A Flash Of Colour

// February 14th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // creativity

How much richness are you filtering out of your life?

A patient came to Milton Erikson, the famous hypnotherapist, in a very stuck state.

She had been asked to go on a week long trip and did not want to leave her hometown, even though she was miserable there. She preferred the idea of staying put and hating where she was.

Once she was under hypnosis, Erikson’s instructions to her were, firstly, to be very curious about this state. Secondly, during the following week she was to go on that trip and while there, very unexpectedly, she would see a flash of colour.

She would be very curious about this.

During that week the woman did see a flash of colour–it was a red-headed woodpecker flying past bright, green foliage. Seeing that bird had a profound effect on her and she began a period of her life where she travelled a lot and delighted in seeing and experiencing new things.

Part of what Erikson did was to encourage her to hold the expectation that she would see something wonderful and awe inspiring.

We filter so much out of our own lives

in order to protect ourselves from being overwhelmed, that we can too easily miss the richness of the world around us. When she held the expectation of, once again, perceiving some of the richness she had filtered out, it happened. And because a connection had been made between her sense of stuck-ness and seeing the flash of colour, it created a major shift.

One way to become more creative

is to expect that ideas will come to you, to maintain a presence in your daily life that allows you to notice small details that can fuel your creativity.

Each of these small details can serve as a nugget of inspiration, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us, or it may provide a metaphor, or understanding that cracks open a stuck-ness in our life.

So at some point in the coming week, Dear Reader, you will see a flash of colour. Let me know when you do!

Possibilities

// November 30th, 2010 // 5 Comments » // creativity, labyrinth picture, Labyrinths, process, Uncategorized

This is the final day for Art Every Day Month, although for me it was more like Art Every Couple Of Days Month.

Even though I didn’t get to make art or post every day it’s still been a great experience. I did manage to sink deeply into the labyrinth through studying, walking and drawing them, and I’ve learned a lot over the past month. I also got to meet a whole bunch of new and creative friends and to check out their wonderful blogs!

At the start of the month I wanted to explore the labyrinth and see if my interest could be sustained over time, and it has. I’m excited about the possibilities of working with labyrinths more in the future. I’m hoping to get to San Francisco in February to do Labyrinth Facilitator training and hopefully lead labyrinth workshops in the future so I can hang out with other people and learn more.

I’ve already started writing content for some training on Labyrinth Drawing, painting and journalling as an art practice and I’m excited to see where that goes.

This picture has been in my mind for a couple of days and I got some time last night to paint it. I’m seeing a lot of references to the similarities between the labyrinth and the womb, links to Goddess religions and also noticed for myself how the back and forward rocking motion that comes from walking the labyrinth is very much like being cradled. So this seemed a fitting image to close the month out on.

Receiving The Snow

// November 21st, 2010 // 5 Comments » // Labyrinths, painting

We got some snow today!

Just a flurry and it didn’t stick, but it was fun.

There was actually quite a bit coming down for a while there, it’s not that cold so it disappeared as fast as it arrived.

But still: Snow!

It was Fred’s first time out playing in it, and he freaked out a little. After a while he just stood there with his hands over his eyes trying to pretend it wasn’t happening.

My heart was thumping at the sight of my vulnerable little boy standing there, playing peek-a-boo with the snow.

I got to do a brief walk of the labyrinth while it was still snowing. It was so peaceful, experiencing the snowflakes whirling around, watching them land and dissolve at my feet as I walked, and being in that snowy space where time seems to slow down and soften.

I have a rock at the centre of the labyrinth and when I get there I usually reach down and touch it, take a moment at the centre, and begin my return trip back through the labyrinth.

But this time, as I turned to go back, It struck me how little time I spend at the centre, and I stopped.

I’m currently reading Lauren Artress’ wonderful book ”The Sacred Path Companion”, and  she writes of the three stages of a labyrinth walk–releasing, receiving, returning. I’ve been using the labyrinth very effectively as a way to release stress and get a bit more grounded and centred, but I rarely stay long in the  centre, where the receiving phase usually takes place.

So today I stopped in the centre and made a point of receiving the snow for a while.

It was beautiful to stand there, looking up at the snow swirling down over me, and give my self that brief moment.

Artress makes the point in her writing that there are no right or wrong ways to walk a labyrinth, and that there as as many methods of walking as there are people. I love that.

I’m also grateful to be reading and learning ways to get the most from walking the labyrinth. Each of these tips get filed away at the back of my mind. The labyrinth seems to kick these clues back up at the perfect moment on a walk, and allow me to gently reconnect with a part of myself just when needed.

Creative Bank Deposit: Backgrounds

// November 7th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // creativity, painting, work in progress

I have a really busy week ahead and I know time will be short for creating art, so today’s Art Every Day Month project was to get a whole lot of backgrounds started so I could make the most of the time that I do have this week.

I feel good, like I’ve just made a big deposit into my creativity bank that I can draw from over the next few days.

Doing backgrounds has also become one of my favourite ways to beat creative blocks. They’re very non-threatening to do, and I always find myself getting into that artsy meditative state as I paint. When I do go to begin something, there’s no “blank canvas” to worry about, I’ve at least made a start.

