Sunday: Creative Challenge!

The Creative Challenge topic today is: Intuition.

I'm a big fan of using intuition in making art. I nearly had the urge to work this way stomped out of me in college, but it came back because I think it's the only way I can really let go and create and enjoy art-making. My experience has been that no matter how many plans you have for a piece of art, in the moment, things will change, your intuition will guide you, whether you are aware of it or not.

One of the things I *love* about collage is that it's such an intuitive process for me. Flipping through magazines, piles of scrap, and collected paper, I pull whatever speaks to me and then arrange it. When I let my thinking mind go on stand-by and let this part of me take over, something in my subconscious directs me in what colors and patterns to choose. Often there is something deep down that I need to express and when words or thinking doesn't do the trick (and they often don't) they may come forth more easily this way. The process is often a surprise for me. I enjoy letting it flow. I may arrange pulled images on a canvas and glue them down and then just look. An image will often suggest itself, much like you might see an image in wood grain, and I go with it. Sometimes there is a message I recognize in my art after the fact, it's like a conversation with myself, and other times I'm not quite sure, but I feel better for letting it out. This doesn't mean that I always make art in this way, but I think it's a wonderful way to get out what's in your heart. It's just another way of hearing that quiet voice inside you, a way of letting it speak.

So, for today's challenge, I encourage you to use intuition in your art making, whether that be in painting, collage, drawing, quilting, baking, decorating, sculpting, dancing, whatever! I'd love to hear about your experiences afterwards.

If you're looking for a starting point, try this: Get out a piece of paper (something sturdy is good, but it could be anything. I used an art journal here), a cup of water, a bunch of paint brushes of various sizes (feel free to use cheap-o brushes or house paint brushes or sponges or your fingers!), and whatever you have for paint. On your pallette (plastic disposable plates are great or a piece of wax paper) squirt on a generous blob of every color (white, black, the rainbow...). Then close your eyes and take a deep breath. When you open your eyes, look at your palette of colors and see which one is drawing your attention. Pick up a brush, dip it in that color, and start to paint. You don't need to think about what you're painting, it might end up as something recognizable or it could be entirely abstract, but don't think too much about it, just let your hand guide you. In the piece below, I was drawn to blues and whites and felt like swirling and curling. When you feel that you're done, look at the colors again and choose again, use a different size brush if it calls to you. If you get stuck in your head, close your eyes and take a deep breath, then start again. Keep painting until it feels finished. And voila, you have yourself a little piece of intuitive art!

I did this intuitive painting using the methods I described above, spread out over two pages in an art journal. The swirls begain to suggest birds to me and I went with that. Seems birds are popping up a lot lately.

In the past, I've taken a few workshops based on this process, spending hours on one big painting and it was wonderful. If you have the time and space it's fun to work bigger using the same process I described above. I'll write a bit more about my experiences with those workshops in my blog.

Loads of love to all your creative souls out there,

Leah (Creative Everyday)

Comments

[swampgrrl]

oh this wounds wonderful! i've done this process as well. but it has been awhile. i'll try it later. great idea!

[Suzie Q]

This is wonderful, Leah, and I love your swirly birds! I'm going to walk the dog, then come back & have a go! If the days go by any faster, I may have to put a week's worth of CaC posts in one! ;) I'm still thinking about sustenance, and signs, and intuition, and looking for a mug to swap! Great fun, thanks to all concerned! :)

[Jessie]

You are awesome, Leah! I love this challenge...and have been applying it to my writing project all day long. I'm working on a piece of creative writing about an experience I had in India doing a 10 day silent meditation. I made a rough outline a couple days ago...but have let it unfold naturally...allowing room for change, LOTS of change. I have a long way to go...but I love your intuition technique. And, I agree...it is the best way to make art because then it is in its rawest, most powerful form. I look forward to trying it out soon with paint as well.

Thank you for your words here. You are truly an artistic soul.

[tinker]

Thanks for reminding me of this, it's my favorite way to work - to just let go and see what comes - yet I have to be reminded over and over to do just that. I'll play later tonight.

[holli]

Oh wow - I love what you did in that journal!! I want it on my walls!! I find that to be very calming. It soothed my soul which is a good thing at the moment.

[Vedrana]

here it is :)

http://violetmetamorphosis.blogspot.com/2007/01/create-connection-sunday-creative.html