When I first started my meditative painting practice in nature, I felt guilty. I was raised with a strong work ethic- remnants of an immigrant family fulfilling the American dream. Taking the time to paint in nature, to create something that is process-based and not something that I could monetize, felt unproductive. More than that, the process was so joyful, I felt guilty as though I hadn't earned it. I was also uncertain about my subject. I was drawn to the tangles of grass and rotting cactus pads- sure no one else would be interested in the places my heart asked me to explore.
What led me to start this practice was an instinct that the wild spaces held for me a solution to something I had learned to ignore- a feeling a discontent and anxiousness that comes from spending too much time in artificially created environments, too much time being caught up in the rhythms of technology. My internal complex systems needed to connect with external ones. This practice- started almost 10 years ago- is now the foundation of my work. It helps me to understand my subject and grounds me as a person. If you would like to learn more about meditative nature painting, join me once a month during my Quinta Mazatlan Residency. One of the great things about opening this practice to others is the community that's formed. Do you already have a meditative painting practice? Please share!! Visit my Outdoor Studies page to see more meditation paintings.
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Jessica MonroeWorking to foster a deeper connection with nature by using art as a means to engage with the natural world. Archives
May 2024
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