IKIGAI

In my last post I mentioned that I had a favourite painting. I did it a few years ago. I’ve tried to better it since but have not often succeeded! Try as you might to recreate its magic in a subsequent painting - it is not something that you can make happen. However, it’s important to try and pinpoint what it is that makes it feel magical in the first place so you can at least carry that forward and try again to create magic. The desire to create something better next time is what keeps us painting. If it were easy, it would not keep us engaged.

When you start painting/ drawing or trying to master any craft really, you are on a steep learning trajectory. After a time you plateau, repeat yourself, get stuck in bad habits. Even though the work you are producing is better than when you were learning- you don’t get the thrill of -not knowing what you are capable of, and producing something that exceeds your expectations. It’s good then when something happens that forces you back out of your comfort zone and back onto the learning curve.

I’ve been preparing classes recently, for upcoming courses, teaching beginners to draw and paint. The projects themselves are not difficult for me. The challenge lies in trying to anticipate how the students will respond, and how to deliver the classes in such a way that they will enjoy the leaning experience, exceed their own expectations and continue to want to learn more. No doubt I will learn as much from them as they will about their own artistic abilities. That is my reason for doing it in the first place.

Learning is the key. The Japanese have a word for it: Ikigai. A concept that translates to "a reason for being". It represents the intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession.

My favourite painting ;)

My inspiration…

If you’d like to commission a painting please get in touch. Or if you’d like to try a flower painting workshop, see whats available by clicking on the ‘workshops’ tab.