I’ve been reading a book called “Trust the Process: An Artist’s Guide to Letting Go” by Shaun McNiff. Shaun talks about the creative process. Did you know that everyone has creativity within him/her, even if one doesn’t think so?
McNiff says our society puts us into boxes, establishes tight boundaries – and we do the same to ourselves. We tend to follow conventional ways. I did this for many years. It held me back from experimenting. Not anymore. Now art helps me blow away boundaries and boxes (sometimes!).
Like many other painters, I started out painting objects, landscapes and living things. Things I literally saw. Seeing another painter’s work that grabbed my attention, I would think to myself “I want to paint like them.” Doing this only caused a lot of frustration and boredom for me. So big deal, I was painting like them.
More importantly, what did I want to paint that came from inside of me, instead of them? So I started experimenting. What a relief.
This is what I’ve been doing for the past year or two. Playing around and trying to break free from my own boundaries with my painting. I’m always drawn to abstract and expressionistic images, so when you visit Bond Street Studio during our next Open Studio Tour (June 3 & 4) you can take a peek at what I’ve been up to. I look forward to meeting you!
Click here to learn more about Terry and Bond Street Studio
