I revisited this film last week, whilst deciding whether to include it in an art award application. It was fascinating to watch the process of the puppets being made, including the undoing of bits that didn’t work. I thought I’d cringe at my reflective narration but actually it feels even more relevant six years on.
Continue reading “Puppets, Power and the Patriarchy”Author: ooliatr
Emotional Flashbacks Don’t Have to be Destabilising
I had an emotional flashback on Monday. I had a deadline for an expression of interest for an art project yesterday. I feel wiped out today. An emotional flashback results in my body going into shock. There are no visual memories, which is why I sometimes find it confusing to understand – seeing is believing, right? It is purely a bodily reaction to a past trauma. My extremities go very pale and I shiver. It’s when I start shivering that I think, ‘wait, what’s going on?’
Continue reading “Emotional Flashbacks Don’t Have to be Destabilising”Is Pain Part of Creativity?
Is pain part of creativity? It seems to be for me. Often, I begin creating a piece of art because I’m in psychological pain and it can transform that pain into healing. The drawing above began on the anniversary of my father’s suicide. Despair was what I was feeling and, somehow, I was able to tap into that feeling and watch it take shape on paper. By externalising it and writing in my journal about it, I could understand it more. I wrote a blog post about the beginning of this process.
Continue reading “Is Pain Part of Creativity?”Connection versus Despair and the Winner is… Connection
The Pain of Remembrance
The day before yesterday I was ready to throw in the towel and go back to Brighton; back to my cosy flat where I don’t have to plan where I’m going to sleep, or shower, or get water from (I’m living in my van for a couple of weeks whilst visiting university in person). It got too hard, especially when Boris Johnson announced new Covid-related restrictions. As I sat in the university library trying to work out how the new restrictions would affect me, I felt horribly alone.
Continue reading “Connection versus Despair and the Winner is… Connection”The Forming and Unforming of Potential
Lonely Teenage Part Discovered Whilst Painting Dots
I tapped into a teenage part of me whilst painting dots. I was feeling lonely. One of the things I love about painting is the meditative aspect. I can sit and be aware of thoughts, feelings and sensations without the need to act on them because I’ve dedicated myself to the task of painting dots. I first became aware of this choice in relation to thoughts when I painted Constellation in 2009. It was a revelation! I don’t have to act out every thought and impulse!
Continue reading “Lonely Teenage Part Discovered Whilst Painting Dots”Square Dots #1: sexism and dinero
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 in
POA
If you would like to know the price of Square Dots #1 contact me. If that statement makes you nervous, there’s no pressure to buy. Do feel free to ask me questions about my work. Read on for insights into my painting process…
Continue reading “Square Dots #1: sexism and dinero”Square Dots #2 – a work in progress
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 in
Is God Abusive?
Self-coaching: small blue fist
When I coach myself, I write out the conversation between the coach part of me and the coachee part of me in my journal. What follows is a particularly powerful self-coaching session. I’ve noticed more enjoyment of my body and how it moves since I coached myself.
Continue reading “Self-coaching: small blue fist”