Wednesday, March 5, 2014

C4ward March Blogathon (Day 5): Ecstasy in the studio--having it all from easy focus!

RECEIVING THE LIGHT. At Rose M. Barron's 2013 exhibit, "Multitude of Madonnas," at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, I was surprised and pleased to be receive a blessing from a "live" Madonna at sunset. Part of the ecstasy of being an artist for me is finding the "blessings" every where I go and in everyone I meet. Part play, part sincerity, part prayer culminates into "easy focus," a term coined by Phil Porter and Cynthia Winton Henry, that I will explain later in this post. (photo by Tony Martin)
Hallelujah for being an ECSTATIC! Hallelujah for having ecstasy in the artist's studio! Hallelujah for blogging in community with C4 Atlanta (and The Daily Creative Practice) and for guest prompt writer artist entrepreneur Gina Thompson:

I have been journaling from a book called "Mapping the Intelligence of Artistic Work" and this is one of the topics I recently wrote about. I found it really helpful for me. Bring to life the dynamics of your studio. What gives you satisfaction in the studio? What are you currently exploring there? Create a "wish list" for your work. What studio goals would allow for ecstasy?
EASY FOCUS (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

Let me jump right in with this statement:

I make my art while inhabiting the studio of self--or bodyspirit (integrated mind, body, heart, and spirit)! The image you see to the left represents "easy focus." 

Easy focus is a form of "having it all," which described by Phil Porter is "is taking in a whole experience, realizing that many things are going on in our bodyspirits at one time, and enjoying or savoring that experience."

My studio of ecstasy in no physical architectural environment. Rather, I create from an enlivened self, often having danced before drawing, burned incense, reflected, sipped coffee, petted a cat, and perhaps been inspired by dreams, song lyrics or written words. I can create art almost anywhere and do!
ECSTASY OF EASY FOCUS (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

Understanding EASY FOCUS takes time. Instead of critiquing, you are invited to enjoy. Instead of trolling for the negative, you celebrate the discovered positive. Try listing the those things that you enjoy and not the ones that disappointed. Phil Porter explains that by using easy focus, we end up "having" more. Sure hard focus and critique have their functions, but when I am in my studio I practice the route to easy focus for the ecstasy I am seeking in having it all!

Ecstasy for me as an artist is the fluidity stemming from embodied confidence of my own authority that the marks I make are those I need and want to make.
 
SOFTENING YOUR GAZE MAY RESULT IN PLEASURE. For me, making art is seriously fun and meaningful. How about you? (photo by Hallelujah Truth)
That's Coffee with Hallelujah. SOUL BLOG with me and tell me about your sense of ecstasy in your art making. What is your environment?
 

 

11 comments:

  1. Ruth, your deeply felt, fully integrated studio of the enlivened soul-self really speaks to my heart. Like you my most ecstatic studio is the connection between my eyes and my heart, with a lens and a computer helping me interpret the beauty that surrounds me. Other tools help me get the beauty I see inside out into the world, but I seek that place of flow where what emerges is what my heart's eye sees not just what my mind's eye takes in. You are inspiring me to open that door. I will read Phil Porter's book with hopeful openness to this possibility.--Carol Hays

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    1. How fortunate we are to be able to connect and articulate the dynamic behind our art making! I look forward to getting to know you better.

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  2. Love this! "Easy focus is a form of "having it all," which described by Phil Porter is "is taking in a whole experience, realizing that many things are going on in our bodyspirits at one time, and enjoying or savoring that experience."

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    1. Yes Melanie! Let's enjoy and savor the experience of our own authority and creativity!

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  3. Loved this blog Ruth. Very inspiring to read how you go about the art of making art. What inspires you and what motivates you. I love that your studio resides within......

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    1. Thank you Darlene! I hold you as a role model for establishing the most desirable studios an artist could ever want to work in! And so much of your spirit is expressed from those physical spaces!

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  4. YES! My true studio is me! That's why I always wind up LOVING my studio... It is simply the place I get to make my magic... That can be anywhere... LOVE IT! You inspire!

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    1. Jes! Loved reading your blog and the first statement you made about what your studio is --sacred! Hallelujah to taking the spirit seriously!

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  5. Yes! Yes! Yes!
    "My studio of ecstasy in no physical architectural environment. Rather, I create from an enlivened self, often having danced before drawing, burned incense, reflected, sipped coffee, petted a cat, and perhaps been inspired by dreams, song lyrics or written words. I can create art almost anywhere and do!" I love this - it resonated with what I was trying to articulate today - thank you!!!

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    1. Christine! I enjoyed seeing that images that you summoned in your blog post for today and how they express your studio!

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  6. Ruth the concept you have of your studio is yourself is really a tradition long held by artists but I think one I lose sight of at times. Reading your blog today reawakens that desire in me to create anywhere and everywhere. That is who you are dearest a Modern version of the Renaissance, a time in which the artists, thinkers scientists co-created, had synergy. Keep dancing with it all, yes to celebratin your authority and talents.

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