The last couple of classes I have had to find a Plan B for our outdoor painting class due to the wet weather. Luckily the local plant nursery said that we could paint in their greenhouse.
Today our thoughts to consider were fear & courage and rigidity & flexibility. First is fear of making art & making mistakes. The second for our outdoor painters is making art & making mistakes in public. It is important to acknowledge that the fear is there, it's just a feeling and we can gentle bring our focus back to our painting. Also, the act of painting in public, when we feel people looking at our work, is an act of kindness because it is a reminder to ourselves and others that it is ok to be creative, to be imperfect, and to do something we enjoy. We can support each other in perusing happiness.
Rigidity is when we have expectations of how the day should go, how our paintings should look, and we close down. Creativity doesn't flow. So we can bring our thoughts into the present moment and see how things are. That's what artists do. The look, feel, listen, and open to perceiving things in a fresh way. This is flexibility.
Art is a practice that teaches us to sit, be aware of our bodies and surroundings, and to be open to the creative energy that is all around us and within us. It's a tool that can bring us to a place of clarity and calm.
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