Cornflower Mandala, in-progress She lures you in, she tortures you, she soothes you and loves you, and then she tortures you again and again. As artists, we work and toil to continually, and in isolation, push ourselves in our art. We then turn outward and put ourselves, through our art, out into the world to face both our admirers and our critics. Why is it that the sound of the critic carries so much further than all the praise?
I have to admit that I can tend towards the over-sensitive, some have even said that I'd "walk a mile out of [my] way to get [my] feelings hurt." So, curious is my choice to pursue this path of art, with all of my heart. I can't even get a 'no-comment' response, from a gallery, to a personal introduction to my work/website, without spinning into an abyss of self-doubt... This is my excuse for the weeks of blog-haitus.
The meditation of the mandala painting that I've recently discovered is a somewhat interesting deviation of what I've been doing with my art. This guy here, is to me, a clear expression of some of this push and pull I've been feeling this past week or so. The mandalas are a diversion to my direct pursuit of my artistic boundaries, but they provide a very soothing respite from the swirling storm of fear and inspiration. Technically, this mandala is deep red=survival instinc/security, to orange=emotion, to purple=enlightenment, to orange=emotions, and yellow=energy/vitality (or the reverse from inside outward).
I am my own worst critic I know, and I give my own power too easily to others who would give me their approval, or not. Somehow though, I suspect I am not alone as an artist with these kinds of dark thoughts and I am ever the optimist, and I do know that dark times do always make way for brighter days.
I have to admit that I can tend towards the over-sensitive, some have even said that I'd "walk a mile out of [my] way to get [my] feelings hurt." So, curious is my choice to pursue this path of art, with all of my heart. I can't even get a 'no-comment' response, from a gallery, to a personal introduction to my work/website, without spinning into an abyss of self-doubt... This is my excuse for the weeks of blog-haitus.
The meditation of the mandala painting that I've recently discovered is a somewhat interesting deviation of what I've been doing with my art. This guy here, is to me, a clear expression of some of this push and pull I've been feeling this past week or so. The mandalas are a diversion to my direct pursuit of my artistic boundaries, but they provide a very soothing respite from the swirling storm of fear and inspiration. Technically, this mandala is deep red=survival instinc/security, to orange=emotion, to purple=enlightenment, to orange=emotions, and yellow=energy/vitality (or the reverse from inside outward).
I am my own worst critic I know, and I give my own power too easily to others who would give me their approval, or not. Somehow though, I suspect I am not alone as an artist with these kinds of dark thoughts and I am ever the optimist, and I do know that dark times do always make way for brighter days.
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