Old art feels new again if enough time goes by. Some art doesn’t, and those canvases can be painted over with newer impressions, but sometimes I pull out an old painting and pause. If it touches my heart, it’s still good. It was created in 2007.
That’s how universal art is created. It has a timeless quality.
Mind you, everything is in the eye of the beholder and I’m of course partial to my own art.
I’m amazed how many styles I have tested over the years, from Americana folk art, to abstracts, to all sorts of mixed media, and now mostly intuitive art, which is really abstract if you want to be picky. Though sometimes weird figures abound.
Here are some pictures of my 2007 painting, Magic Happens:
Old art
old art
I used all kinds of texture, from polymer compound to collage to crumpled tissue paper. The paint enhance the texture in major ways. The hand was cut out of a magazine page, my own hand pattern. Then I applied layers on paint on top.
old art
So much fun! The bird spreads some words of wisdom through her song!
old art
Check out that texture! I think I used large bubble wrap to create those texture circles. I was in an experimental mode for sure.
This painting is available for sale in my etsy shop. You can head there if you want to see more pictures. I uploaded ten pictures there.
Spirit guardians showed up on my canvas yesterday, and part of me knows them well. One is a fantasy lion, and I have always loved birds of all kinds.
I painted this painting in the past, maybe three years ago:
I liked the movement and the colors but I could not reconcile myself with the finished art. The lines were too harsh among other things. So, I painted over it with a mess of marks and colors. I don’t have a picture of that, but something in me saw figures emerging from the mess. My previous post has a picture of such color mess.
I think we all have “x-ray” eyes and the subconscious leads us into the unknown, if we can trust. That painting ended up being the “Spirit guardians” below, though I must say that all layers underneath are never lost. The energy remains.
The cat doesn’t look exactly like a cat, but it doesn’t matter. I often dream of lions and they protect me, and I love the strength and the “sun-like” quality of that particular cat.
Three birds showed up as well. It takes a lot of trust to knit it all together, but when you do it many times, it becomes an urge to keep going until it’s done.
I also finished an old painting that I now call Anxiety/Overwhelm. I have experienced that a lot lately and it feels good to express it. The result is peace inside.
This painting has many layers as well. It is telling me to slow down and forget the craziness of the world around me.
Sometimes I wonder how paintings can go from one image to something totally different, but it’s part of the fun discovery of the unknown, the unexpected.
That’s why I love intuitive art so much and why I want my spirit guardians to step through and take on color and form. It’s a very empowering feeling. Art that touches the soul is empowering for the artist and the viewer.
Always shoot for bringing out the best of your inner artist. It may be a long journey, but it will make you very happy! It makes such a difference to make things in life that are worthwhile. When you feel happy and fulfilled you know you’ve hit the right groove!
Trusting the unknown is sometimes the hardest thing to do. All artists travel into the unknown in search of personal style.
It’s always safe to copy others or paint by numbers, but what are YOU about? The art reveals many things. I have used art as an oracle to find answers and when you consider the colors, the composition, the details, you can find out what is going on inside.
Our inner life is not easy to understand since we rely mostly on thoughts and programmed beliefs, but when a painting comes together you can see the soul of the artist, if he/she dared to explore the unknown, a.k.a. revealing their soul.
I wanted to document a painting here that I have been working on for ages. It’s still not done. My camera lens has been collecting a lot of dust since I started taking pictures of the progress, but it is what it is. Maybe I will post the finished painting at some point.
It became another chaos painting (like the one I wrote about in a previous post.)
There was an old painting underneath and I confess I’ve used this canvas to dab excess paint from other projects. The only part I liked was the little sun.
I added some white paint and squiggles when I decided to make something of this painting, if possible.
In the squiggles in picture number two I saw a face and I decided to enhance what I saw. I liked the outcome of the face but I have no idea what to do with the rest of the painting.
That’s where trust comes in. The painting does not have to be finished NOW. It could be finished two years from now. You have to trust in the long game. What is supposed to be on the canvas will reveal itself.
I have trusted enough in the past to know that it ALWAYS resolves itself, but in the long game, who knows when? The unknown is vast and human patience has strict limitations.
We can stretch our limitations to face the mystery within. One way is through meditation. Art is a like a living meditation, but also a memoir of where we have been through the years. Trusting the unknown is essential to an artist as we have the “power” to make people stop and feel, and think. By trusting our own unknown, we become a road sign for someone who is looking for ways to touch their unknown.
I have debated with myself whether to offer another class on intuitive development through art. It would not just be painting, but lots of exercises on how to build a relationship with your intuition.
I will get back with more info soon. I think I will call it Art and Spirit Alchemy. What do you think?
There is no guarantee the tree painting is completely done, but it’s almost there. 🙂 Maybe.
A lady bought four of my paintings on etsy these last couple of days, so I’m happy about that. You can check out my offerings there if you like. Earth and Faery.
Practice never makes perfect is true in some sense, though I believe that practice makes perfect if, say, you’re learning a new language. The art practice never ends. Some say that if you can paint something hyper-realistic you might call it perfect, but I bet the artist still strives for even more perfection.
