New works : On Painting and Silence
Here we are in the Northern Hemisphere, deep in the season of Winter we are in the season of quiet and silence. I find that silence is my favorite sound to paint to- and have discovered how beautifully it nurtures creativity. Many of the abstract painters I know listen to music while they work; I’m probably an anomaly. And while music is a big part of my world, what serves me best is to work in the quiet of silence.
Silence invites spaciousness, a sacred space that more easily allows for creativity to become visible. Silence calls forth the voice that wants to be heard. Silence beckons us to experience something else, something tender and vulnerable that can only be accessed without distraction. Silence offers the possibility to enter into the conversation with my work. (If there is music in the room, then my painting becomes a dialog with the music instead - so interesting!).
I have been creating work based on my perceptions and experience in the liminal space, and working in silence. The first part of this series is available here.
Liminal Vl 12 x 9 Acrylic and drawing media on canvas paper Sold
In the silence we can experience more deeply the sensations of our other senses; the feeling of color, the sound of a brushstroke, the textures of the media and supports. Silence heightens our sense of listening. Listening allows for quiet spaces in our work. Silence allows for rest and rejuvenation and prepares us for more. Silence increases our capacity for discernment. Silence helps us understand the cacophony that resides in us; which when listened to begins to soften.
Liminal ll 12 x 9 acrylic and drawing media on canvas paper Sold
I like what Artist Marina Abramović has to say about silence in her Manifesto:
“an artist should understand silence, create a space where they can allow silence to enter their work, silence is like an island in the midst of a turbulent ocean (An Artist’s Life Manifesto).”https://publicdelivery.org/marina-abramovic-manifesto/
Artist question: What is called forth from the silence? How does it want to be expressed in my work?
LIminal Vll 12 x 9 Acrylic and drawing media on canvas paper