The Artist Way Creative Workshop Rediscovering a Sense of Autonomy Sept. 2nd, 2023

The Artist Way Creative Workshop: Chapter 11 Rediscovering a sense of autonomy

Autonomy can mean many things in different contexts. One example that most will understand is freedom from external control and influence: independence. But what does it mean to rediscover a sense of autonomy as an artist or creative? The author, Julia Cameron, explains that to gain a sense of autonomy as an artist or creative we need to reconnect with our inner child artist and our creator. She explains that “credibility lies within you and God – not with a vote of your friends and acquaintances. The creator made us creative. Our creativity is our gift from God. Our use of it is our gift to God. Accepting this bargain is the beginning of true self-acceptance” and artistic autonomy.

This chapter addresses how we view success as an artist, the zen of sport and movement, and building your artist alter. Julia Cameron explains that we first need to free ourselves from determining our value and the value of our work based on market value because the idea that money validates our credibility as an artist is very hard to shake. However, the hard truth for any artist or creative is that our amazing work may never get fame, accolades, or financial reward and this does not take away from the fact that the work is amazing. As an artist, our self-respect comes from doing the work one performance at a time, one gig at a time, and one painting at a time for the sake of creating. Creativity is oxygen for our souls, even if you have a creative career, the important thing is not to sacrifice the process for the formula that sells. This soon becomes a price too high to pay and a loss to our autonomy.

The next concept that Julia discusses in this chapter is the Zen of sports or movement in our creative process. She explains that many creatives are very comfortable in their minds most blocked creatives are cerebral beings. Gaining artistic or creative autonomy requires a balance between our minds and our bodies. Creativity requires action and movement to get outside of our minds. She explains that it doesn’t have to be anything more than a twenty-minute walk but needs to be something we find refreshing to our souls. Because ‘the act of motion puts us into the now and helps us stop spinning. Twenty minutes a day is sufficient. The object is to stretch your mind more than your body, so there doesn’t need to be an emphasis on fitness, although eventual fitness is likely to result”. It offers perspective and the opportunity to learn how to move through any difficulty without turning to toxic behaviors or thinking. “Exercise is often the going that moves us from stagnation to inspiration, from problem to solution, from self-pity to self-respect”.

Finally, Julia Cameron encourages building an artist altar as a way of healing ourselves through spiritually centered and creative rituals of our own. Creating a space, corner of a room, window ledge, or nook serves as a sensory experience and reminder of all things that make you happy and good for your soul. Music, candles, incense, reading, affirmations, and a place to write in our journals or do our morning pages are all possible choices for your artist's altar

. The suggestion is to work on your artist alters this week. Make sure to keep it fun, silly, and joyful and meditation space for our morning pages.

Our artist date this week was part two of our Dream Catcher activity. We worked on creating macrame feathers to complete our Dream Catchers designed to capture those negative thoughts and allow us to heal, sleep, and gain peace in our creative lives. We are finishing our Artist Way Workshop with our next meeting. We will be discussing Chapter 12: Rediscovering a Sense of Faith and our final Artist Date Activity will be a Painting.

After some thought, I am going to cover three different types of painting mediums and materials to allow everyone to participate in the materials of their choosing for our last activity.

Acrylic Pour and Holiday Halloween Craft: This painting style is something that I have always wanted to try. It is a messy process, so make sure you have a tarp or safe space to complete the pour and spacers to allow your canvas to dry. Get yourself a stretched canvas of any size of your preference and at least three different acrylic paints including some glow-in-the-dark paint, and a plastic paintable pumpkin. I would also recommend using a painting smock or apron and having plenty of towels on hand for clean-up. It is also recommended to have a dryer available to make different patterns and to help dry your canvas.

Watercolor Still Life Painting: Get yourself something you want to paint as a reference like a vase of fresh-cut flowers, a bowl of fruit or veggies, or an arrangement of your choice to paint. You will need watercolor paper or watercolor stretched canvas you can also use your mixed-media journals. You will need a few different watercolor brushes with one being at least ½ to 1 inch in size. You will also need a set of watercolors, a couple of different containers for water, masking fluid, painter’s scotch tape, and a clean surface to mix your colors (palette). You will also want to make sure you are working in an area that offers a good light source.

Oil Landscape Painting: You will need a reference picture or an area you want to work outside for plein work. You will need a stretched canvas. Oil color paints, oil color brushes, a painting knife, a palette, and linseed oil. I would also recommend a painting smock and towels for clean-up.

I am looking forward to seeing all your paintings in celebration of our final activity for this first workshop with Mi Florecita Artshop. I will be announcing future workshops and artist-date activity videos for your reference to continue to practice these Artist Way principles in our lives.