Art helps us find the light in times of darkness
"There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in” — Leonard Cohen
Hello friends, we are living in a time that challenges us in so many ways. Our priorities and perspectives shift as the world around us does. How do we find healing and calm in the midst of so much chaos?
One thing that helps me is to make more art in times like this. I encourage you to do the same.
Read on for my latest article.
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Visit my art website: KrisCahillArt.com.
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Thank you for being here, I always appreciate you for showing up.
Love, Kris
We need art now more than ever
We can give ourselves more of the gifts that art can bring to us.
“… Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in” — Leonard Cohen, ‘Anthem’
We need art in our lives because it helps us to feel, and to find those valuable parts of ourselves that have been deeply hidden. Those parts of us that we are seeking can’t be found by trying to make sense of them, to ourselves or others.
We need experiences that help us turn ourselves inside out, in a good way. We all need beauty, now more than ever. We need influences and experiments and playfulness. We need to not make sense all of the time. We need to remember the happy possibilities.
This kind of freedom helps us remember more clearly who we are in the midst of challenges.
We need art now more than ever.
True story: I had a wonderful dream last night. I was in a bookstore, which in real everyday waking life is one of my favorite places to be. This bookstore felt magical to me, with magical books. I picked up a book and opened it to find that every page was filled with the most beautiful abstract images of light and shadow. I flipped through this book, longing to make paintings that looked like the pages in this otherworldly book. The images in these pages were so alive to me.
When I awoke, I remembered that last week I wrote about light and shadow. It’s an ongoing theme for me these days, and apparently it’s been working its way deeply into my subconscious. I can’t wait to see what kind of art emerges from this.
Here’s a current work in progress.
I had absolutely no thought or intention of making a painting of feet, and yet here they are. I originally was working on this piece from the other side, like this, and no, I did not see those feet there!
It wasn’t until I held the painting in progress up for my art partner to see, that I was able to see what I’d painted. My goal in working on this piece was to limit my palette and use lots of contrast and textures in the piece.
I was painting freely and loosely, just playing, not attempting to create a clearly defined image. The exercise of contrasting light and dark with textures was the goal, and lo and behold, I am pleasantly surprised at the result. It’s such a fun subconscious way to create, and gave me ideas of other paintings I’d like to work on next. So inspiring!
This piece below is also in progress. I really like it because it’s just so weird and fun to me. Doing all of this helped me find space and joy in my day.
As an artist, I try to not over explain my art.
I want everyone to have the space to have their own experience, and I don’t need them to have mine, unless they want me to tell them how I created a piece. I disliked the over intellectualization of art that I experienced while in the art school system - it felt unnecessary and besides the point.
When it comes to art, I believe that everyone will experience their own feelings and have their own interpretation. Everyone will have a different response and reaction. It's all really in the eye of the beholder. Art can inspire us to communicate in many ways, and to go deeper than words.
I can walk into a museum show and find myself in tears while looking at a giant abstract painting, I have done this many times.
Art is healing. Art speaks to the spirit, and everyone's spirit is unique.
Right now we need to remember the greater value that art brings to every one of us - this expression of the spirit. Whether the art you make or like to experience is visual, performance, music, writing, expression is the key. When you give yourself the time and space to express what is unique to you, we all benefit.
Inspiration for embracing new ideas in messy times
This week’s episode of Art Juice is brilliant and perfect for right now, especially if you’ve been wondering if making art is okay to do in the middle of the muck. Spoiler alert: it’s definitely the time to make more art!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for being here, and please do share with anyone you know who would enjoy my work. Cheers to you! Love, Kris
Yes! A perfect sentiment for these times!