Art is like a box of popcorn (so enjoy the process).

This Arts For Health post Iooks at artistic process and ask two questions that might like to answer for yourself.

Imagine that a new film is released. You watch the trailer and it looks impressive.

You decide to go and see it. To book cinema tickets online, you enter a password (four times) to convince a robot that you are human.

There is nothing wrong with your card or the internet connection, but the reservation system does not work for you.

Sigh…

You make another attempt, then another. The process is clunky.

Finally,vit works. The transfer is completed and two weekend seats have been reserved. Phew! That was stressful.

When you get to the venue, the air is fizzing with anticipation as the film starts. It opens up with a few sluggish scenes. Behind you, two people are chatting at full volume and their voices niggle like insect bites on Summer skin.

So far, the experience is nothing like you had expected, and you find yourself thinking “This is crap”.

After a whispered conflab with your buddy you both agree to give it fifteen more minutes. Then – hooray! – everything shifts.

A new character is introduced who flips the plot completely in the next scene to spark an epic adventure. The film seems to wake from a slumber, the story becomes gripping, and the soundtrack turns out to be brilliant.

A few days later, someone mentions the film to you as they ponder what to do on Friday night. “I saw it”, you tell them. “Go see it, yeah, it’s a great film.”.

For an artist, painting is like a trip to the cinema.

Here are three reasons why.

1.

The booking process is not always easy

Making time for painting (or writing) is not always smooth. Life gets busy and some days are more tiring than others. Still, I make an effort to turn up in front of the blank page or canvas every day even if I can only manage a short session.

Creativity is not a hobby to dip in and out of. I need to create to keep well. If I put my arts practice at the bottom of a list of priorities, I’d be inviting sickness in. So I spend some of my day being creative every day. It is my soul food.

How can you bring more creativity and pleasure into your life for your wellbeing?

2.

The ‘wow’ factor will not always be present.

It takes energy for actors to learn their lines when they commit to a role, and a film can only happen with the support of a massive team. The ‘wow‘ factor is not magic: it usually emerges from discipline.

It took me years to become skilled with colour, and despite my devotion some paintings do not go well.

A certain technique might make the paint mucky, or thoughts can intrude and I have to “Sssshh!” my mind. Focused breathing quietens it, thankfully. I love how art-making becomes meditation. Mistakes are part of it all too, and I’ve made plenty in art and in life.

On the topic of mistakes, tis is an oil painting in progress.

Before I started, the picture in my mind was of a woman who’d symbolise assertiveness and strong boundaries while retaining the compassion levels of Bríd ( Ireland’s Goddess of healing and poetry). Instead I’ve painted someone who reminds me of a mummified Marilyn Monroe! It looks like she’s had some dodgy plastic surgery too.

Nothing can develop if we focus only on ‘wows’. It’s helpful to appreciate the “Where did it all go wrong“? moments too.

3.

Creativity happens in context.

Movie sets must be very busy places. Films require huge stores of energy and skill from the collective.

I’ve enjoyed the buzz of working on small community films. It was fun to make props, sew ripped costumes by hand, and cook for the crew. I also took part in a dance project that was filmed. Freedom is a gift, and creativity gives us wings.

Some people are stuck in war-torn countries, and living in places of genocide. They have no such agency. If you live in a part of the world where creativity can flourish right now, like me, you are one of the lucky ones.

Did you quit something that you used to enjoy? Is there a way that you could connect with that activity again for fun?

Here are some more paintings in progress:

In the yellow painting, the dancer’s face was starting to look like John Bon Jovi. Hmmm.. considering it’s meant to be a woman, it’s best to focus on painting her clothes now instead. I’ll figure it all out in the end.

This one is mixed media on paper. So far, so good:

Art is like a box of popcorn

The most famous line from a movie that I love, Forest Gump, is “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get“.

Maybe art-making is more like popcorn: I am never sure which kernels of my ideas will develop fully. The process is fun, and that’s what matters. A transformation can occur through painting, writing, dancing, and music that is joyful to experience.

Even if you don’t identify as an artist, you can benefit hugely by making art or by participating as a viewer or listener at events. For Bealtaine and beyond, I hope that you do just that, wherever you are in this beautiful world. Health is wealth.

Take care

-Kathryn.

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© Kathryn Crowley. I do not use A.I. to generate text. Please contact me if you end up sharing some or all of this blog post.

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