The Zen of Art

I enjoyed what Robert Genn has to say about the Zen of art. Here are some of his suggestions for practicing art this way, with my comments added, in red:

Have an attitude of low expectations and nothing to lose. I think you can have a nothing to lose attitude without needing to lower your expectations.

Try to make deliberate, thoughtful, rhythmic movements. This works very well.

Allow yourself to dream, flow and indulge your fancies. Absolutely!

Be philosophic about your weaknesses and creative faults. I would use the word forgiving.

Let your work tell you what it needs. Always!

Let yourself yin and yang between thought and no thought. I like to work intuitively, then become analytic at a natural cessation of the flow.

Accept imperfection. Try for the spirit of attaining. Love that!

Teach yourself to teach yourself as you go. This means paying attention!

Be in the now, but look gently ahead. Quite the balancing act.

My sister and I have been together a full day now, and started with ripping, cutting, and re-sewing watercolor paper. This is what I started with the first day at Fran Skiles’ workshop, and I was certain my sister would appreciate the possibilities of this technique. Her name is Barb Pearson, and she works in watercolor, acrylics, and collage. She took up photography as a painting aid, but soon exhibited such talents in this area that it has become a force in her life quite equal to the painting. She is also an avid gardener, and uses her prodigious sense of color and design to keep recreating her glowing and flowing garden.

Barb has textured part of her piece, and is now ready to paint and collage. I think it looks fabulous already!

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