Its a matter of perspective

For years I've been striving to make art that holds symbolism and personal messages but because I have a tendency towards structure and planning I have often put it there with my head using various materials rather than intuitively. After several years of experimenting, trying different techniques and freeing up my art practice I've started making pieces that flow with hidden messages. 

You see, once I let go of control and the need to make "pretty" art my artwork has become more organic and layered and it excites me. That's not to say that "pretty has fallen by the wayside but I'm seeing a new direction for personal expression on canvases and in my art journals.

I was first introduced to intuitive art while studying art therapy 20 or so years ago but lacking in confidence and early on in my mixed media art journey I followed a more structured pathway for my creativity. Now I've found I've come full circle and intuitive art has drawn me in like never before and I think part of the attraction is that apart from the materials, colours and techniques I want to use I don't think or plan anything. I just let my hands and materials make the paths to follow. This kind of art creates pieces that hold little surprises as you peer into them. It has no rules and is more about the process than trying to create masterpieces.

These activities appeal when I'm procrastinating with what direction to take in art or contemplating life in any way. It's a kind of meditation. Working with shapes that morph into whatever the beholder sees.

Our brains don't like abstract so when looking at random shapes it's amazing what they tell us are there. Our brains want to turn random shapes into something familiar. All sorts of signs and symbols start showing up. Even something as simple as a dot or circle can turn a blob into a creature or figure. It's all a matter of perspective. 

Each person who looks into a piece of intuitive art will see different things and what they need to see or know will appear, much like cloud gazing. Turning things upside down and looking at it from different angles or from a distance alters our perspective and isn't that true of everything in life!

The tricky thing is once you've seen something in the art you can't un-see it and that goes for life as much as for art. Once you're aware of what's really there, what needs to change you can't un-see it or go back to being unaware. We continue to see that shape or thing turn up again and again. The prompts from life only get bigger the more we ignore them. No going back, only forward. 

As I sit here reflecting on every step I've taken and every choice I've made that's led me to this point in time I can see more than ever how connected and related everything really is and how exciting life can be when viewed this way.

Someone recently said to me after talking to me for ten minutes "oh you're a philosopher".  I don't know, maybe I am if being a philosopher is believing in synchronicity and constantly being on the lookout for signs and messages. Constantly seeing hidden meaning in even the most mundane of things. The synchronicity of tarot and oracle cards also ties in beautifully with this way of life. 

I don't spend much time in the past these days but I do have a tendency to run ahead into the future so spending time engaged in this kind of activity where nothing else matters but creating and colouring shapes reminds me of the importance of being in the moment. What comes next doesn't matter and may never matter. What's really important is enjoying each moment as it comes.

Sharon L Baker is an Intuitive Reader, Mixed Media Artist and Creativity & Wellness Coach living in the Hawkesbury Valley, NSW. For enquiries and bookings email: hellosharonlbaker@gmail.com