what art represents, meaning, inspiration

Sometimes, you just don’t know what will happen next.

In regard to art and creating, you have choices when you start a project.  You can design your work with good compositional rules, mix paint the best way as you know it, and carefully brush the paint on, creating form.  You can shade the object, remember the light source, and paint carefully.

But sometimes that gets a little boring.  After all, don’t we usually enjoy life with a little adventure and excitement?

In my art practice I am starting some new things, one of them is encaustic painting. Basically, by simple explanation, it is heating wax and putting it on a board, and then mixing some color with it.  But I am uncertain how it will turn out.  Uncertainty comes with the unknown, it is a vital part of making art.  Starting something new, how are we to know what will come of it?  Is it going to work?

I tread carefully in this new landscape of encaustics, reading and experimenting.  Trusting my inner guidance and the knowledge that I have to get me through this new experience.  I am taking a risk, and with that comes an element of surprise and a little fear.

We have uncertainty all around us, in finances, medicine, economics, ecology and science.  We are faced with uncertainty daily, just tune into the news!

What if I learn to accept the ‘I don’t know’ of this new way of painting and embrace this new opportunity that may be full of mystery, excitement and unlimited opportunity?  Then, as I work on my new creation it will be a fun, exciting and the unknowingness will vanish.

I think we can look at our uncertain times that same way.  We don’t know what will happen with this pandemic, we don’t know what the world will look like when it is over.  Like my art project, I need to take time to reflect on the process, and not push myself – but let it flow.  I need to look carefully at the work, and stop when I see something I love, and then appreciate it.  I need to move past shame, of not knowing how to do it, or expecting too much of myself.  Lovingkindness, and a big breath. 

As I am painting, I need to allow things to happen.  This painting is a process, a process of layers and layers of paint and wax. 

Our lives are like that also!  The uncertainty of this life allows us to look afresh, to look for the small moments of beauty, to be kind to ourselves, and not to push.  Our brains are wired to react with fear, but we can choose to stay positive.  We can take that fear and change it to wonder.  We can focus on what really matters.

What really matters is an important concept I had forgotten.  Right now, in this project ‘what really matters’ is not the end process, but it is the process itself.  

I have begun, with uncertainty, the new wax painting process. I have the supplies; the dedicated space and I have overcome some obstacles. As it happens with new uncertain things, I become frustrated.  I re-evaluated, and put on more wax.  I watched the wax melt and move under the heat of the hot gun, then I decided I was done.  

This artwork was inspired from the Kanapaha Park near Gainesville.  In the bamboo section of the park there is a sign and a small bridge.  I changed the symbol on the sign to the Japanese peace symbol.  When I put the final coat of wax over it, it became smeared, and I was not expecting that.  Oh well, it’s all part of the uncertainty of trying something new.