Are we all creative?

I think we are. Although many of us have been told otherwise in the past.  I find myself here writing an artist statement; and for the first time in my life, I truly feel like I can call myself an artist.  That day came, when I walked into my study and saw seven paintings, I had created this year in Colour of Woman, 2019.

I have always loved colour. Observing it, coordinating it, and playing with it.  What I love most about colour is that I can create feelings and emotions with it. Whether it is an interior or a painting or a meal or an outfit. I am acutely aware of colour and creativity, and how it makes me feel. 

There is something magical about picking up a paintbrush and dipping it into paint.  The feeling of the rich buttery glide of the paint on canvas or the scratchy scrubbing of a bristle brush.  All the colour, smells, feelings, textures and sounds are a full mind, body and spirit experience.  Your senses are alive.  Nothing else in the world exists for me when the brush is on the canvas.  It’s just me, my Muse, my wild imagine and connection to spirit, following the brush in the dance of creation.  No matter what is happen around me, I can find solace there.

There is a dissolving of ego, this discovery of flow, the illumination of intuition and the translation of symbol and meaning into form, that is a dance I never want to let go of again!  This window into transcendence it all about the human spirit.  The connection to self.  The knowing and healing of one self.  The ultimate connection, that everyday life stripes away from us, as we do battle to ‘get things done’ and ‘be successful’ or ‘make a living’ just to ‘survive.’

What if we believed we were creative and lived this connection?  If we just picked up our chosen method of expression and just thrived! The world would be different place! Thoughtful, fearless and nurturing.

When we are present to ourselves, we are able to become full aware; become fully aware of our thoughts, our fears, our pain and our passion.  Working through inquiry and letting go of judgement isn’t only great for our art, it is great for our lives.  When we tap into the deepest part of ourselves and really listen we discover, we know what we need and we have the courage to do it.  At our true source of being we have such huge capacity to love and give and be truly joyful; it’s our true nature as a feeling human being.

As with life, as I journey through the layers of my paintings, I am faced with challenges and mistakes, old wounds and misperceptions.  The beauty of the art, is that you can move through these without fear of harm, you can explore your boundaries and learn more about yourself. You are your teacher.  You are your creator.  You already have everything you need.

In a world that is telling us we aren’t enough, or you need this or that to be better, or more, it’s a revelation to go your own way.  To be a truth seeker.  To know when there is, an internal Critic and Muse, there for your highest good.  That we each decide our own course in this world, and true happiness is found, when you leave the shores of conformity and find your own path.

Finding your own truth and healing can be found. My path in this world, is helping you find yours.

Melanie aka Magnificent Mel - MM.