How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.

1) How to connect with your feelings, and feel them instead of being mental about it.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

Take a look at my video, where you can follow my own process while you lisen’t to my experiences. Or you can just read the blog post instead.

There is another layer to the topic I talked about in my last video. “What to do if you get stocked in the creative process.”

When we begin to criticize and judge ourselves, it’s because we are too much in our heads. We don’t now how to be present with ourselves. Because it can be hurtful to embrace all our feelings.

To be free in the creative process and in life, it’s so important to be present. And to be present you must connect with your heart and body. But why is it so difficult?? and so much easier to go to the head and be mental about it. I woke up last night, and was feeling really pain. And these words came to me “ You go to your head when your heart hurts”. We want to be happy and positive, and then it’s easier to suppress all the negative emotions. But the feelings don’t go away when you try to ignore them, they stay and they build up.

So to be present with yourself, it’s about being present with everything inside of you. Also the stuff thats hurts.

What to do??

My process. here I start with painting the paper black. I always start with a white paper, but felt like doing the opposite would balance the energies.

You have to go down in the deepht of yourselves, to say hallo to that part of you which is in the dark bottom of that hole. To accept it, and get it back up. Don’t begin to analyze it, or judge if the feeling is going to be there or not, if it’s good or bad. Just feel whatever is inside of you. In the beginning it can be a little frightening, to go down there, if you are not used to confront it. And you sometimes need to stay for a while, to acknowledge these dark feelings. To be there in the darkness for your lost friend. To give comfort, and acceptance to that feeling.

When I was a child, I sometimes felt it was not okay to be sad, to be angry to be grieving. My mother said, you just put yourself togheter now, and up on that horse again. You know you will soon forget all this. But then you just put that lid on, and that feeling will not be allowed it’s space.

Sometimes it can also happen that you are too long in that dark hole with your friend. That you just fall into total hopelessness and despair, even getting totally knocked out. Maybe you don’t accept and really getting yourself the comfort you need? We can be sad and angry, but if we at the same time feel that it’s wrong to have these feelings, they won’t go away. It’s really about owning these feelings, and comfort yourself as you would to a child.

When you have tried it just once, and being abel to stay with your feelings, and drag it up in the light with you, you don’t have to stay so long each time. Imagine there is a trampoline down there, and you just can jump up and down, in a balanced movement between the light and the dark. Because we are both. We can’t just be happy and light all the time.

I think thats why we are so afraid to get down there, because we never really learned how to get up. To get up renewed and full of new energy and wholeness. Just because you allowed yourself to feel, to let yourself be you. To accept all of yourself. It’s a very small act, but it’s not easy. Instinctively we tend to escape from all that hurts. All it really takes is to sit quiet for a moment with yourself.

Marie J.Engelsvold. My process: Working with Molotow acrylic markers and paper cuts.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

To be abel to stay present with all these feelings, it helps to release them through your creations. It helps to put them out on that paper, or any other medium you prefer. I just use the drawing as an example of an easy way to create without having to think too much about space and time and other practical things. The most important thing is to get started, to release the energy because it will help you to drag yourself out of that hole. And when you start it will develop in it’s own pace. You will by following your own guidance end up doing what will be the most beneficial way to express your uniqueness.

You can’t follow a must, a mental plan or an idea.

Marie J.Engelsvold. My process: Working with Molotow acrylic markers and paper cuts.

You can’t do it because you think you have to, you have to do it because you want to do it. But sometimes you can’t feel what you want, because you are so used to do what you have to do. Or what you think you have to do. When do you really ask yourself what you truly want from your heart?? If there was no limits?? Let your heart fly. Don’t plan it, do it and let it grow. Do just something a little thing you want to do. Then you will feel the energy, you will fell happier and it will grow in you. And it will grow out of you.

The more I dare to be in that space with my art, the more free I become. Drop the rules. Drop the limitations. It is all mental, it’s not you.

Every time you can drag yourself out of that hole, you will get more fearless. You will not be so afraid of the darkness in you, because you trust yourself to come up again every time. And not just up again being the same. No, you bring up new energy, from all the things you have accepted in yourself, and all the things you have let go of. The false notions, and limitations you have put onto yourself.

