‘Somehow, in painting I try to make some logic out of the world that has been given to me in chaos.’
-Grace Hartigan
I believe that ‘art therapy’ and self expression can help ease the human condition.
It is in my own shadows that I get confused. Trauma and the suffering that ensues.
It is through art that I am learning to organize, speak to and otherwise HEAL what has hurt.
I was fortunate enough to have a therapist 5 years ago that allowed me to bring clay into the session. I told her I suspected that having something to work on while sharing my inner turmoil with her might speed up the process. I could focus on what was in my hands, thus allowing an inner locked part of me become accessible. Luckily, it worked!!!! I was able to share and open up about parts of my life experience EVEN I HAD BEEN BLOCKED FROM.
This experience opened up many doors into my psyche. An unlocking of stuck and hidden energy. My shadow box suddenly had new meaning. Its become less scary for me to go into the depths of my own inner nature, Im not so intimidated by the tension, the confusion. I understand parts of myself like never before. A self acceptance that I get to invest in and bear witness to daily. I HAVE THE KEY TO MY OWN HEALING. TO MY OWN INNER PEACE.
When I focus on what I love, what percolates my curiosity, and what interests me, I DEEPEN MY RELATIONSHIP TO MYSELF AND THE WORLD AROUND ME.
A fellow artist I met by chance one evening has prompted these questions to which I delight in answering….
‘what are your processes for creating new art and what your thoughts are while you are creating. What are you trying to express or achieve with your art; pure exploration of media, delighting in the doing (sometimes I draw and doodle just for the feel of the pen under my finger tips), or expressing something abstract?’
My answer is naturally complex-
On a primal level- I am creating to MOVE ENERGY. At times Ill sit at the wheel, at my table and nothing comes out the way I want, expect or hope. I feel full of tears, anguish, pain, suffering, confusion, and general apathy. These are the moments where I just let whats inside come out in whatever form, shape or way it needs. During these times I will often experiment with new ideas, techniques and things that intrigue me on the periphery but I never make time for. These moments are where I let my ‘wild’ inner childlike nature express itself, in all the feelings. I don’t usually expect an outcome, a finished product and definitely not perfection!
Intentionally, when I have a vision for something that I want to create, I will clear my mind. I will let all that perturbs me, all the mind chatter, everything I can’t control, I let it fall away. Like leaves in the breeze. Its very liberating to be in the moment. (oh this rare treasure I hope to cultivate more of!) I allow a ‘sense’ of what I am trying to weave, to orchestrate, to bring to fruition- MY VISION- I hold it there in this quiet space. The tension has turned into a vibration. I am following/listening/tuning into this wave length!
In abstraction, I am imitating NATURE. My muse. Both the nature of my environment and my own inner nature!
Childlike in art, I am not seeking perfection, I seek EXPRESSION. There is enough comparison and perfection in the world. So much of what I make isn’t perfect in the least. Some of my biggest break throughs in art have been when I let loose. I experiment and try something in wild abandon. Not in perfection. Perfectionism for me is spirit crushing. I do it enough in other areas in my life to know that I dare not let it come into my art (anymore!) for it is but a haunting ghost. It’s a nuisance and doesn’t get me anywhere. This is different than that of refinement. Once Ive tried something new, I will keep working towards its fullest expression.
‘Creativity is making mistakes, art is knowing which ones to keep.’
-Scott Adams
My processes for creating new art.
EXPERIMENTATION.
I don’t stop when I like something, I continue to gather MANY things that I like. I don’t want to limit my creativity. The pursuit of making brushes was just another medium I was trying. An experiment. I didn’t know it would take me to where I am now. I didn’t know that it would UNLOCK FURTHER POTENTIAL. Just like I didn’t comprehend at the time that psychotherapy would do the same.
I made these brushes to use with my pottery. I chose bamboo for my handles because my backyard at the time was full of it and because bamboo holds water well and is naturally ‘designed’ or rather, easy to make brushes with, nodes and all! I use a lot of roadkill hair from dead animals, mostly squirrels and foxes because it is FREE and UPCYCLED. Although Ive found that human hair makes some of the best marks!
I am so excited to continue my pursuits, my curiosity and creativity!
I hope you are inspired. To follow your own dreams, to find inner contentment, to EXPRESS yourself in this human experience we are all having!
To creative healing,
Gretchen
