There is a temptation, as an artist, to stick to what we feel that we can do well. We enjoy the feeling of confidence as we embark upon the next piece and can be fairly sure that it will be well received, just as all the previous variations of it have been. It can be a good thing, in that there is a consistency about the work and a harmony about any collection that you might have on your wall. So both artist and collector can derive a great deal of satisfaction from ‘what is known’.
In my own practice, though, I feel that it is important to sometimes push out from the shore of certainty and familiarity and to have the courage to ‘cross the unknown sea’ of creativity (to borrow the title of a book by David Whyte). Doing this can bring up the most uncomfortable feelings, partly because I’m really not sure what I’m doing or where I’m heading and partly because there is the possibility that it might not work out and I might not like where my creative journey takes me.
So what I try to do is to bring the mindset of an explorer to the task. I first prepare the things I’ll need for the journey. If I am working in watercolours, for example, I might attach a piece of watercolour paper to a board, get my brushes and water container etc. out and then take some time to mix various strengths of colour, ready to go. As I begin, I try to approach the paper not with fear but with a sense of adventure and playfulness – perhaps like a child would. I let go of the need for certainty and familiarity, I surrender the desire to be perfect and to control everything and I allow myself to be swept away by the creative process.
Often, like the shape-shifting of the ocean waves, the currents of the painting take me in different directions. I may start by wetting some of the paper and painting broad strokes of colour across the page. In dry areas, the brush strokes will be crisp and clear and in wet areas they will diffuse and merge with each other, wet on wet. I might then add some different colours or deeper tones to take the image in a different direction before spattering random drops into it, sprinkling salt, tipping the board,etc. as I lose my inhibitions and immerse myself in the creative process.
Along the way, I might pause from time to time and consider whether this is a good place to stop or whether to press on. Hopefully, I will reach a point where I am happy with the place I’ve arrived at and I will ‘disembark’ and allow the painting time to dry. Even the drying process can offer up some subtle changes which are now beyond my control.
The wonderful thing is that this is not the end of the process. Viewing the piece is part of the ongoing creativity. I bring my attention and imagination to it, allowing the balance of colour, tone, composition and overall mood to take me on my own inner journey. Others, too, will view it through the lens of their unique sensibilities, bringing often surprising interpretations and fresh perspectives to my abstract watercolours.
Sometimes, I may not be satisfied with the whole of the painting but in moving a viewfinder or 4 strips of paper around the image, I can find smaller compositions that work beautifully. This is why, as an art tutor, I would suggest never throwing experimental pieces away – there are often hidden gems within!
There is another kind of letting go that happens during the painting process and this is to do with my ideas of the outcome. I may have begun with some idea of how I wanted it to take shape, but I find that I have to hold on very loosely to this and to be prepared to let it go entirely if the painting takes me in a diiferent direction. Also, if I have struggled with the piece or perhaps feel disappointed with the result, I may need to leave it for a while before viewing it again with fresh eyes and without the residue of disappointment. Sometimes, it is only then that I can see the true value of something or perhaps discover the small treasure at the heart of it.
Sharing the love
In the drawing and painting workshops at Soulspace art studio recently, I have been encouraging others to push out into the deep. Their response echoes my own experience – ranging from a feeling that they are ‘just messing’ or not sure what they are doing to that sense of open ended exploration and the freedom of adventure. The studio and the workshops offer a safe container for their creative experimentation and growth. Each person brings there own experience and subjectivity to the process and it is wonderful to see how their unique qualities shine through and infuse their work with individuality.
