Painting Folies - Painting outside the Box

I have decided to create another blog in which I will post my "Process Paintings".  See former posts for explanations of what these are.

I am excited to announce the birth of:

 "Painting Follies" - Painting outside the box

"What would you paint if you ALLOWED yourself be TOTALLY FREE to play and express yourself without concern for the result...? This blog is a sample of what I have painted. Some I hate, some I love, some I don't know... but none of that matters. What matters is that in those moments, for the time it takes to do a full painting, I am not thinking... I JUST LET GO... I paint outside the box :-) "

http://paintingfolies.blogspot.com

More play...

Temperas on Paper

22 x 30 inches

Letting go...
What happens when we really let go of all plans and judgements and allow ourselves to play with colors and creativity, like young children do?
See former posts...

Medusa

Little by little, I think I may be adding these guys i.e. "Process Paintings" that are not about "beauty & result" but as the name indicates, about "PROCESS". See former posts for "explanations". Perhaps I need to reorganize  this blog and create a page just for these...

Temperas on Paper

22 x 30 inches

Letting Go...

No, I do not "like" this painting, anymore than the one from yesterday. But it's NOT the point. The point is to let go... For me, it means that I dip my brush in a color that attracts me in the very moment, with the brush size that attracts me, and I make marks that FEEL GOOD. Not about looking good, but feeling good. Not about thinking but feeling. Often, it can be very repetitive, because this is "what feeling wants". It is entirely about the process and ABSOLUTELY NOT about the RESULT. Just as it was when we were little children, prior to all judgments... before the world's judgements became ours... before we acquired certain tastes, aesthetic likes and dislikes.

Temperas on paper

22 x 30

Relief at last...

Temperas on Paper

22" x 30"

I hadn't done one of those in a long time... This painting is not about beauty, it is not about a result, even if I put it here. It is about the pure process of playing with colors without judgement. Without trying to control what the mind thinks will look good or bad. Instead, it is about pure creative self-expression - in the innocent way we approached it as children. It is about freeing our inner-child.

-- And "what does that do?" you may ask...

With practice, it helps us release, as we get in touch with the present moment. It ultimately brings relief to our energy field, emotions, stress... and it often reignites the creative flow in us - it has a very similar effect and process as the "Morning Pages" (See "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron) only with paints and colors instead of words, which is even more direct, less mental. But the 2 are not interchangeable. They each play a role, fulfilling specific "needs" for the physical, emotional, and mental bodies.

These 2 processes - "Morning Pages" and "Process Painting" do wonder for the Creative Life!

It may take a while to get used to this form of self-expression. Because a lot of judgments come up at first. And for me, and for many, this is the first step to a deep healing process. If you have never done this, be warned: It will very likely bring up frustration in you if you are used - like I was/am - to wanting to control everything. LOL!

On another level, it had a big and freeing impact on my way of approaching Painting - the "other" paintings I mean. It was like finally receiving my own approval and allowance to explore and play without fear. It eventually created a fresher and richer body of work. Something more uniquely "me".

To learn more I recommend reading "Life, Paint and Passion" by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley.
Michele is the pioneer of this method of what is often referred to as "Process Painting" ; and she is also the author of the perhaps more famous "Pt Zero". I personally preferred "Life, Paint and Passion". But both are excellent (available on Amazon). Pt Zero is very practical in that it teaches us how to ask ourselves simple questions in order to let go of the inner-judge who creates blocks - so we are able to continue to express, paint... and allow the freedom and feel exhilaration of playing with colors - or other forms of expression.

A lot of my entries in this blog have quotes from Michele Cassou. They can be applied to many creative processes and forms of expression - not just painting.