These days it's easy to get swept away with all the external happenings in the world around us... To become fearful of the unknown and to have so many changes thrust upon us...
So now I find it even more important to steal myself away for a few hours of studio time (or nature time!) to keep myself feeling somewhat normal in this fast-changing world.
I've always felt as if I'm living in two worlds... One I don't have much control over (only in how I respond to it), and the other world is my own inner world where I can choose what I want to experience and surround myself with... (but the two are also connected and the one operates within the other). The inner world and the outer world...
How can art transform us?
There are two states of mind; one is based on survival and one is based on creation.
Survival is fear-based. When we're in this state we feel separated and disconnected. We're concerned with the ego self, which is judgemental and analytical. We see things as ‘out there’ and separate from us. This is the critical mind. When we're living in this state we're unable to grow and create.
When we're in the creative state we're feeling love, joy and inspiration. We feel connected and whole. Time and space disappear... We become Self-less. The ego moves out of the way. This is our natural state of BEing...
Art is a way to bring you into the present moment. You move into a place where you forget your problems, time disappears... Your energy moves from your head to your heart.
“When you are so in love with life and what you’re creating, then you’re in your natural state of being. ”
The more you experience this state, the more your body (your subconscious mind) recognizes it as You... and you begin to grow this new way of Being.
This is how art transforms us. It brings us into the present moment where we experience ourselves as whole Beings. The more we can be in this state, the more we increase these higher feelings of love, joy and inspiration. We're able to grow and re-create ourselves and our lives.
“The secret to art is love.”
And perhaps the secret to love is art...