'm creating in this way, I feel better able to go with the flow, to listen to and trust my inner guidance.
When I led the "Art from the Heart" workshop at wishstudio's wish*full Virtual art retreat last weekend, I taught tools that required letting go of control. Yikes! I have a little bit of control-freak in me at times, so letting go can be difficult. But I think that's another part of why creating intuitively is simultaneously scary and exciting. And when I'm able to let go, that's when the images flow out, the choices seem to make themselves, and I can create from a deeper well within.
It makes me think of the lantern and lighthouse imagery I've used a lot, as I think these images are great metaphors for intuition. There's a light within each of us, always ready and willing to guide you, if you can tap into it.
Ways to tap into your Intuition while you create:
Get into your body: Ground yourself through meditation, movement, or simply a few deep breaths. Getting into your body helps you get out of your head and into a mode where you can make choices guided by your intuition.
Be Willing to Be Wrong: I think it's easy to doubt yourself when you first try creating from your intuition, so take the pressure off by being willing to be wrong, to make mistakes, to do it badly. Let go of expectation and let yourself play freely. It's a lot easier to be in a state of flow when you're not worried about doing it perfectly.
Don't Stop to Think: I like to move quickly when creating intuitively. I act on instinct before my talky-talky brain can get involved and cause me to doubt myself. Don't let your thinking brain get in on the action, at least not in the beginning. Give yourself some time to create without thought. After some time creating, you can step back and think about things. But having some time to create without judgment is a great thing!
Be Willing Not to Know: Often when I create intuitively, I have no idea where a piece is going. An image may start to appear and it may make no sense at all, logically. It can be a wild ride, not knowing where a piece is going (so much like life, yes?), but when I can let go and allow the story to unfold, interesting images come from it. Later on, while looking at these images, I find that they nearly always have messages for me about what's going on with me.
Step Back: After some time creating, I need to step away from the piece. Sometimes I put it across the room and stare at it for awhile. Other times, I put it across the room and work on other things, occasionally glancing up. Getting a little distance can often help you find what the next step is. Or it may let you know it's complete.
How do you let your intuition guide you as you create?
p.s. The image above is titled, Lighthouse. Prints are available here.
Whale Dreams
April 30th, 2010, Comments (11)
My latest painting is called, "Whale Dreams" and somehow it feels just right for the transition into May's Creative Every Day Challenge theme of Intuition. I think it's because whales come up quite a bit in art that I do intuitively. I finished up this painting on the day of the full moon and although it wasn't originally going to have a moon in it, as it came to life, it definitely wanted a moon.
I hope you all have a beautifully creative weekend! I'm planning to enjoy the wish*full art retreat at wishstudio, where I'm leading a workshop, the gorgeous weather, and getting my toes painted with my bff.
If you're looking for more sensory inspiration before the month of Senses comes to an end, check out this post from last Spring about an Intuitive Painting class where I was led through an exercise using my sense of smell. Very cool.
And also be sure to put on your dancing shoes for Jamie's annual Shyne Like a Star Virtual Dance Party tomorrow!
