I survived my first critique of Art class last night. My mom was a painter and a very gifted one at that. She tried her best to teach me, but she was a realist. Her rules of light and shadow were strict, and she was a strict painter. She finally gave up me because I just did not get the rules. Oh, I understood how light and shadow work, I just wanted to do things a little differently. Even as a young girl, I saw the essence and emotion of painting and life.
That is what has opened for me through this class. This is my first real art class, and I am a painter! Yay! The class is in abstract painting class. We are working through the four elements in according to alchemy. Last night we dove into air. Our teacher purposely went out of order, so it has been a bit strange for me. But, then I remembered that there are no rules. We work from where we need to work at any given moment of time. That has been the most difficult lesson for me to learn.
Getting back to the critique, what stood out for myself and the others in the class is that each of my paintings as I worked through each element exhibits a theme. The theme of inner chaos with calm surrounding the chaos. As I listened to each critique of my work, it became clear that I am in the middle of this theme. My teacher made an amazing comment, “Isn’t it time to let yourself break free? You have this inner passion that is screaming to break out, yet you keep the facade of control and calm ongoing. That is obvious in your work. I would like to see you through some ritual release and break free. Keep painting – this is your medium.” Wow!
There is some fear of this, but I can feel it coming through. I see the theme of inner chaos in a sea of calm throughout the last few years. And it is time to break free!
Dancing Naked 