The Painting Experience Blog
Three Steps to Greater Creative Self-Compassion
“Self-compassion entails being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism.” ~ Kristin Neff In the first part of this series on self-compassion and process painting, we explored how staying present and compassionate toward ourselves can free us to more fully [...]
My Painting Experience Weekend
We're excited to offer the following guest post by painter Sue Dolamore, who attended our Painting Experience workshop in Asheville, North Carolina this summer. These reflections first appeared on the blog at her website, The Art of Sue Dolamore. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Sue! It is the heart that has infinite resources so it [...]
Be Fierce: The Way Out Is In!
When “what is” is what is, “what is” is no longer what is. ~ J. Krishnamurti I was once teaching a workshop at a retreat center when I arrived to find the room far from ready. There’s much work to prepare the studio for a week-long painting course -- lights, protective coverings for the floors [...]
Listening to Your Intuition
Intuition is subtle and always available, waiting patiently for you to turn to it.When a spontaneous image arises, we often erect a red light or “wrong way” sign in front it. It is as though every new shape or color has to stand trial before a formal court prior to being allowed to appear in [...]
Practical Tools : Brushes, Paints, Paper — and Time
Don’t let art supplies intimidate you. When it comes to process painting, brushes, paints, and paper are the easiest tools to use -- they do not require sophisticated techniques or special knowledge. Your desire to paint is what is important, and brushes, paints, and paper are a means to fulfill that desire, not an obstacle. Find [...]
Process Painting : Don’t Kill the Void!
The untouched surface has a special power.The void is the source of all creation. In process painting, your willingness to meet this emptiness without panic is your greatest ally. Let the blank paper challenge you and see what happens!Emptiness Calls Forth Your CreativityPeople sometimes start their paintings by filling in the background -- the whole [...]
Process Art Basics
Process painting is not about technique, skill or training. It's about using the tools of art to explore creativity itself. Here are seven fundamental ideas about the practice of process arts to fuel your creative exploration: Process painting is not something to learn or get better at. It's about being. The act of creation is [...]
You Are Not Your Painting!
Mistakenly believing that we are what we paint is the origin of all creative blocks.The creative force is like a beam of light: one moment it may focus on a flower or a god, the next moment on the underworld or the mud. With its illuminating rays it explores the whole universe, inner and outer, [...]
The Archetypal Language of Process Painting
As this language speaks through us and despite us in the mysterious magic of the painting process, we come to appreciate more and more the boundary-less nature of our potential presence in the world.Over time, I’ve noticed that certain essential forms mysteriously appear again and again in the painting process. From black hands to twisting vines, [...]
Why We Don’t Interpret Process Paintings
The most interesting thing to paint is what you don’t know about yourself. The true meaning of the painting is beyond any story you can expect or imagine.We are all well trained in interpretation. We read meaning into almost everything we do. We think our actions would be pointless if we didn’t apply labels to [...]