Hello!
I hope this message finds you well. It has been an unhinged season over here as I go deeper into my painting practice. I find it all incredibly liberating and uncomfortable! I spend every free moment downstairs slashing at a canvas and making a mess.
My ritual with the work has been lighting incense or palo santo and then asking the canvas what it wants. Sometimes out loud. One evening, I was up until 2am ripping up new pieces of fabric to paint and just laid down on it saying, “well we’re here, what now?”
I figure, the weirder the practice, the better the art. Either that or I’m just some crazy lady talking to paint in the middle of the night. Seems like a win, win to me.
I’m currently stuck on a few bigger pieces that remain in a messy middle stage. While attempting to crack the code, my perfectionist brain repeatedly interjects with, “this doesn’t make sense!” and I have to reply with, “that’s none of my business!” and remain ruthless in charging ahead. It feels good to make such gestural marks with my body. I don’t remember the last time I was this physically involved with creation. The task now is to remain physical, as well as spiritual, but definitely not mental.
That’s none of my business!
This phrase seems to help any time I hear a self-criticizing thought or over-index on how me or my art will be perceived. It's startling to see how often I need to say this to myself, but with each proclamation I’m getting taller.
Anyway, I've also been watching a lot of videos on YouTube. I thought it'd be fun to share some! Don’t worry, I've spared you from the million art supply review videos and DIY stretcher bar tutorials, but here's a list of what I’ve been consuming lately when my brain struggles to slow down at night.
I highly recommend the advice from a 96-year-old woman, who has now become my muse.
If you have an opinion on any of the content below, let me know! I want to talk to someone about this southern ASMR lady who organizes Dollar General items.
Until next time, keep creating, keep exploring, and remember: what others (and your brain) think of your journey is none of your business!
Wishing you moments of uninhibited creativity,
Breena
SATURDAY IN THE PARK | Narrator Steve Buscemi guides us through Brooklyn, New York's Prospect Park
Getting to the truth with abstraction (a highlight on Helen Frankenthaler)
Golden season, full of pleasure of harvest and sweetness of corn | Liziqi Channel
Billie Eilish – L'AMOUR DE MA VIE (Live Performance from Amazon Music’s Songline)
“I think of colour as a material.” | Artist Dana Schutz | Louisiana Channel
I went backpacking ALONE with my toddler (carrying 86 lbs for 11+ miles 🤯)
The New Gucci Guilty Campaign with Elliot Page, Julia Garner and A$AP Rocky
LIFE ADVICE from a 96 YEAR OLD
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (Live at Other Voices, 2006)
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