Dostoevsky's character,
Prince Mishkin,
In The Idiot,
Like the fool in Toreau or the fool character of any great novel really,
Holds wisdom behind that fool persona.
It is a foolishness that is redemptive through its power of simplicity plus faith.
I have ruminated on this concept,
Given it great consideration and exploration in my mind as well as my work for years.
I've drawn a few conclusions that I hold dear and use when I come into circumstances that call me to consider,
Question,
Or draw conclusions around concerns and conundrums in not just my work,
But my life.
Welcome to this creative meditation from Before the Brush.
I'm Patricia Baldwin-Segabrook.
In my decades of creating in paint and form,
I have found a few things to be true and honoring to myself and my art in ways that uplift and expand not just me in my process,
But the output and evidence in the work itself as well.
When I lag in inspiration or an idea does not form to its fullest creative potential,
I can easily lament it as if a loss had happened or misdirection had taken place.
Long years of life walking in this creative direction have thankfully taught me to set this judgmental self aside and take a clearer look at what I'm looking at.
I know anymore there are lessons there in this fail that potentially will manifest more richness than would have a quick success.
Three truths have risen from this observation of personal creative process and when I lament,
Begin to lose sight of the inspiration or lack integrative motivation on a day I must put in the work,
I recall these three points in order to ground,
Center,
And recall myself to my purpose.
These three truths,
Simplicity,
Trust,
Emptiness.
If these I have found,
Then flow happens.
The release valve opens and the process is much more natural and much more abundant.
A rhythm has developed for me that employs these three precepts as I enter into the studio.
I first peel away the plethora of product that is collected in studio and pare down to a few.
I often refer to this with students as the rule of three.
Selecting three colors or three materials or entering with three intentions as I set out.
This is my simplicity.
I then remind myself I have today.
I will have tomorrow just as I had yesterday.
In other words,
There's no rush to a finish line,
But rather a rich open space that is not read by the hands of a clock.
Time,
Be what it may,
Always feeds me the answers I seek when I let it run its course.
This is my trust.
I can then usually at this point sense the curiosity return,
Opening me up to liminal space where possibility always resides.
At this juncture,
I can more easily close my eyes,
Draw in a deep breath,
And know I have all I need and what I desire,
Envision,
Imagine,
Will come.
There is a gentleness that unfolds my being,
A sureness amidst the ambiguity of this blank canvas.
This is my emptiness.
So this is where I begin.
And this is where we begin.
Today,
Together.
With canvas before you,
Whether board,
Paper,
Or fabric,
No matter,
And simple tools selected and at the ready charcoal,
Pencil,
A trine of color perhaps,
As I suggested in that simplicity.
See this small,
Simple collection before you as an open door.
This is you way making for an entirely new creation.
Knowing this assurance,
Feel this simplicity settle into your soul and close down your eyes.
Take then the necessary and requisite sweet deep breaths.
Reconnect to the core of you.
The intuition,
Imagination residing in your gut.
Smile there.
Warm there.
The child who played in open fields and drew grand vistas with abandon smiles back at you from this space.
Once you have landed,
Feeling the joy and curiosity of exploration rising once more,
Open your eyes.
As the music plays,
Take up those tools one by one as they call and put them to the surface before you.
Sweep and swirl,
Scratch and bow.
The world is before you at in your fingertips.
Also as the music plays,
Responding to this dance of color and line and call of material as they occur.
Once it concludes,
I'll return once more and close out our creative meditation.
Spend and enjoy.
Thank you.
As the music fades and stops,
What do you feel?
Where are you now that is so much more expansive,
Inviting and real than where you were when you were perhaps in that stuck space?
Now what do you see?
What is before you?
What expressed on the canvas in these colors and tools you chose?
Can you feel it there,
Sense it there,
That core of you,
That soul and spirit of you,
The imagination that's risen from that place where the childlike wonder that has always been in you has arisen?
Keep going.
Yes,
Sure,
Grab the hand of that experience,
That thinking brain and invite them along should they need to enter.
But let this imagination,
Let this pure inspiration,
Pure intuition lead the way.
Enjoy the journey,
Enjoy the expansion and simply,
Trustingly and with just enough degree of emptiness,
See where you can take this exploration in color and light.
Thank you for coming along.
This is just one of several meditations I have to ignite,
Inspire and expand your creative journey whether you do it in paint,
Crayons or simply come along to see where this type of expression can take you in your own life and your own work,
Whether artistic or not.
I'm Patricia Baldwin-Sagerbrook.
Keep playing.
