Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
We are a society consumed with form. Randomness is not acceptable, so we cling to it and in fact almost embrace it. Artists are no less vulnerable and you see them everywhere trying to interpret the forms they see about them. Sometimes they do it well and sometimes the product is a disaster. 
Ekhardt Tolle talks about how we must associate with form to make mental constructs that give us a false sense of security, of wholeness but it merely feeds the ego. The entire effort is fruitless and it does not lead to happiness. It is an identification with something outside us. It prevents us from looking inside – the essence within us that links us to something very vast and very wonderful.
It us curious then that so many artists fall prey to the same beguiling enchantments perhaps because they are not trying hard enough or maybe someone just has not turned the light on for them. When we take art down from its pedestal and we are staring at a blank canvas, can we put aside identification with form for just one painting? Can we re-discover color for colors sake? Try mixing a tone that pleases you and place it on the white canvas. Study it. What would go nicely next to it? What would blend it nicely? Curiously some colors tend to even express a certain shape (elicit a certain shape) and so now there are colors being placed with a certain shape and even rhythm. This is a wonderful experience.
What is going on with this practice? It is simply allowing yourself to experience pure color – the joy of color. There are multiple variations to explore. Free yourself of form, some grand theme and experiment with the application of color. Try to do on a fairly large platform – not too small. This is the beginning of abstract painting. It is what you used to do as a child so you will find yourself coming full around.