So don’t be afraid of going to your heart to feel all the hurt, the sorrow the anger and the abandonment. You have to do it, to set yourself free. To be free to express yourself, in all your true colors.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Coming out” 29,7 x 42 cm. 2019

Here is a little tip.

Take a paper, and some drawing materials, paint what ever you want.

Then just start. Don’t have any agenda. Not thinking of a result. Just

try to empty yourself out on that paper.

Fell whatever is coming up. Allow whatever is coming out.

Don’t judge if it’s good or bad, ugly or beautiful.

Just let it be raw and what it is.

Create from a non judgment place, a no critic place.

Go with your nudges.

Hope this helped you. I wish you a very nice day, a day where you allow yourself to be present with all your feelings, and say it’s okay.

I’am teaching in “how you can free yourself in the creative process”, go to workshops, to read about my courses and workshops. Next ones is in Mai 2019.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

Donate

• Turtorials and tips
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• psycological aspects
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• turtorials
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
• video
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??

Do you sometimes feel stuck in your creative process?? In this video I will give you some practical tips on how you can work through this feeling of being unable to progress.

1) How working on several pieces of work can release the expectations.

2) How we need to learn to let go, in order to create.

3) Why do we meet fear in the process?

4) How to recognize your inner critic, and start a dialog.

1) How working on several pieces of work can release the expectations.

In this video, I will show my own creative process working on 4 pieces, and shifting between them.

So make a little experiment. Take 4 pieces of paper. Start as normally. When you are stock in your process, put the piece you are working on aside, and start with a fresh new paper. Now you continue on the new paper until you feel stock again. You do this at least 4 times.

As soon as you feel a little resist full, a little nervous on how to continue, you change paper.

Now you got 4 works in progress. Can you feel it? It feels freeing to not have so much pressure and expectations of the one artwork. Now go back to the first one, and continue with that, for as long time as you are inspired. Then shift again. It doesn’t have to be in order, you just continue on one of the drawings you feel most compelled to work on.

You can do this every time you feel stock in a process.

The next thing I will talk about is

My four pieces of work, which I worked on simultaneously.

2) How we need to let go, in order to create.

We have to let go of something to hold space for new things to come in. But this is one of the most difficult things. To let go or actually destroy part of our work, which we might like but doesn’t fit. Or which is very nice, but it doesn’t ressonate, it doesn’t feel right.

Sometimes this niceness is more of a barrier than the ugliness. Most of us have a tendency to making it too nice. But when we hide ourselves behind this nice work, we are not real. Many times this feeling of stockiness comes because your work is so nice, that you don’t dare to destroy it….you don’t dare to put another line on that work in case you will destroy it all. It’s this kind of feeling that it’s okay, everything is there, but it’s a little boring. But it’s when you are showing all sides of you, not hiding whats raw and what you don’t understand, that your work gets unique and real. So just do it, let it go, don’t be afraid to change your work, to make mistakes. Experiment, play, make it funny. Use the exercise I just showed you, to work more quickly and to release this anxiousness. This resistance, which is nothing but fear.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “It’s inside” 21 x 29,7 cm. Acrylic marker and paper cuts on paper. 2019

3) Why do we meet fear in the process?

Fear is a factor we meet all the time. Especially when we are expressing ourselves through art.

What you are creating is a reflection of you. You express yourself through your work. Why are we artists and creators always so vulnable around our work?? Because we are sharing from the depth of our souls. Because we have to go deep, to get to the exciting stuff. If you only express the nice things, the work will get boring. Because art is a really good channel to release some of the things inside of you, which are very difficult to put into words. In the creative process we are connecting with our deep wounds and our shadow side.

Thats why it sometimes can be so provoking to use a certain color, or material because it is triggering something inside of you.

Maybee some part of you don’t like pink, or think it’s not a proper color for your work. But another part of you, feel this urge to use this color. You know it takes much more energy to say no I am not allowed to use pink, I can’t stand that color. Do it eventhough you are afraid. I know it sounds kind of stupid, to be afraid of using a color. But I think all artists and creators know what I’am talking about. It’s only you who sets the limits of what is possible. It’s you who are putting yourself in a box, and it’s only you who can open the lid.

