Inspiration Source Photo, Pacific ocean, Kauai, Hawaii, May 2013 ©LE Art & Design
Hello my readers! I am back… I took a bit of a sabbatical from this blog roll, as I am have been deeply engaged in my creative process on a new series of paintings for my Elements Collection. It feels good to be back here and I am excited to share some thoughts about Trust and the Creative Process. I’ll start by posing these questions: Where do ideas come from? How do we get inspired to create something? Where do I start? As you know, inspiration and creative ideas can come from anywhere anytime…and for me, my eyewitness inspiration is WATER, specifically the ocean blue.
For me, creation and creativity come very naturally and I usually have an abundance of ideas. On the flip side, the challenge for me has been to have too many choices, feeling overwhelmed or just simply, choosing one to focus on. As a painter, I have a way to take on the abundance of ideas which is to organize them into collections and sometimes a series within a collection. I have eight “working” painting collections that serve as containers to hold the individual creations and this is key for the constant creator.
To illustrate the more nitty-gritty, messy and juicy creative process of one of my individual paintings, I have selected Water III, a mixed media on canvas painting. It is one of five paintings in the Water series within the Elements Collection. This painting was the 3rd (of 4) in the series that I was making last summer for a show and I must say, my creative process with this painting (and most paintings) was not a straight line. And, this is what I really would like to share here. Once the spark of an idea is lit, (in my case I was focused on water as a topic and paintings as the creation), all kinds of curves, twists, turns and some of the following may come up. And if any of these do arise, the important thing is to stick with the journey and follow the guidance, both your inner guidance and source energy/Creators guidance.
- unbridled inspiration to start, gather info, research and develop the concept
- love the work one day, dislike it the next day (even abhor it!)
- feelings of anger, frustration and general un-ease and negative emotions
- desire to quit or start over completely
- feelings of doubt, the illusion of fear and even questioning the skills set and/or innate talents
- struggle with the materials or the natural elements (for example, I work outdoors and sometimes the heat dries the paint too darn quick even with methods to slow it down)
Throughout the creation of this painting, I rode the cathartic wave experiencing everything between elation and agony. At times, I truly thought that this painting was not going to make it. But, to the best of my ability, I trusted. I trusted the guidance and love of our Creator to lead me on through; letting go and trusting both at the same time. Suggested practices that have helped me along the way that you can play with are:
- when the stuff comes up, FEEL…
- when you feel stuck, change something, anything!
- go on daily walks, bike rides, movement and balance has helped me even more than maintenance during an intense creative project
- pray, meditate, breathe deeply, take long baths, talk to a trusted friend, write about it- we are NOT alone!
- if necessary, and I just did this with another painting, set it aside and start or work on another project, take a break, but come back to it when you feel ready
- let it all incubate and gel, relax and seriously chill out when not working on project~ whatever that looks like for you!
- the main idea is to find the JOY in the creative process and to EnJOy every step of the way…
Now, my practical creative process step by step: I started with the photo image I took of water, see above, as my source image (what I use as a spring board for an abstract painting). The canvas size is 24 inches X 36 inches and I used acrylic paint and a variety of mixed media materials. Below are a series of photographs and the final one is the finished product from start to finish.
The Beginning
Next Stage
And then this…
Top portion of the painting
Nearly done
Almost done (reflections on the painting from the sun)
Final Painting, 24X36 inches, Mixed Media on Canvas
Me with Water III at the Bridge to the Soul Art Show
All Images ©Lórien Eck Art & Design
Since its completion in August 2013, this painting, Water III, has been featured in two art shows, one in August 2013 at one of my galleries Hale Arts SPACE, in Santa Monica and in the Bridge to the Soul traveling show in Los Angeles, November 2013-February 2014. This painting is available for purchase either through Hale Arts SPACE or directly through me.
Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.
In love, gratitude and beauty…
“Art has the power to heal.” ~ Lórien
An Invitation to Inspiration 