I was working on a vision board the other day with my friend Diana Arsenian. She is a graphic facilitator. I didn’t really understand what a graphic facilitator does till yesterday. Her expertise resides in taking verbal communication and translating it into pictographs on a wall size piece of paper. She basically takes unseen words and ideas and makes them visible. It is an amazing talent.
We were penciling out all kinds of ideas, visions for the future. She drew images as I spoke. Most of my ideas were connected with lines to a simple drawing of me in the center. All these lines extending outward led to ideas I might possibly try to create in the future. After a few minutes she pointed to the figure of me and asked, “So what fills you? What is coming into you to inspire all these things that are going out?”
That was an easy answer. I just said my Art. She smiled and nodded as she drew an image of a big sun above the figure of me.
“This,” she said, pointing to the sun, “is most critical. It is essential to all you do.” I had never really pictured it this way. I have always thought of my Art as something that just came out of me, not as something separate that has a vitality of it’s own.
[Tweet “”No matter what you are doing the sun, our Art, is always just overhead.” – Nicholas Wilton”]
But it is true. Art is like a sun overhead. The longer I make Art the more I see the importance of keeping it carefully to one side of all manner of personal noise. If your Art is separate and carefully preserved, then it can always be used to balance whatever is going on in your life. If things are hectic it can be a place where solitude can be found. If life becomes dull, then your Art can be the doorway back to inspiration and passion.
I like to describe my Art making as a practice. Not a noun but more of a verb. It is the practice of repeatedly gazing upwards. Art has a way of realigning you. It bolsters the feeling of who you are or – even better – who you are possibly becoming. I think the image of the sun is perfect. No matter where you are or what you are doing the sun, our Art, is always just overhead, always available to us.
The only requirement, it seems to me, is to consistently nurture this heavenly body that follows us from above. We must keep it just high enough in the sky that the daily earthly distractions and commotion of everyday life won’t degrade its pristine condition. Then it will remain as a vital tool, a conduit for becoming more and more our selves.
How would you describe your relationship with your art? Does it bring you closer to yourself? If you would like to share, please do so in the comments section below.
In gratitude, Nicholas
15 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
Hi Nicholas,
As always your blog posts are thought provoking – and you do ask the best questions! “How would you describe your relationship with your art? Does it bring you closer to yourself?” Once I began to paint intuitively – that is not from a photo and not attempting to capture what was in front of me – I began to feel that my art was definitely teaching me who I am, what I care about, and what things that really matter to me.
As for where the paintings come from – that remains a mystery to me. I like to think now that my paintings are an expression of my own search for meaning. Since I do not plan my paintings in advance – I start by putting paint on the paper and making marks and then I search for the painting – my method actually reflects the search for meaning (I just realize this as I was writing this – that my approach itself is a search for meaning – and content.) So, often I am pretty amazed at the final painting, especially when I take time to ponder what the painting might mean, wondering where exactly the images came from and what they are expressing. And always I say “I never could have imagined this in advance.”
Yes, I think my paintings do bring me closer to myself – that is, they give me insight into what matters to me – and I’d miss it all if I didn’t take the time to step back and unravel the mystery and the messages they contain.
Thanks for asking that questions!
Jim
I relate so strongly to Jim’s response. I work in the same way. Lately I have struggled for words because I have been asked to explain my work for a journal and a presentation. Most recently, I have come to see that my quest to paint the spirit of Nature has evolved to include painting the nature of Spirit. As I refine my own spirituality and connection to the natural world, the two show up in my work. And it evolves as I do. Isn’t it magical! And such a gift we are given! I feel grateful every day. If you would like to see my work, go to http://www.warmsunart.com
Interesting comments–thanks–It does get tricky to explain your work in words=-after all it is a painting not a manuscript. I tend to use the word “feel” a lot—this safely keeps me closer to what si going on inside of me–it allows ambiguity which art is full of..and who can argue with how it makes you feel?
Painting the nature of Spirit! Beautiful!
I work the same way too…very cool- thanks for this comment…
Hi Nicholas,
As always your blog posts are thought provoking – and you do ask the best questions! “How would you describe your relationship with your art? Does it bring you closer to yourself?” Once I began to paint intuitively – that is not from a photo and not attempting to capture what was in front of me – I began to feel that my art was definitely teaching me who I am, what I care about, and what things that really matter to me.
As for where the paintings come from – that remains a mystery to me. I like to think now that my paintings are an expression of my own search for meaning. Since I do not plan my paintings in advance – I start by putting paint on the paper and making marks and then I search for the painting – my method actually reflects the search for meaning (I just realize this as I was writing this – that my approach itself is a search for meaning – and content.) So, often I am pretty amazed at the final painting, especially when I take time to ponder what the painting might mean, wondering where exactly the images came from and what they are expressing. And always I say “I never could have imagined this in advance.”
Yes, I think my paintings do bring me closer to myself – that is, they give me insight into what matters to me – and I’d miss it all if I didn’t take the time to step back and unravel the mystery and the messages they contain.
Thanks for asking that questions!
Jim
I relate so strongly to Jim’s response. I work in the same way. Lately I have struggled for words because I have been asked to explain my work for a journal and a presentation. Most recently, I have come to see that my quest to paint the spirit of Nature has evolved to include painting the nature of Spirit. As I refine my own spirituality and connection to the natural world, the two show up in my work. And it evolves as I do. Isn’t it magical! And such a gift we are given! I feel grateful every day. If you would like to see my work, go to http://www.warmsunart.com
Interesting comments–thanks–It does get tricky to explain your work in words=-after all it is a painting not a manuscript. I tend to use the word “feel” a lot—this safely keeps me closer to what si going on inside of me–it allows ambiguity which art is full of..and who can argue with how it makes you feel?
Painting the nature of Spirit! Beautiful!
I work the same way too…very cool- thanks for this comment…
Hi Nicholas,
As always your blog posts are thought provoking – and you do ask the best questions! “How would you describe your relationship with your art? Does it bring you closer to yourself?” Once I began to paint intuitively – that is not from a photo and not attempting to capture what was in front of me – I began to feel that my art was definitely teaching me who I am, what I care about, and what things that really matter to me.
As for where the paintings come from – that remains a mystery to me. I like to think now that my paintings are an expression of my own search for meaning. Since I do not plan my paintings in advance – I start by putting paint on the paper and making marks and then I search for the painting – my method actually reflects the search for meaning (I just realize this as I was writing this – that my approach itself is a search for meaning – and content.) So, often I am pretty amazed at the final painting, especially when I take time to ponder what the painting might mean, wondering where exactly the images came from and what they are expressing. And always I say “I never could have imagined this in advance.”
Yes, I think my paintings do bring me closer to myself – that is, they give me insight into what matters to me – and I’d miss it all if I didn’t take the time to step back and unravel the mystery and the messages they contain.
Thanks for asking that questions!
Jim
I relate so strongly to Jim’s response. I work in the same way. Lately I have struggled for words because I have been asked to explain my work for a journal and a presentation. Most recently, I have come to see that my quest to paint the spirit of Nature has evolved to include painting the nature of Spirit. As I refine my own spirituality and connection to the natural world, the two show up in my work. And it evolves as I do. Isn’t it magical! And such a gift we are given! I feel grateful every day. If you would like to see my work, go to http://www.warmsunart.com
Interesting comments–thanks–It does get tricky to explain your work in words=-after all it is a painting not a manuscript. I tend to use the word “feel” a lot—this safely keeps me closer to what si going on inside of me–it allows ambiguity which art is full of..and who can argue with how it makes you feel?
Painting the nature of Spirit! Beautiful!
I work the same way too…very cool- thanks for this comment…