Magic making in the park requires a sense of openness.
I went to a nearby park by a big lake with a friend yesterday. We had decided to paint by the water. I brought my art journal and a box of Neocolors2 and some water.
My friend Sheri brought a large canvas and loads of paint. We spread out our materials on the tables in the shelter. The weather was perfect; the humid heat had broken for once. A gentle breeze flowed over the water. I wish I had taken some pictures.
The area around the shelter holds many old live oaks. There is an energy of magic all around and many birthday parties and wedding receptions have been held at that shelter.
Every time I go to the park I slow down, breathe, and feel the energy. I connect with the trees and feel into their energy to see if there is a message or an inspiration there. I ask if it’s okay to connect. Approaching nature in a humble way opens the door to communication.
Without the magic, there would be only Sheri and I making art, maybe copying a tree or drawing something realistic.
What I’m getting at is that magic happens in the moment. Either you allow it to sweep you along or you look at the surroundings with “tired” eyes.
I have lived “tired” for a long time and now all I want is the sense of magic, of connection with nature.
I doodled in my art journal feeling into the energy of my favorite tree. There were some colors, kind of like an aura. Mostly I got a clear blue. I don’t think the rendition was wholly true, but I have free will. 🙂
I have no idea where the giraffe came from…
Being aware of the subtle energies doesn’t mean I can depict them on paper, but I do my best.
Sheri started pouring paint all over her canvas and I watched in fascination. She only works on big canvases. I like a variety of sizes.
She spreads the paint with her hands in an intuitive process, which comes naturally to her. When done with that process, she looks to see what might appear in the paint.
We saw a turtle and a face, and I love how all the colors blended perfectly without particular care. When the paint dries, she enhances the images that pop up.
I own one of her large paintings and I never grow tired of it because the energy is timeless. Still, to this day I see new creatures in the painting. I love the riot of colors.
The most magic part of her art is that people find her art mysteriously–locally. People just show up and want to buy a painting. She doesn’t even actively sell them locally although she has in the past.
Her intuitive painting process is lovely and I admire her fearless approach to art.
You can find some more pictures on her page at Saatchi art. CLICK HERE.
It takes guts and openness to create in the moment as it takes openness to connect with the essence of nature. It is in that space that magic truly happens.
You can choose every day to feel the magic. I meditate to slow down and then I look at the living being that is our earth. Every blade of grass, every tiny bug is alive with magic.
Either we choose magic or choose fear. Fear is the conditioning we carry with us from our upbringing and the pressures of society.
All you need is to find a way to SLOW DOWN and truly look and feel into the natural surroundings or the paint if you’re creating something.
Feel into it and trust what comes out of the moment. To approach nature it’s good ask for permission to communicate. Nature wants to communicate with humans to make the world a better place.
Magic is real, folks. It swirls within us and everywhere outside. Open up to it and you won’t look at your surroundings with “tired” eyes ever again!
Here is an older blog post I wrote about magic:
Have a great weekend!
xo
Maria
It sounds like a beautiful day Maria.
It really was! 🙂