Mindful Creativity

Making art is making trail. When I cross-country ski after a snowfall, I set out with curiosity, and follow the ground under my feet. The snow is a blanket of possibilities.I have a sense of direction, but no clear instructions. The forest offers choices, but makes no promises: is this a path, or a distraction? This thinning of the trees could lead me to the top of the mountain or a dead end. Choosing means risking. Whatever I choose, I must ensure that I have the energy to manage the consequences.Even if I don’t find what I thought I might, I will learn.

A blank canvas is a lot like  a forest. The possibilities are endless; I could do anything. What do I want to do? Actually, here, that’s the wrong question. That is why I don’t get any useful answers when I ask it.

I need to move away from the questions, get out of my head. I take out materials to create textures on my canvas, and start applying them without thinking. I let my hands take the lead. My hands channel the source, they know best. While I paste, and spread, and glue, and wrinkle things, my hands take over. They decide when enough is enough.

I stand back, and take in what my hands have done. I touch the shapes and textures on the canvas, listening for what it has to tell me. I pick my colours depending on the message.

Then my mind kicks in:

- you could be picking the wrong colour!

Me:

- You can change your mind…it’s just paint…

Now that my mind has spoken, I know I will have to continue making choices. I can’t un-hear its voice, but I can make a different decision. I can by-pass it my focusing on my hands.

In art as in life, we can always choose the voice we heed.