Alive

April 2017

Paradoxically, the relaxed and unhurried nature of making art, specifically drawing and printmaking, brings into focused awareness the snippets of findings from daily life and habits that would otherwise remain dormant or scattered. In that sense, the artist is a reaper and a bringer-together of contemplative processes that are constantly going on below the surface of life. This phenomenon is slow-moving and wholesome; there's unique timing to the unraveling and re-forming.
Don't give up when all feels scorching and dry and brittle. Remember the beauty of curiosity and patient willingness to fail from time to time. Remember it is humanly impossible to constantly see all the facets of a beautiful thing from only one angle. The artist needs space to move around.
Try this: If you need a boost, try taking a few portable art supplies, and go to a place you don’t usually make art. Settle down somewhere for a few hours and just give yourself over to the creative process. Pretend your car is in for a 4 hour service and you can’t go anywhere. It helps also to have a few different sitting places in your chosen area; in the beginning you may feel the need to move around a little, so changing seating can honor this natural urge. It won’t take long, though, before you’re embraced by the kindness of your creative muse.

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All images and text © Nicola Barsaleau. All rights reserved.