Archive for Visionary Art
Painting is Transformational
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Paintbrushes by Dreamstime
I’ve been teaching visual arts for over ten years now, and I’ve taught all grade levels from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, and adults. I’ve taught in various settings: arts centers, summer camps, private schools, public schools, charter schools, and community college. One thing I’ve noticed is that kids, no matter what their age or background, always ask the same questions: “When can we paint?” or “Why can’t we paint?”
There is something mysterious and magical about paint and the painting process itself, and children intuitively recognize this. They want to paint. Read More→
"Vishuddhi in 3-D" by Niamh Savani, 3-D Self Portrait with found objects, 2010
The throat chakra (also known as Vishuddhi) is an important bridge to higher spiritual realms and greater creativity. If you are an artist or would like to increase your creativity levels, it is important to have a healthy, open throat chakra. There is a direct link between chakras and creativity.
The Vishuddhi chakra is concerned with purification, communication, truthfulness, Read More→
V is for Voice: Discovering Your Unique Artistic Voice
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"Voice" by Niamh Savani, Pastel on colored paper, 2010
Discovering your unique artistic voice is an essential part of defining who you are as an artist. It doesn’t matter if you’re a painter, musician, poet, novelist etc. because it is clear when an artist has a compelling, unique voice. You can easily recognize their work and it has an unmistakable quality. For example, you can easily identify a Georgia O’Keeffe painting (whether it is a flower or not) because of the strong composition, simplified, abstract forms, and beautiful colors. Her paintings have a certain quality or feel that just make them an “O’Keeffe”. This is exactly what artistic voice is – unique, stands out from the crowd, and has a certain “quality” that is difficult to define. This “quality” is your unique artistic voice.
I believe discovering your unique artistic voice is essential to your success and happiness as an artist and person. That’s why I selected this topic to kick off the “V is for Visionary Artist” series. Read More→
Introducing: V is for …Visionary Artist Series
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"Translocation #3" by Niamh Savani, 2005, Chalk pastel on colored paper
Yesterday was the Spring Equinox, which marks the beginning of spring, a time of year that represents new beginnings and fresh starts. I have developed the concept of the Visionary Artist Series, and was inspired to launch it in Spring to capture the energy of a beautiful new beginning.
A Visionary in the strictest sense of the word is someone who supposedly experiences a vision or apparition, which may involve seeing into and predicting the future. This state may be induced via meditation, estatic trance, drugs, lucid dreams, day dreams, or art. A good example is Hildegard of Bingen, who was a 12th century artist/visionary and Catholic saint.
A broader definition of a Visionary can refer to a person with a very clear vision containing specific details about some political, religious, social, environmental, or technological advances in the future. Some might describe these people as “Futurists”. Whatever term you use to describe them, they are generally connected to universal source …and are ahead of their time. For example, Ted Nelson is often described as a visionary associated with the Internet. Read More→
What is a Visionary Artist?
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"The Golden Cell" by Odilon Redon, 1892, Oil and gold metallic paint on paper. Image in the public domain.
Simply put, this is an artist who creates visionary art. In an earlier article I defined visionary art as art that depicts a wider vision of awareness compared to our day to day reality. I also mentioned that this type of art often includes spiritual, religious, mythological, and mystical content or themes. Visionary artwork is created by the artist who is inspired by their inner vision, or some spiritual or mystical experience and this feeling or energy is infused into the artwork as the artist is creating the piece.
Although at first glance the definition of a visionary artist seems straightforward, this is not necessarily the case. Like most things in life, something that seems simple on the surface actually has many layers of meaning and shades of grey. Visionary artists can be defined as self-taught, outsider, folk artists, or they can be formally trained. Actually, I would go so far as to say that all artists are visionaries in the sense that Read More→
What is Visionary Art?
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"Sita" by Odilon Redon, 1893, Pastel and black conte crayon on paper, image in the public domain
Artists have often been called visionaries, and many have produced what is known as visionary art. This is usually considered a type of art that depicts a wider vision of awareness compared to our day to day reality. This type of art often includes spiritual, religious, mythological, and mystical content or themes. A great amount of visionary art is created by painters using luminous color and strange juxtapositions of imagery.
Visionary art may require the viewer to expand their own framework of thinking. A person viewing artwork created by a visionary artist can be transported to another realm (even if only momentarily) via the images and colors created by the artist. This is because much visionary artwork is created by the artist who was inspired by some spiritual or mystical experience. This feeling or energy is infused into the artwork when the artist is creating the piece. Later, the person viewing the artwork will indirectly absorb some of that same energy.
Visionary art can be Read More→
Chakras and Creativity
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Orange Hibiscus
The chakras are subtle energy centers in our auric bodies that affect our physical, emotional and mental health. Different cultures worldwide recognize the presence of these subtle energy centers, for example the Tibetan Bonpo model, and the Incan Pukios system, to name but a few. However the most well known and widely accepted chakra system is the Hindu system with seven main centers along the spine, starting at the base and rising to the crown center above the head.
Each major chakra has a Read More→
7 Tips to Cultivate Wonder and Creativity
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Snowscene, Salzburg, Austria
A well-known holiday tune made famous by the singer Bing Crosby is “Winter Wonderland”. The lyrics of this song evoke an image of a beautiful outdoor scene covered with a fresh layer of snow, and children playing, having fun making snowmen and going on sleigh rides.
At this time of year whether you are a kid or an adult, it is easy to be filled with a sense of wonder. Maybe you live in a cold climate, and all you have to do is look out your window and you can see your very own winter wonderland. Just drive down your street or around your neighborhood and a normally drab car ride Read More→
The Art of Being Radiant
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Photo by Jonial, Dreamstime
Radiance is defined as being luminous, glowing, shining, brilliant, healthy, happy and joyful. Who wouldn’t want to be radiant? We live in a celebrity crazed society where a great many people love to celebrity watch, read celebrity magazines, or watch TMZ etc. Why are we so obsessed with “stars”? Maybe it is because they seem to somehow be more radiant, and shine brighter than the average person in their everyday life.
We love to celebrity watch and many people live vicariously through others, whether it is famous stars, or pouring their energies into supporting someone else’s dream rather than their own. Perhaps we think we cannot shine in our own lives. It is essential that we follow our heart’s desires, otherwise we will become frustrated, dissatisfied with life, and maybe even sick. We all have the ability to shine! We can easily recognize others who are healthy, happy, and glowing.
Sometimes we naturally glow whether it is due to falling in love, being pregnant, going through a great period of Read More→
