Let It Flow

I have lots to do to prepare for a conference, several upcoming trips,2 exhibits in Chelsea, NYC, and NJ, new lessons for school and of course life in general, BUT, it was an "art flow" kind of day and I had to choose....paint or prepare. Yikes! I had to choose paint! I tell my students stories about Vincent Van Gogh and how his brother Theo would assist in caring for him by sending him funds for food so that he would not starve. Van Gogh only sold one of his works while alive and had little money .Vincent would have to choose between taking the money from Theo to purchase food or pigments. Often he chose the latter and subsisted on meager portions of bread and tea! Today, given my choices, he would have opted to paint:)

So in this beautiful process of flow, while researching for my presentation on Indian mandalas, I created several images that I will post. They are "in process" of course. During the summer, one professor who critiqued my art suggested that I be more "mindful" of what I create and not to confuse speed and quantity with producing quality art. Again, the discussion was about choices. Another professor surmised that I have a whole lot of pent up thoughts, ideas, feelings and fantasies, (20 years worth), locked in my mind and imagination. She suggested that I "not think", open the floodgates, and create unabashedly for 10 years without apology or criticism, to clear my head and heart. I like how she thinks:) So today, I simply painted, working on several compositions simultaneously.

“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton