Art as Meditation I: Senses
As creatives in the world we live in today, it’s easy to overload the senses without even trying, given we have access to all the information we could want at our fingertips. Productivity is applauded, and every waking moment can be monetized. Because of this, taking the time to slow down seems daunting, and for some, feels even more stressful than having a stacked schedule.
With meditation often being used to help regulate this stress and overstimulation, most get turned off by the word alone because the thought of sitting and doing ‘nothing’ for an extended period of time seems uncomfortable. However, as you dive deeper into your own personal meditation practice, it can be defined in many forms that don’t require sitting in stillness. In fact, one of the best ways to drop into presence is to submerge into a creative activity, like making a piece of artwork.
Like meditation, making art can sometimes turn people away because they fear not being ‘good’ at it. On the contrary, one does not have to obtain a degree or come from wealth to creatively express this part of themselves. All it takes is a few materials and an intention to start a habitual artistic practice. In this way, making art can become a form of meditation. Getting into a creative flow releases the mind of the chaos of day to day life, offering a chance for reconnection with the self.
Dropping into the Senses
In meditation, the five senses are often used as a tool to bring oneself back to the present moment. Equally in an artistic practice, tuning into these senses and using them as a source of inspiration can be incredibly grounding, building an awareness for them that may often become jaded from overstimulation.
Using the senses for making art provides also a concrete framework to begin a practice when facing a creative block, without limitation. When the options are endless, we can freeze with overwhelm and it can be difficult for inspiration to come through. Pulling from what the five senses are gathering creates a spacious arena to move freely within.
This practice doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. The purpose of this is to drop into presence and let it guide you as you work. However, the results may inspire a bigger project or new creative direction.
THE PRACTICE:
Grab your materials of choice. Whether it be a sketchbook and some color pencils, paints, crayons, clay– choose a medium you feel comfortable working with and that inspires you.
Before getting to work, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to settle into the moment. What do you hear? What do you smell? Open your eyes. What colors jump out at you? What textures interest you? Are there any objects that are pleasing to look at?
Choose one or two points of focus to work with. This could be the shadows dancing on the wall, the smell of a candle, or simply the just color of your walls that jog inspiration.Take some time to observe what you’re working with, making note of anything that stands out.
Begin working with your chosen materials. If your focus is a color, try making a drawing or painting only using that color. If it’s an object, try recreating the object by focusing on shape and shadow. Don’t put too much pressure on being perfect; instead try to create from how you feel when you remain focused on your subject.
Continue working. If it leads to something else, roll with it. If new ideas spark, roll with it. Try not to have any expectations of the end result. This is your practice, let it flow as naturally as possible.
Keeping the Momentum
Like any type of meditation, the practice becomes most effective when done more than once, on a consistent basis. That being said, continue to explore your chosen focus by making studies or returning to the piece everyday for a week. Don’t give up if it’s difficult at first. Again, the purpose is not perfection, but to come back to presence and find creative flow. Give yourself the space to be present and expressive; you never know where it may lead.