But sometimes everything is easier when things are “black and white”, we set up some rules for ourselves, and then we think we are safe and “know” what we are doing. But suddenly it seems impossible to do anything else. Because now we have boxed ourselves into a category, and we have put on this nice label. It’s like we sometimes feel more safe to tend to a certain believe system or organisation and we adopt everything they stand for. It can feel very safe at first, because now everything is in the right order. Now we have someone or something outside of us, to tell us what is right and what is wrong. But in reality we are actually afraid of chaos, we are afraid of the dualities in ourselves, the diversity. The things we don’t want to face in ourselves? The many shades and facets of our selves.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “no fear” 29,7 x 21 cm. Acrylic marker, pencil and paper cuts on paper. 2019

The same goes for our art. Don’t be afraid to show all the shades inside of you. I have a funny example from my own process. Sometimes I go for a long time and want to use a certain technic, a new material or a color. But I can’t do it eventhough I want to, I feel this resistant in my body. For as long as I have been working with art, I didn’t use purple.I just didn’t like it. But last year suddenly I just was ready for purple, and it just poured out of me. It’s a very strong color, I see that, and it has a history of both being very royal, a color for the elite for the aristocrats for the church. But on the other hand it’s also associated with being some kind of a hippie, very laid back and all about new age and being very alternative. So the color is not for the weak, you have to say something with purple. Thats just my own interpretation.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Trophy of self love” & “Revealing my new self”. 100 x 70 cm. Acrylic paint on paper. 2018.

But this resistant is nothing but fear, fear of showing a certain part of yourself, fear that nobody will recognize your “style” anymore. But you can’t run from yourself. You can change style as you like it, but you can’t change that you did it. I have changed my expression so many times, and sometimes I think nobody will think I did this. But very often people who knows your art can recognizing your signature. And you think you made an enormous shift when you shifted from using a acrylic marker to a brush with paint. For most of us it’s hard to change, and when we change something we think everybody will notice. So just do it, it’s not dangerous and it’s still you who did it.

Experiment. “The garbage bin”

1) Try to let the things you are afraid of out. Afterwards it’s easier. Do it on another paper. Take a paper and let everything out on that. Use it as a kind of garbage bin. Every time you are afraid of doing something on the piece you are working on, do it on the “bin paper” It’s actually freeing, and sometimes the bin works turns out really powerfull

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Covered in a kind of me” 29,7 x 21 cm. Acrylic marker and paper cuts on paper. 2019

4) How to recognize your inner critic.

It’s interesting to dig a little deeper into our own fear pattern. We can call it the inner critic. When you have more clarity on what triggers you, it’s so much easier to look that fear in the eyes, and work through it. When you let the fear out on the paper, or in other creations it will not be so mean.

Have a notebook at your side, while you are creating. Write down every time you hear that inner critic whisper something in your ear. What does the fear say to you? It’s a really good idea to talk with the inner critic in words, because it tends to be mental. Many times the inner critic comes from our parents and our teachers from school, all the thing we have learned about right and wrong and good and bad. Eventually it turns inward, and we think it is our own thoughts. Another funny thing is if we believe in what the inner critic has to say, we tend to meet persons in the outer world who reflects these things about us, back to us. But most of all it hold us back, and the inner critic is not you.

Here are some examples from my experience:

1) You don’t master that technic.

2) It’s not good enough.

3) It’s not interesting enough.

4) It’s a waste of time

5) No one needs your art

6) You didn’t attend the right art school

7) You are not a real artist

8) You are a failure

9) People don’t like your art.

Now try to give an answer to that fear, to that critic voice inside of you.

1) No, maybe I don’t do it the “right” way after some official rules. But I do it my way, I’am a creator and everyway I decide on is the right way. Do you get nervous when I don’t follow other peoples rules?? You don’t have to be afraid, I know what I’am doing.

(If you feel that the critic voice are right, because sometimes we might be benefitting in taking a course in a certain technic, because it will help us to express ourself in a better way. Of course don’t hesitate on learning something new. Just be aware that you don’t do it out of fear, but out of a feeling of expansion, and curiosity and positivity.)

2) Well, it is actually good enough for me. I accept this artwork, it’s just perfect the way it is. I felt so much joy and excitement doing this. I discovered so much in this process.If you don’t find it good enough, it’s okay with me, I don’t have to please other people with my art.

