Creative explorations Vol #5: intuition
A creative prompt to support your art and creative practice.
From this month’s edition of creative explorations, I’m switching things up a bit. Instead of sharing a number of curated resources and articles, each issue of Creative Explorations will be themed around a prompt that you can explore in your own art/creative practice over the coming weeks. Prompts will be sent out on the last Friday of every month. I hope this new format sparks your creative juices!
This month, we begin with an artist studio visit, and use that as a starting point for some explorations in our own art practice. You’ll find some resources and sketchbook prompts and ideas to explore below. Enjoy!
Watch: Artist studio visit with Janet Dirksen
I don’t start with knowing that’s what it’s going to look like, ever. Because it’s almost like something comes out of the painting; you’ve got to find it. And I need that. I like the excitement, I like being surprised at the end of the day. It keeps it alive and interesting.
JANET DIRKSEN
I love that statement quoted above, perhaps because that’s the way I feel about my own art practice. I rarely plan out a painting, preferring to let the colors and marks inform my next move, and seeing what wants to happen next on the page.
It’s like a dialogue between me, the paints and the paper. The way my hand moves across the page, the way the paint is deposited on the paper, the images I see in the marks and layers of paint — all of this informs what happens next.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create intuitively. {Don’t worry, this message won’t self destruct in 5 seconds! 😉} Perhaps you already paint intuitively — if that is the case, try something new in the way that you paint. You’ll find some suggestions below.
If you’re new to intuitive painting, the following resources + ideas should give you a starting point.
My biggest tip is this: Experiment! Let go of perfection, of the need to “make something” and focus on the process instead.
Resources + ideas for intuitive painting + creating intuitively
Watch the video below for a demo + some tips on painting intuitively. You’ll find the entire supply list + the step-by-step process on this post on my website. This could be especially helpful if you’re new to painting intuitively.
Use an image as a starting point. The aim isn’t to reproduce the image, or even to create a final image that looks anything like the image. Instead, pull colors, composition, and feelings from the image, and express that on the page.
Work with constraints. Choose a restricted palette before you start painting. Use geometric or organic shapes, or free flowing lines. If you enjoy mixed media like I do, restrict the materials and supplies that you will use for your painting.
Work with a new material. This is especially for those of you who already paint intuitively. Choose a new material to incorporate in your work. If you don’t often use collage, bring some collage materials into your intuitive painting process. If you don’t use oil pastels too often, challenge yourself to incorporate them into your art. If you rarely stamp, add some stamping within your layers.
Try intuitive drawing. If the thought of painting intuitively scares you, try drawing! Get out a piece of paper and some color pencils {even just a pencil or pen will work} and take your hand for a walk on the page. You may be surprised by what falls out of your pencil!
Tip: Do this exercise to some music. How do the words, the beat, the rhythm influence how you move your hand?
Try intuitive writing. Also known as automatic writing, this technique was widely used by the surrealists. To write intuitively, you need to disconnect from your conscious thoughts, and write down every spontaneous thought before logic takes over to edit or rephrase it. In a way, you’re allowing your subconscious to speak. This technique can result in some transcendent, though occasionally absurd writing, so don’t take it too seriously and just have some fun with it.
Tip: Clear your mind — a few deep breaths help; set a timer for 10 minutes, and just start writing. Don’t think about what you are writing or if it makes any sense; that doesn’t matter at all! Just keep the pen moving across the page. See what comes out.
Make an intuitive collage. Collect images from magazines, newspapers, brochures etc. Add some collage elements from around the house — chocolate wrappers, tea bag pouches, stickers or washi tape, cardboard. Use these elements to make an intuitive collage, which means no auditioning your collage pieces to see how they would look! Just go with your gut. Cut, position, paste. See what you end up with!
Mix it up: Combine multiple prompts into a single painting. Some of these prompts would work really well together!
I look forward to seeing your take on this prompt! You can email your finished pieces to me on shinjinim@substack.com. If you share on Instagram, tag me there @moderngypsy.in Or I could open up the Chat so we can all share our explorations there.
Like this prompt? Share it with your friends and invite them into our virtual studio. If you’re on the Substack app, please consider restacking this post.
Your words are so soothing, just like the intuitive painting. Thank you for this reminder. I haven't been giving myself time to do intuitive painting and writing. This is a sign!
I resonate with the idea of a dialogue between the artist, the colours, and the canvas. It's in those spontaneous moments that art often comes alive with unexpected beauty.