Hi John,
The devastating fires in Los Angeles have touched all of our lives.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, I've been glued to my phone with family and friends, following the news and Watch Duty app as events unfold.
We have friends who have lost homes, loved ones who are displaced, and our beloved town is forever changed.
In times like these, finding ways to process our emotions becomes crucial.
While there are many ways to help - and I'll share three arts-based initiatives below - I want to first share how a meditative art ritual has helped me cope with difficult situations...
Meditation can help us control anxiety and reduce stress.
By guiding attention on one thing - our breath - we release other things that might be causing us stress.
We can achieve similar relief when making art, especially when we get into a state of flow that helps us focus on one thing - the process of making art.
Making free-form, intuitive paintings is a form of meditation I yearn for and have practiced for years.
The process allows my mind to relax, and I completely lose myself in the act of creating.
If you want to calm your mind and direct energy into something positive and soothing, this process could work for you, too.
My Intuitive Painting Process
- Set up a table or place where you'll feel comfortable working. I cover my area to capture paint spills. A lit candle and hot drink ☕️ help build a creative, calm vibe.
- Start with a blank sheet of paper, usually my art journal or heavy paper (currently enjoying Strathmore Acrylic Paper). Lately, I've been working on two paintings at the same time.
- I may choose a color palette that stems from a mood I'm experiencing or a color scheme I'm enamored by. A cheerful mood might bring on more bright pinks and yellows, but not always :)
- I'll then gather the rest of the materials. ✏️ Layering of materials is a big part of my process, so this is usually a combo of paper scraps, glue stick, pencils, black Sharpie, paint sticks, paint, and anything else that moves me in the moment. This is more about following intuition than having a plan.
- I light a candle, close my eyes, and allow myself to sit for a few seconds to feel into the moment. Sometimes, there's an idea I'm sitting with, and other times, I'll let my mind wander and drift.
- The order of the following shifts, but some version of this holds true: I'll make a few marks on the paper with a pencil or marker, glue down paper scraps, add paint in response to the marks, and then repeat. As I move along, I get into a state of flow that relaxes me and brings my mind into focus.
- I'll keep working until I need to stop or I'm moved to close the session, which can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. If I'm strapped for time, I can still get a lot out of a 10-minute art meditation.
Tips
- Follow your intuition regarding colors, materials, and the shapes and illustrations that come out of your brush. I don't expect your work to look like mine, and my guess is it won't. There's something core to your artist spirit that will emerge.
- There's no wrong or right way to do this. If you lose track of time and feel some freedom while you create, that's a sign you're going in the right direction. 👍
Let me know if this is helpful.
Three arts initiatives that are helping folks in Los Angeles:
The Corita Art Center, named after artist Corita Kent, is packing art supply kits for kids and adults impacted by the fires. I have a long history with this center. My second-grade teacher was one of Corita's students and one of my early arts education influences, and I later taught art workshops at the center. Donate here
Artist Shepard Fairy is donating 100% of proceeds from the sales he makes on a new Re-build/Re-think print to organizations that help the fire relief effort. Shepard lives close to the house I grew up in and has done so much for the city of Angels. He's known for his murals and iconic HOPE poster of Obama. Details here
Purple Twig is an art studio in Eagle Rock, just a few miles from the Eaton fire, and their inspiring leader, Samara Caughey, is offering pay-what-you-can and free open-studio art for kids this week. They're accepting donations for art supplies. Here's the update; you can Venmo them at @Samara-Caughey
Love,
Rachelle
Founder and Author, TinkerLab
