Finding Flow in the Creative Process
Finding Flow in the Creative Process
A rare moment of creative flow, gratitude, and embracing the messy middle of the artistic process...
While working on my latest piece, I found myself in a rare moment of pure flow - the first I've had in a long time. It felt really good to just be in the moment, letting my mind go blank and my hand take over.
I've been working freely with organic shapes and lines, creating an interference pattern full of movement. While painting, I kept imagining water waves and sound waves and thinking how they might interact. The piece started with a pea plant study, where I noticed parts of the plant looked like bugs, especially how the leaves close to the ends of the stocks with curly tendrils looks like wings about to take flight.
I've comfortably reached the ugly phase - this is the phase in every piece of art where things look like shit and I question if I should keep working on it. But I also know what the next part will be (adding some darks), so I'm excited to get to that part.
While working, I felt grateful that I am sober, because it is only through being sober that this moment was made possible. The jobs I was able to get, the apartment I live in, the desk I work at, the chunk of money I have saved so that I know I can be creative and experiment without worrying about my survival (for a little while) - none of it would have been possible if I hadn't gotten sober 11 years ago.
This piece is evolving into something between real and surreal - where organic forms dance and interact. When complete, this original work will find its home with one collector who connects with art that explores nature's mysteries.
Warmly,
Olivia
- Letting my mind go blank and my hand take over - found that rare moment of pure flow while working on this piece.
- In the messy middle of this piece - where water waves meet sound waves. Sometimes you have to trust the process through the ugly phase.
art in progress, surreal art, organic shapes, artistic process, contemporary art, Canadian artist, original art, painting process
artinprogress, surrealart, organicshapes, artisticprocess, contemporaryart, canadianartist, originalart, paintingprocess