Another great thing about painting backgrounds is that there’s very little at stake. Anything I come up with is fine, and I usually build a few layers up for my paintings these days. I love the textures and the aliveness they bring to a painting.

So if I mess one of them up, no problem. Another layer or two and it will be looking great.

The Red Thread of Creativity

// October 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // creativity, Uncategorized

*****

There’s an old story about a Buddhist Monk going to his teacher and asking:

‘In whom does Buddha cause passion’

The teacher replies:

‘The Buddha causes passion in everyone’

Monk:

‘Then how do we get rid of it?’

Teacher:

‘Why should we get rid of it?’

*****

Sometimes Buddhism is presented as a bloodless, and fatalistic religion, one where all passion is seen as something to be extinguished. That’s not really the case at all, but the assumption is pretty sticky.

Burt it’s not just in Buddhism that passion is seen as something to be extingushed. That idea is everywhere.

I’ve see it in everyday conversations, places I’ve worked, hospitals, writing groups, on-line forums, and even art classes I’ve attended.

Our culture can be decidedly anti-passions and pro objective decision making process (ie: bloodless). Unless it’s in the form of an advertisement trying to invoke the precise flutter of passion needed to override your objection to buying that over-priced sports car/ handbag / telecommunications device.

The dominant message is that viewing the world objectively trumps viewing the world subjectively almost every time.

I’ve never been sure why; we live inside the world, not beside it, taking notes on a clipboard (or overpriced telecommunications device).

Try and get passionate about something that doesn’t involve financial money markets or making machines, and you’ll get plenty of messages about how it’s not practical to view that passion as a career path, or a serious pursuit, that just wouldn’t be practical. Apparently, the things you’re passionate about are best done in the basement, alone, late at night.

Please don’t offend the serious people.

All that is fine, I have the choice to ignore it, right?

Well, not really. Because whenever I go to write, or talk, or paint about things I’m passionate about, the same arguments come up from inside my head.

“They really don’t want to hear/read/see this”

“That’s not practical.”

“What a waste of their time and yours”

“Grow up”

I’ve done quite the job of integrating all those messages.

I’m sure the messages spring out of the good intent to keep us safe from being overwhelmed by our desires, but when they result in us being overwhelmed by abstract obligations to people we don’t know, then things are a little out of balance.

And isn’t balance the thing? A balance between our passions and our obligations, balance between subjective and objective, between wisdom from outside, and wisdom from within?

Going back to Buddhism for just a second, they have a concept called the ‘Red Thread’. The Red Thread is a metaphor for the core passion that we bring to our lives, it represents a love of the things that we care most deeply about, and that help to drive our lives.

The string of fire that courses through us, enlivening everything it touches

Why should we get rid of that?

I’ve been participating in Leah’s Creative Every Day challenge for a while now, but haven’t done much on this month’s theme: Passions. I often feel hesitant talking about some of the creative things I’m passionate about, because it generally amounts to a list of things that not many people care about. Having a blog devoted entirely to the subject of creativity is really helping with that, but still, the insecurity lingers.

This is the attitude I’m trying to foster about that: “So what. They’re the things I’m into, I can find a way to work these into my working life. Maybe I can do that in a way that gets some other people to care about them, too”

One way to strengthen that attitude is by naming these passions.

So, here is my Red Thread of Creativity list:

• Labyrinths
• Poetry
• Yoga / Meditation
• Shiva Nata
• Blogging
• Writing
• Cartooning
• Painting
• Improv Theatre
• Surfing

They’re all things I’ve put lots of time into. They’re all things I’d love to be doing, or reading about, or writing about. I’m doing some of these things now, some obsessively, some things on the list are in hibernation, but I know I’ll get back to them. Some activities might not even strike others as being creative at all (surfing?) but I feel the link, subjectively, if not objectively.

What kind of things make it onto your ‘Red Thread of Creativity’ list? I’d love to hear!

*****

New Painting – Sonata

// October 17th, 2010 // 8 Comments » // painting

So, after a week or so of almost zero painting time I got a few hours in the other day and finished off this painting for my Etsy Shop.

The hand holding the handkerchief nearly killed me. I spent more time repositioning, drawing practice sketches, and fussing around with that hand than I think I spent on the rest of the painting combined.

Anyway. Done, and done.

I like the way the colours look against the background of my blog, maybe I’ll just keep it, bang a nail in, and hang it here.

*******

The illustration for my last post, the penny farthing guy, got snapped up before I could put it in my shop.

Which is great!

This has happened a couple of times now, so I thought I might resurrect my abandoned newsletter by relaunching it as an advanced discount list.

(Except I hate the term advanced discount list. Might have to come up with another name for that–any suggestions welcome.)

I’d love to have a way to look after readers of this blog who might be interested in discounts on art and prints (coming soon), and even some giveaways (for buyers and non-buyers!)

I’m working out the details now, and will hopefully get it back up and running by the end of this week. Feel free to sign up now, though, if you’re interested–just fill in your details in the ‘Cup of Chai’ box on the right and you’ll hear from me very soon!

*******