A Process of Discovery

Opening up to the Magic

                                                                      by Flora Bowley

 

© Tara Morris

 

Often the fear of starting a new painting can keep us from ever lifting a brush.  Sound familiar? Trust me, you are not alone with this fear.  A big white empty canvas can be a very daunting and overwhelming place to start.  Why? Because it is SO full of possibilities….just like life.  You can do anything.  You really can.  So how do you know what to do first?  Where do you start?

 

In my workshops, the first thing I tell my students is that there are no mistakes.  I know this sounds cliché, but it’s actually the truth, at least in my process.  It’s true because I work in many layers with acrylic paint and absolutely everything is cover-up-able.  This forgiving approach allows you to work with complete wild abandon—to truly let go, to tune in and listen to your intuition and to allow this feeling/knowing (and not your critical mind) to be your guide.  Working this way opens you up to a world of inspiration that is actually bigger than you.  Yes, bigger than you.  Your job is to simply become a vessel for this grand inspiration to flow through.  By following your instinctual urges you will find yourself creating from a place that is true to you, unrestrained and full of possibilities.

 

 

© Tara Morris

In the first layer of your painting, try to use as many colors and ways of making marks as you can. Have fun! At this point, each mark is an opportunity, so the more variation you have, the better.

 

But what happens when you paint with wild abandon and your painting ends up looking like a big ol’ mess?   Don’t give up!  My first bit of advice is to always work on more than one painting at a time.   When one canvas is full of wet paint, you can simply set it aside and start working on the next canvas.  By the time you get back to your first canvas, the paint will hopefully be dry and you will be able to see it again with “new eyes.”  Most likely there will be some gems of beauty nestled inside your “mess.”  The key at this point is to step back and start asking yourself, “What is working?”  This might feel counter-intuitive and it’s definitely different than a typical art school critic approach that focuses on what is not working.   But, trust me, asking yourself what IS working is a very important part of this process as it offers you a positive portal back into your process and a way to keep momentum as you continue to build up layers.

 

Keep in mind, what is working can literally be ANYTHING.  It might be one square inch of your canvas—a place where two colors blended in a certain special way.  It could also be a way you used your fingers to smear the paint around, an image, a color, or even an emotion you see in your painting.  Without thinking about it too long, notice the first thing that you consider to be “working” in your painting and dive back in to expand upon this thing.  Because your painting is dry now, you will be able to cover up whatever you want.  Continue working on your paintings in this way as you build up many layers of paint.  If you get frustrated, set your canvas aside and work on your other canvas.  If you are still stuck, find one thing you like about your painting (there must be SOMETHING you like) and expand upon this part of your painting.

 

Be patient with your creations as they are figuring out who they want to become.  Allow them to emerge on their own time and in ways you never could have imagined before you began.  By approaching your art making journey as a process of discovery, rather than as a struggle to perfect a pre-conceived idea you have in your head, you open yourself up to a world of infinite possibility.  And this, my friend, is where the magic starts to happen.

 

©Ali DeJohn

 

Flora Bowley

 

Flora Bowley (pronounced bowl-lee) is an internationally celebrated painter, teacher, author and inspirationalist. Her vibrant paintings can be found in galleries, private homes and public spaces and her unique designs grace the covers of albums and licensed products around the world. Flora combines eighteen years of professional painting experience with her background as a yoga instructor and massage therapist to infuse her teaching and painting style with a deep connection to body, mind and spirit. By honoring intuition and celebrating the present moment, Flora encourages her students to overcome fear and welcome joyful spontaneous expression back into the creative process. Her transformational approach to painting (and living) has inspired thousands of people to “let go, be bold and unfold.” Flora’s new book, “Brave Intuitive Painting,” will be released by Quarry Books on May 1st, 2012 and her “Bloom True” e-course will make it’s debut in February, 2012. Flora splits her time between painting, teaching and traveling to colorful locations around the world and living among a community of artists in Portland, OR.  She feels blessed everyday to do what she loves and to inspire others to do the same.  To see Flora’s art, please visit: www.florabowley.com.  For information about workshops and online classes, please visit: www.braveintuitiveyou.com

 

** I’m teaming up with Flora and we are heading to Monterey for a Brave, Soul*Full, Intuitive You Retreat Sept. 5th-9th 2012  go HERE to read more about it. JOIN US!

 

 

 

If you would like to be a part of the Soul*Full Tribe series send me an e-mail at cj@catherinejust.com