We are at times too ready to believe that the present is the only possible state of things.
Marcel Proust
Urban Art Binge, Mel Davis, Sketchbook 2012
As we draw to the close of our first year as teachers in the art-teaching privilege that is Urban Art Binge, I have paused to reflect on our year of Brisbane art classes, sharing, teaching and experiencing.
What has become overwhelmingly clear is our focus on teaching, art mentoring and working with our art bingers to get whatever is in the way of their creative voice, out of the way, leaving a clearer path to navigate their own creative journey.
Sure we teach practical art skills but as ever in life, it is the winkling out of that which is unknown to us, those dis-empowering conversations we have with ourselves that actually stop us from being big and knowing our full creative potential.
Ultimately what has become important to both Emily and I over the past year is not creating little mini-me's through these art classes but rather igniting a passion for people to find their own unique creative voice, armed with ever growing skills. It becomes an ongoing exploration and one that has been truly amazing to be a part of as teacher and practitioner over this past year.
Our Brisbane-based sketching and painting groups take time to collectively reflect and discuss what they have learnt but also what is holding them back. It has been a safe space of creative and personal exploration with the creation of a beautiful creative community of art bingers. Often it has been the most challenging sketch or workshop day that turned out to be revelatory for those who were the most challenged by it. Our experience serves up the condition and it is our choice whether or not to take it and grow. We love that we are a part of that growth and bear witness to it.
For me in my own art practice, art is increasingly a spiritual, consciousness-raising and healing practice, not only for myself but for those with whom it is shared.
By first observing that we are having dis-empowering conversations with ourselves we begin to loosen the grip of our ego or id, the one that is helping us survive life rather than thrive in it, and create a little slither of space in which to breathe and in which new things become possible.
Try it with your breath right now...just stop a moment and observe how you are breathing in this moment. No need to change anything, just observe it. Is it shallow, is it deep? Is it in the top of your lungs or deeper into the base of them? Are you breathing into your back? your fingers? your toes?
Through the process of observation alone, something shifts automatically. The trick is not to judge what's happening in this moment or make it mean anything about you and THIS is what is truly liberating when it comes to drawing and painting. Next time you are sketching, just take a moment to observe; observe your thoughts, your breath, the place, what you are sitting on, how you feel, maybe even write them down to presence them...then begin.
Jo
What has become overwhelmingly clear is our focus on teaching, art mentoring and working with our art bingers to get whatever is in the way of their creative voice, out of the way, leaving a clearer path to navigate their own creative journey.
Sure we teach practical art skills but as ever in life, it is the winkling out of that which is unknown to us, those dis-empowering conversations we have with ourselves that actually stop us from being big and knowing our full creative potential.
Ultimately what has become important to both Emily and I over the past year is not creating little mini-me's through these art classes but rather igniting a passion for people to find their own unique creative voice, armed with ever growing skills. It becomes an ongoing exploration and one that has been truly amazing to be a part of as teacher and practitioner over this past year.
Our Brisbane-based sketching and painting groups take time to collectively reflect and discuss what they have learnt but also what is holding them back. It has been a safe space of creative and personal exploration with the creation of a beautiful creative community of art bingers. Often it has been the most challenging sketch or workshop day that turned out to be revelatory for those who were the most challenged by it. Our experience serves up the condition and it is our choice whether or not to take it and grow. We love that we are a part of that growth and bear witness to it.
For me in my own art practice, art is increasingly a spiritual, consciousness-raising and healing practice, not only for myself but for those with whom it is shared.
By first observing that we are having dis-empowering conversations with ourselves we begin to loosen the grip of our ego or id, the one that is helping us survive life rather than thrive in it, and create a little slither of space in which to breathe and in which new things become possible.
Try it with your breath right now...just stop a moment and observe how you are breathing in this moment. No need to change anything, just observe it. Is it shallow, is it deep? Is it in the top of your lungs or deeper into the base of them? Are you breathing into your back? your fingers? your toes?
Through the process of observation alone, something shifts automatically. The trick is not to judge what's happening in this moment or make it mean anything about you and THIS is what is truly liberating when it comes to drawing and painting. Next time you are sketching, just take a moment to observe; observe your thoughts, your breath, the place, what you are sitting on, how you feel, maybe even write them down to presence them...then begin.
Jo
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