Small children find magic all around them. When does that enchantment with the world dissipate? As adults its easy to become busy and disconnected from nature. I have been searching for ways to reignite my enchantment with the world through small daily acts which start a flow of gratitude.
In Julia Cameron’s new book Living the Artist’s Way, she talks about Guidance as the fourth tool in living a creative life. Trusting your intuition is an intangible yet powerful way to journey through life. Trusting the process of creating allows me to feel confident when I am trying new techniques like this free form ink drawing.
As an artist, I am a collector. My garage and studio are crammed to the roof with THINGS! I don’t want to leave these as my legacy so it is time to declutter. I told a friend what I was doing and she suggested I watch “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” which totally resonated with me. Don’t leave your mess for someone else to have to clean up.
Do we truely value what we do? If the answer is no, is this about the ‘tall poppy’ syndrome or living ‘under the radar’ as a woman, to not draw attention to yourself? This undervaluing can translate into how you value your own creations and artworks. What do you choose to exhibit or share?
Artist talks are a bit like your Monday morning school ‘show and tell’. It’s about explaining what you have done; the how and why of making art. For my MA Arts & Place final project, I gave an artist talk and film screening which showed how I collaborated with nature ‘on site’ and how mark making can be used as an immerse experience.
When you are so busy trying to prove yourself to the world at large (or maybe yourself) you can feel like you have to keep pushing yourself, striving all the time to reach more and more milestones. It’s exhausting. That’s where pretending can lead to practising. It’s all in the framing.
I continually ask myself about the relevance of art and creativity. Is art relevant and why? I have been trying to understand the nature of duality and finding hope when we witness war. How do we navigate conflict? What role does art in its many forms play in creating the future and changing perceptions?
I have spent the past five years pushing myself to my limits, learning, exploring life as a entrepreneur, creating art and returning to writing again. At the end of 2023 I have emerged stronger in my art practice, knowing that living as an artist means embracing all of who you are. The only thing constant is change.
Self publishing is a fantastic way to create a printed catalogue of your art project. The images in a book retain the essence of place, the sounds heard and smells experienced there as well as a document of art created ‘on site’. Books can become ambassadors of your work, able to travel and represent you when you can’t be there yourself.
The old self doubt can creep into your thoughts when you are about to do something a bit scary, a bit out there, or wild and ambitious. It can completely derail all your plans and decisions. I call it “the wobbles”. It’s good to be prepared so you can know what to do when they strike.
Doing a small art piece everyday helps you feel ‘in the flow’. It’s like exercise or music, you need to practise to have a practice. I discovered how rusty I was at making an image using simple drawing techniques. Time to get serious with a daily practice again to regain confidence.
Can art become art activism? Is the pen or brush or song mightier than the implements of destruction? How can we build activism into our art? Sometimes it is the subjects we focus on that show their value through a currency of care.
My new drawing experiments I’ve been doing in the wetlands around my house have been totally liberating. I don’t try to draw what I see, I let what I see draw itself. It’s a collaborative process that embraces imperfection. In my books that’s achieving success.
Collaborating with the elements is a great way to make art. Watermarks and shadows, mud and sand all leave patterns that are unique and of the moment. Letting go of control of your images means that the other than human elements can take part in your image making. It all becomes easy and effortless!
What is your art process? Maybe process becomes the art. It’s what I have been experimenting with as I explore ways to capture the beauty of the Pottsville environment. Making marks with and in the environment is a new direction to explore for my final Masters Arts and Place project.
Rain puddles, upside down trees and floating bits of bark. These have started a mapping process for me of the Boorum Wetland, adjacent to where I live. Making maps is an exciting direction for my next art project. It’s time to reclaim the beauty of swamps and wetlands.
After seven months away from home, I realise that I have taken where I live somewhat for granted. Yet is is one of the few remaining habitats for the endangered Buruwagan (bush curlew) whose distinctive night call is becoming my own call to action.
The annual raft race at Porthleven harbour was a great finish to my time in Cornwall where I could reflect on my last artist residency in the UK. Now my challenge will be to return to Australia to bring this experience into my final project to complete the Masters Arts & Place program.
What are you own particular set of skills? It’s easy to undervalue what comes easily to you. Yet these same set of skills could be exactly what you need to develop and extend your own art practice.
Creatures of myth and imagination can call to you from the strangest of places. I am attracted to taking pictures of the strangest things, like rusted wire, abandoned buildings and patterns in the asphalt. They inspire me to tell their stories.
