Emerging of the Warrior
Funny what can happen when you allow yourself to sit quietly, without distractions, and listen within. I had a voice call out, a nudge, a pull out of my chair to turn around and paint this face that appeared in my mind and on my heart. To paint this Warrior. Here is how this canvas started and transitioned to something that I feel deeply connected to and love.
In 2017 I painted this 60”x48” canvas in an abstract landscape style (first photo below). It was the largest thing I ever painted and I really didn’t know what I was doing. Yet, I liked it enough that it stayed like that until this year.
When we moved to Chicago in February this year 2021, I sat it on my easel knowing I was going to rework it, slowly, bit by bit. It got some expressive marks made at one point (2nd photo). Then, it got caught in the crossfire one day when I had my spray paints and stencils out (3rd photo). And it stayed like that for quite a while. I liked the direction it was going in; as urban art, expressive marks, and bold colors are my jam. But, I also knew it needed editing and finalizing.
Back to that day The Warrior called on me. I was sitting in my chair at my desk in my studio, with this canvas sitting behind me. I had been resisting and avoiding a lot lately due to anxiety. That kept me busy on non-priority items. (think hamster/wheel, stay busy but not really going anywhere). So, I found myself that day, sitting in my studio, not scrolling, not cleaning, not checking emails… just sitting… and talking to God. Making space for whatever needed to come.
All of a sudden, it was like a voice from within or around me. It’s not like there were words, but it was a voice that pulled me to turn around and pick up ink and just start drawing on my canvas. This face in my mind that was there. I have rarely drawn with liquid ink, never on canvas, and nothing this large. But, there I was with the little bottle sketching out a crude face with the dropper, letting ink drip down. I just went with it.
It was one of the greatest art sessions I have ever had. I talked to God and actually sat quiet enough to listen to Him. It was around 4 hours later that I stopped painting the face, making more marks and editing the canvas. I looked to see what time it was and couldn’t believe how much time has passed. I was in the zone. I was exhilarated, on an art high.
Has something like this ever happen to you?
This is a huge lesson for me. I need to make time to meditate, be still, and make space for the ideas and the nudges.
It’s not always going to be a huge push like that. That’s why just showing up for your art and doing the work is essential, too. Showing up. Show up for yourself, for your gift, for your offering to the world. No matter what it is.
Here are a couple of my fave closeups of ‘WARRIOR’.
I want to leave you with a couple of videos to check out. The first one is a Reel on IG and shows a quick behind-the-scenes of me spray painting pages in my backyard. I will share the pages with you soon, as well as create a video of some becoming collage bits. The second one is a process video of an art journal page I created called “Final Take”. Check it out here on my YouTube channel!
I hope you enjoyed the Emerging of the Warrior as much as I enjoyed sharing the story with you of how She came to be.
Much love and creativity,
B