Truth is, why strive for perfection in the first place? Artists want to get better at their techniques, of course. They want to execute their craft better for more personal satisfaction.
But what if you just want to express yourself, not perfecting the craft of painting perfect landscapes or faces?
Everyone can express themselves. It only takes a willingness to try.
Trying involves getting some materials, like an art journal or old book that you can alter (use as an art journal.) Buy a few acrylic (fast-drying) paints in colors you love, get some glue or medium, a few brushes, some markers, and a bunch of old magazines.
You can paint a background with a couple of your paints, anything goes. Draw stick figures, paint them, cut out images from magazines, words that speak to you. Add more paint and writing if necessary. Add stuff until you feel it’s right, if not perfect.
Then you practice to let go. It’s good enough!
It’s a great way to see in color what is important to you in life, and art!
What it actually takes is to do it, no excuses.
Carve out some time for creativity. Explore who you are, your wishes and dreams. Expressing in art is an age-old practice.
practice
Art journaling can be challenging, but no one has to see your pages unless you want to share them.
Even if you hate the pages, at some point you’ll hit on a symbol or mixture of symbols you love and that will inspire you to continue making more pages. You’ll collect more stuff to add to your spreads, a bit at a time.
practice
practice
I keep making art because I feel a need for it. Maybe you won’t feel a need unless you really keep doing it, as with exercise. I can’t speak for you, but making art gives me a special kind of satisfaction, a feeling that it’s important.
I made a YouTube video of the first spread I made (above). You can watch it here to get inspired (hopefully.)
Without my art, my life seems to lack something. I go into my studio with anticipation and leave it feeling, oh well, many feelings, among them happiness, frustration, annoyance, challenged, inspired, accomplished. Every day is different.
I have more how-to videos on YouTube. They will help you explore your own creativity.
I have also made some more art journals for sale in my etsy shop. They will help if you fear the “blank white page.” ETSY SHOP.
Have a creative weekend, folks!
Here are a couple of blog posts about facing your fear and lack of motivation.
2018 is brand-spanking new, so I figured it was time to tune in and get my special word for the year. I sat quietly breathing and asked my wiser self what my word would be for 2018.
I got SERVICE.
At first I was a bit taken aback thinking I would get a more “attractive” word (whatever word that would be,) but I sat with Service for a while and it felt good.
It can mean SO MANY things.
We are already doing service. Everything we do is for movement forward, either directly to a person(s) or prepping for other action that ultimately helps people in some way.
So I was thinking, how can I serve with my art? I can show people new ways to do something or inspire someone to take that first step to explore their creativity. I can be connected to my spirituality and use that as inspiration in my art. People can feel that connection and I really enjoy inspiring others to deepen their spirituality. They in turn inspire others. And so it goes.
It is a misconception that it’s difficult to create art. There is usually some resistance, but you don’t need an art degree to express yourself. Children do it all the time. They don’t make excuses for lack of experience. They just ARE and they DO. They create with abandon, until someone tells them their art has to be in a certain way and they start doubting their abilities.
Art can be very freeing!
Art is important in life. We access our deeper hidden parts through expression. Color cheers you up! Movement across the page or canvas can be revealing as you follow along on the journey. Wherever it takes you…
If I can assist you in any artistic capability, please let me know in the comments. I have many great ideas for 2018. Let’s get artistic together!
IF you’d like to win a handmade art journal I made, please take this short survey about how I can serve you better in 2018! Thank you.
Tree paintings are some of my favorites. Every living artist and every dead one had their own vision of trees.
I’m going to share how I painted this tree. It was a journey of lots of ups and downs.
I was ready to quit many times and just paint white all over it, but I let it sit and stew in its own colors.
I don’t have pictures of what brought it to chaos, but I started out just smearing colors across the canvas with my hands. I smeared countless layers and colors, and lost track of any possible solution for this painting.
It finally ended up like this:
Some people might like the mess, but it didn’t feel finished to me at all. It sat like this for a long time. When I had left over paint, I would slap some on this painting.
Then I arrived at this, which was something beyond my scope. How could I bring out a focus in this painting?
I finally saw a tree trunk in the mess, and drew two black lines and some roots. Then I had major problems with the background. It went through several stages before it felt right.
Here I had the tree painting, but I thought the background looked imbalanced. It didn’t feel complete at all.
I added a tree to the side in the background, but … I wasn’t happy. Backgrounds can sometimes be tricky. You have to brave and forge on!
Then I made the background almost white. I wanted to leave the space between the roots white. Still, didn’t work.
This felt a lot more peaceful, a balance of dark and light encasing the tree “spirit.” I can see the spirit as a vibrant energy.
To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s finished. I thought it was, but when I look at these pictures, I’m hesitant. Sometimes it’s easier to see what works and what doesn’t in a picture. It is a distance from the painting itself.
Time will tell.
I started this painting in April of 2015… You would think I could have finished it, but the Muse does not like a harness. I did plenty of other art meanwhile.
There is a time for everything…
xo
Maria
P.S. I have a sale in my etsy shop Dec. 9-15. Great selection of unique gifts! Everything is 15% off. EARTH AND FAERY.
Artist and writer
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