Art and Spirituality
Aug 02, 2020
It’s been almost 13 incredible years since I’ve started painting professionally, although I’ve been sketching and drawing for a lifetime. My journey as an artist has been challenging at times with its highs and lows but through it all I have a deep appreciation for the many lessons that I have learned that have allowed me to grow and develop. I can confidently say that over the past decade or so I have not only evolved as an artist but as a human being as well.
Starting out as an artist, it is quite difficult to find your niche and to be true to your own identity – I think everyone struggles with the search for authenticity. As a beginner you can easily get overwhelmed and not know where to start or even how to begin. However, beginnings are difficult for everyone in all aspects of life, not just for artists! We spend so much time trying to ensure that things start perfectly that we can often be paralysed and hesitant to take those first necessary steps forward. Looking back now, I am so very grateful in my journey in aspiring to become a good artist and in my growth towards spirituality.
For as long as I can remember I have been drawn towards spirituality. I have always been fascinated to learn about what is truth, what is reality and whether there is a God and why there is so much suffering in the world. Having lived in India where you are surrounded by Gurus that try to answer these questions, your thirst for knowledge is satisfied but at the same time you are filled with doubts. I am a keen reader of books and internet articles on spirituality, visualization and philosophy. Spirituality and art to me is inextricably linked. Painting has taught me that you can’t control everything; whatever happens is for the best and as it was meant to be. All my mistakes during my early learning phase have allowed me to develop tried and tested techniques that are still with me today. And that has taught me to use the same principle in life too – ‘whatever happens, happens for a reason’ and the reason is always for the good. I always internally visualize myself being good at my work. There are so many experts in this field so its impossible to compete with everyone but putting effort into your work and trying to be authentic makes you shine in what you do. You have to be a fierce learner and keep adapting.
A painting not only gives an insight into the subject matter but also into the mind of the artist. It is my strong belief that it is not for me to tell you what each painting represents – as they say ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. Each person will look at a painting and get from it a meaning that is completely unique to their own experiences and that is the true fun of painting. What looks to you a certain way will look completely different to another. I love that my paintings hang in different homes across the world. With each painting that departs to its new home I always hope that another family will get as much joy from having the painting in their home as I did in creating it. I have always found that the greatest joy in painting is when you find someone that appreciates your art as much as you do!
