Living art 2023
Acrylic on Adeline
Inspiration
A couple of months ago I started thinking about beginning my annual self portrait. This year I’ve been exploring the idea of taking up space, reflecting on how I’m getting better at it but still, it often terrifies me and it often feels wrong, especially when there are things in the world that need our attention more. Sometimes it feels like the right thing to do is take a step back and stay quiet.
And then I remember that creativity is the only way of surviving anything, that there is a direct link between creativity and liberation. I am reminded every day that making art is making change and that the work I am training to do and the work that I already do to demonstrate that is important.
I am fully committed to learning more about expressive arts as a way of collective healing and living this in every way imaginable.
The Process
I started painting this large canvas, the biggest one yet with the intention of taking up more space. I wanted this portrait to be better than last years. I normally paint from a photograph in oil or acrylic and I try to make it perfect. But I’m starting to realize that things are never going to be perfect, I am never going to be ready and I am only going to be enough when I decide I that I am.
With that notion in mind, I stripped off my clothing and literally stepped into the painting. I don’t know. I guess you could equate it with lunacy or in taking a little too much herbal medicine, both of which rang partially true at the time. But I had a good time and in those moments, on that weird and wonderful evening, I let go and surrendered to whatever messy but beautiful creative process was unfolding. Maybe this looks a little bit like madness but actually, I’ve never felt saner.
