Nature's Layers: Trusting the Process of Emergence
by Jessica Chapin
Making art for me is so much about becoming, seeing what emerges, and discovering what is yet unknown. Each painting is full of surprises. I often have no idea what is going to come out in the end.
Parts of the process can be unsettling, with "ugly" phases when I question my ability and whether the work is any good. But underneath that is a deep trust in moving forward, taking risks, and listening for what is called for next. Integration always emerges if I persist.
I work in a lot of layers, and it can be both scary and freeing to let go of what was already there.
It is a constant process of building, change, becoming, unbecoming, growth. If I listen with care, what am I called to do next?
Like meditation, putting in the time to practice helps with the technique. Like meditation, it helps to bring a sense of playfulness.