I’ve been making paintings called From Deep Time for a number of years. They usually originate during meditation when a word or phrase falls into my mind, such as “A Prayer to End All War” and I feel compelled to go into my studio and paint.
These paintings are qualitatively different from what people are used to seeing in the calendars. Making them feels very distinct from working on landscape, floral, still life or even abstract pieces.
During these studio sessions I’m quite present. At the same time it feels as if the skills I’ve developed over nearly five decades are borrowed. By what, I don’t know – some energy or intention greater than myself? I know what it feels like but I’m not sure it matters. What appears on the paper surprises me. It can look and feel unfamiliar. The color and form journeys flow along paths I might not ordinarily travel.
.At some point in the session I get a clear, insistent instruction:
“Walk away and shut the door.”
Which I do, whether the piece feels finished to me or not. I take my brushes, shut the door and go wash them.
Recently I received some strong intuitive guidance to do something I’ve never done before: invite people to join me, virtually, while I am painting this way.
To be honest, I am a bit hesitant to follow this guidance. Deep Time painting is a lovely state to be in, one that challenges my ability to stay completely in the moment as well as stretch my skills as far as I can. I don’t want my energy or concentration broken by any interference, and during these sessions I am particularly sensitive to any sort of distraction. It can cause me to lose my focus on deep inner listening.
But perhaps there is wisdom at work in this intuition.
If you would like to be present, as a witness or to experience something creative that wants to come through you, I hope you'll join me
Deep Time Live, a Virtual Retreat
Thursday, August 17th, 2023
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST)