Friday, March 1, 2013

Art as meditation


Finding this a few days ago


has shown me the way.

And now my new painting is slowly beginning to take its final shape. 

detail, still a work in progress :)

I've realized that I paint so slowly because each painting I create is a form of meditation for me.  A slow, deep journey into unknown parts of myself.  The paintings I've been doing for the last few months are very, very healing for me.

My most recent painting, "She, Emerging", sits for now beneath the first painting I had anything to do with.  My father painted this ship when I was 3, and I was allowed to paint a tiny bit on the bottom right corner.  I'll never forget the wonderful feeling that painting those first few strokes gave me.  But having an artist father was both a blessing and a curse.  I didn't throw myself into art the way I truly wanted to until just recently, when I finally I rid myself of years of negative "stuff".

"She, Emerging"
"She, Emerging" truly represents me, emerging.  Finally.  It's been a long time, and it's just the right time.

It's funny how things happen, and people cross your path, at just the right time.

Yesterday, I found the most amazing documentary online, and I thought some of you might be interested in watching it, too.  It's a bit long, 83 minutes, but it's something I could watch again and again.  There is so much wisdom in this film.  It's about an amazing woman, Marion Woodman, who reminds me a great deal of Joseph Campbell, whose work I'm studying right now, too.

She's the kind of woman I'd like to be someday, the kind of woman I'd like to listen to and talk with for hours and hours.  Here's the link to the documentary:

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/7972/Dancing-in-the-Flames

and a link to a site about the documentary:

http://dancingintheflames.com/Marion_Woodman/HOME.html

I hope you enjoy it, too.  Let me know if you watch it, OK?



My apologies for not being around to comment and interact with everyone as much as I'd like to.  I'm so wrapped up in LIFE right now, learning new things and developing *my* own art, that time is short sometimes.  But I'll stop by whenever I can.

I promise!

Love and hugs,
xoxoxo



18 comments:

  1. love both, woodman and campbell, old favs, so glad you are delving... and finding your true self emerging... : ) congrats.. no small feat, i know!

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    1. Hello Caterina, and thank you! The older I get, the more I realize that I still have so much to learn. This one lifetime just doesn't seem long enough, and I sometimes feel I've started on this path much too late. But then I remember that all is as it should be.

      You've heard of her! How wonderful! I don't know why I've never heard of her before. Maybe I just wasn't ready to hear the amazing things she has to say. I'm ready now, though!
      :)
      xoxo

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  2. Angela, I am so glad you are finding your voice :-). Art and LIFE are way more important than blogging! Blogging should be fun and not an obligation, even though I miss you, I would rather you blog stress free :-). The painting is coming along, no hurry, no worry. Love and hugs,
    I am a big JC fan and I will come back and check out this video tonight, I am off to work now.
    xoxo

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    1. Annie, thank you!!! I really do have to change how I use the internet, and how I blog. I tend to spend way too much time on the computer, and I want to be living and learning and creating more for a while. I would miss you terribly, though, too, if I stayed away too long. So I'll be back here and there to lurk and comment say hi.
      :)

      Let me know how you like the video, OK? Parts of it brought me to tears. All of it has my mind reeling.
      xoxoxo

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  3. Thanks for both links, and I watched the film. Wow, what an interesting woman! I'll have to watch it over again to fully understand it all. And I'm sure I have a friend or two who would love to watch it as well.
    If only one could remember to sit down and think : what was it all today, and what does it mean for me? Thanks again.

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    1. Hello Laila! I'm so glad you watched the film and enjoyed it! I know what you mean about needing to see it again to fully understand it all. She shares so much deep wisdom here, but it is all really such wonderful common sense, isn't it? I heard her speak, and found myself continually nodding my head and saying, "yes!" :)
      xoxoxo

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  4. Hallo, Angela, welch ein Zufall: Heute Abend hörte ich in meinem Radio-Klassik-Sender, wie ein Musiker sagte, dass Musik machen wie eine Reise ist. Man kann zwar vieles planen, aber es gibt immer Überraschungen. Das wichtigste ist die Spontaneität, damit eine Kunst lebendig ist. Das passt exakt zu Deinen Gedanken, die Du hier aufzeigst. Ich bin zur Zeit mit einem Bild beschäftigt, und immer wieder verbirgt es vor mir seine wahre Form, ich habe sie noch nicht gefunden. Da denke ich fast an nichts anderes, als dass ich die Form finden möchte!


    Liebe Grüße!

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    1. Danke liebe Dori! Ja, "Spontaneität, damit eine Kunst lebendig ist." DAS gefällt mir!

      Du wirst aber die wahre Form finden, wenn die Zeit richtig ist, wie immer, ja? Ich glaube, wir müssen in dieser Welt vielleich lernen, etwas mehr Geduld zu haben. :0) Das stimmt wenigstens für mich. Soviel weiss ich! :)

      Liebe Grüße
      xoxoxo

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  5. I love She Emerging...it is a very spiritual feeling kind of work...it has a lot of joy in it too. Creating much be a very happy thing for you right now. Might give the documentary a try...I will let you know if I am able to find the time.

    xo to you Angela!

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    1. Hi Lisa, and thank you! Yes, finally letting my creativity have its own timetable has made it much, much more enjoyable. :)
      xoxoxo

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  6. the video will wait for me too, angela. i will look forward to it.

    i am SO glad to hear where you are. no doubt it's the right time and no doubt you are exactly awesome

    love
    love
    kj

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    1. Hello kj! I keep forgetting that each of us is exactly where we are supposed to be, no matter where we are.

      YOU are exactly awesome, too, my friend! :)
      xoxoxo

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  7. Angela you are such an inspiration. Painting should be 'slow, deep journey into unknown parts of myself' and I love what you are doing - it does feel joyful and spiritual.
    I have bookmarked the video and will watch it soon. Thanks for the link. (I'm a big Campbell fan too).
    xxoo

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    1. Thank you Judy! I hope you enjoy the video - I think you will. (I can't believe I had never heard of her until last week. Or maybe I had, and I just wasn't ready. . . )
      xoxoxo

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  8. I watched the video and, after allowing myself a moment to breathe and take in the gift, I sent it on to everyone I love. What a treasure! Thank you for sharing and more importantly, thank you for BEING.
    Blessings,
    Pam

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    1. Hello and thank you Pam! YOU and your comment are a genuine gift to me today. I'm glad the video spoke to you so deeply, as it did to me.
      xoxoxo

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  9. I totally get it Angela... that is how making art always was for me, and the same now with photography... it is a practice of awakening!

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    1. I'm glad you understand what I mean, Laura. :) I like the idea you mention that it's a practice of awakening. It really is! I feel the same way about cooking sometimes, too. Like when I make a soup, and I really focus on the textures, sounds and aromas of all the ingredients in a way that I don't always have the luxury of doing.

      I'm also so glad you've found photography. You have a magical touch with the camera. You really do!
      xoxoxo

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