THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING PRESENT IN ART

STAYING PRESENT means being conscious of what is happening within and around you so that you can participate fully in life. It can be thought of as a powerful mental context that gives you self knowledge and allows you to be responsible for your life and make deliberate choices about how to respond rather than simply reacting to events in a preprogrammed way. This is true in making abstract art as well.

In abstract expressionism or non-objective abstract art, staying present is essential to making authentic, powerful art that speaks to the viewers . Your unique creative expression is in every piece of art you do. It is what makes your work yours. Knowing what you like, how you work, being intimate with the materials and the process and what is meaningful to you is a continual exploration. As you become intimate with yourself, you relax into the work and become more present so that you can respond openly from your heart and gut. With practice your art becomes more clear, more consistent, stronger and deeper.

Cultivating Presence is a practice and one that gives a richer more satifying painting experience as well as a more fulfilling life.

When I teach abstract art, I teach letting go of preconceived outcomes, staying in the senses, being curious and doing lots of exploring. While exploring the principles of art, the participant finds out what he/she/they like and don’t like and begin to step into the unknown world of creativity where he/she/they begin to trust their intuition, and respond effortlessly in the moment. This is where the magic happens.

Creatively yours,
Suzane

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THE BASIS OF ALL ART

The basis of painting an object, landscape, feelings, moods, etc., is the mark. A mark is made with the hand or a tool and each gives a unique expression. It is through marks I build a painting. Knowing what marks I love to make and how they relate to one another is my true work of an artist. So, I find it important to practice often. The more I have experienced, the more my paintings flow.

I warm up before I start to work on my paintings by making marks in my mixed media workbook and over the years the many workbooks have offered me insights and inspirations.

Setting aside time each week to explore freely , I discover new marks and ways they interact, what I like and how to make my paintings more dynamic.

MARKS! MARKS! MARKS!
DAY LONG WORKSHOPs

Learn techniques to push your marks to make them exciting and dynamic! Learn how to create paintings with your marks! This workshop will infuse new energy and life into your paintings with new fresh marks. You will try new mark making tools as well. Limited to 7 people. All Levels welcome. Check Under Workshops for dates.

If you would like to make comments or have a question, please contact me through this form below:

Thank you for dropping by!
Suzanne Jacquot

WHY STUDIO PRACTICE?

Suzanne’s studio in Sebastopol, CA.

“All the best ideas come out of the process;


they come out of the work itself.”

— Chuck Close

I am very fortunate to have a wonderfully light filled large dedicated art studio (above) right outside my front door. Showing up every day to create is Studio Practice. Let’s take a closer look at what my Studio Practice is all about.

Basically, my Studio Practice is my individual ideas, subject matter, conceptual possibilities, influences and inspiration and the style of my work dependent on the period of time in which I am working.

It is important to me to include time to literally “practice” my mark making skills, work on ways to accomplish my ideas, explore new techniques, materials, ways of working, color palettes, and time to get into my own rhythms and flow. It is not about producing finished paintings everyday fast, like artists show on Instagram. It is about keeping at it, taking the time necessary, not rushing the process, and being mindful, sensing and intuiting step by step, being in the unknown.

I spend time exploring, developing, refining, resolving, and preparing for presentations. And, I do these steps over and over and over so that they are fluid, natural and spontaneous for me. This is what makes my art ready to go into the world, to be seen, received and appreciated by others. It is a lot of work—- an inward exploration of my deepest desires, finding my truths and expressing them authentically and skillfully. It takes time. It takes courage and curiosity. It requires patience, contemplation, risk taking, compassion and love.

Studio Practice is the backbone of my artistic journey in painting.

If you are an artist, what is your Studio Practice about?

Please feel free to email me with your thoughts and questions.

THANK YOU!

ENJOY ABSTRACT ART

Madeline Denaro

Are you curious about abstract art in order to purchase a piece for your home, do you have a desire to learn abstract art, or are you bewildered by it altogether? Here are a few ways to increase your appreciation and understanding of how to view and enjoy abstract art.

Abstract Art is viewed differently than referential art. Often there is no obvious subject. Try these steps when viewing:

1. Stand quietly in front of an abstract art image. Relax your analytic thought processes as much as possible. Allow the image to affect you and be ready to “step in” a new experience, ie, the world of the artist.

2. Experience the energy of the painting. Let that feeling well up and connect with you in your body and heart. Be curious to explore the image with your senses and intuition.

3. Notice where the energy of the painting engages your own feelings, memories, moods, and thoughts. Notice if it arouses your own imagination.

4. Notice shapes and colors and their relationships and interactions. Notice the interplay between light and dark and the depth of the painting.

5. Notice how you are led around the image.

6. Notice patterns, rhythms, mood of the painting. Let curiosity be your guide.

7. Be enriched and nourished by the experience knowing that it was created by an artist who wants to share their world with you. You may be able to learn about the artist’s intentions, inspirations, cultural background, artist philosophy, etc. This will enhance your connection to the artist and the art.

You are not going to resonate with all abstract art and that is natural. But, in doing so, you will learn more about what you like and don’t like. Even that can give you an experience that may expand your ideas and world view.

Abstract Art can be a powerful way to release energy, be soothed and comforted or experience edginess, learn about own likes, dislikes and imagination and give you new ways to look at your life and the world.

Thanks for reading my Blog. I am a full time abstract painter and teacher. If you want to learn or augment your own practice of abstract art, check out my current Classes and Workshops or hire me as your mentori.

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