3) Okay. And what is interesting?? Something you read in a book?? Do I have to write 2 pieces of paper abothis artwork?? I think it’s interesting because I have put myself into it. I think actually I’am interesting enough.

4) This is the best way I know to waste my time. Totally absorbed in my work. Using all of me to create in the moment.

Is it because you are afraid I don’t earn enough money on it?? You know what, I’am making space in my life for what is most important for me. I’am not waiting to live my life until I go on pension. I don’t have a boring daytime job, dreaming about making art. I do it now. This is my life.

5) Well, I have many good examples of people who has been very positive around my work, that they actually felt the same playfulness and joy as I felt while creating it. They can feel the vulnerability and the sadness too. I have had many good and deep talks with people about my work. Also the fact that how it is to live like an artist, to do what you feel compelled to do. To show up with yourself and your work in all it’s aspects. I think we need art as a reminder of all the things that are not material or practical, but is essential. We need to feel interconnected and share feelings to feel alive. Thats important.

6) No, I didn’t study at an art academy. I went to Graphic design school. But I knew all along I wanted to make art, but I didn’t dare to go to that art school. But now years later, I can see that it’s easier to remain free when you have not learned all the right codes in the art world. Because you don’t become an artist just because you go to the right school. You become an artist because you do art as a praxis.Because you are committed.For me to make art is most of all about unlearning, to get to the core of whats me. To free myself of all the right ways. Because I’am good enough.

Can you see what I’am talking about. Get to know your fear. Discuss a little. Have a dialog. So next time you hear that fearful whisper, stop it. Don’t allow it to sabotage you.

Hope you could use this information. Have a very nice day, in a way so it’s not only nice, but a day where you can feel free to be you.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

Donate

• psycological aspects 25
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• Turtorials and tips 12
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• video 7
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
• turtorials 1
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.

Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.

Not expecting anything. Not wanting any specific result. Not waiting to arrive to a certain destination. You know very often we say, when I have done this and this, then I will just have fun. We think that we have to deserve it. First work and then play. We have learned to struggle and to fight our ways through life. To be strong. To tame ourselves. We make “to do” lists. We have so may goals. But what when we get there? Is it worth it? I think to be present in the creative process, is a kind of learning how to live moment to moment. To learn to be in peace and harmony with yourself, eventhough your outer circumstances is chaotic. Allowing yourself to be you. That all about you is okay. That is your reward. That is your freedom.  

Sculpture experiments, from my own process.

Yesterday I had a day in my studio, where I didn’t come to any solutions. I played around with a sculpture the whole day, but it didn’t fall into place. It didn’t click. I’am learning all the time, and normally I would be a little unsatisfied with myself. But yesterday I was so happy on my way home. Because I had really had fun,  and I had this knowing that everything will fall into place. The energy from the day was still in my body the whole evening. 

The feeling of flow comes when what you are doing, is in harmony with where you are.

So I’am learning to enjoy the yourney, to relax in knowing that I can create more courageous, if I don’t fix my mind on a specific goal.

But I think the reason why we resist the moment, resist o be present, is that it triggers all our emotions. Because to be in the process is not just bliss all the time, you will meet all parts of yourself.

How do you forget the result ??

When we think of a result, it is often a mental picture of what we want. So instead of the mental picture, go for the flow feeling instead. The feeling of flow comes when what you are doing, is in harmony with where you are. For example, if you are sad, use that feeling and express it, instead of suppressing it, because you think you have to be happy. Every time you suppress an emotion, it builds up, and it takes a lot of energy. If you keep suppressing these more negative emotions you will eventually run out of space. Your body will be full. All the emotions will come to the surface, and you might get a serious breakdown. So release the feelings instead, allow them to be felt, express them in your art. Soon you will feel relieved because you are getting in touch with new aspects of yourself. Relieved because you have more energy, and more space inside of you..

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Don’t resist the moment.” Acrylics, pencil and paper cuts on paper. 30 x 30 cm. 2019

How do we go from the expectation to the dream ??

So one of the biggest challenges is to let go of the expectations of the result. If we always have a goal in mind, it is as if we are starting to hurry, and we reject everything that does not look like something that can lead to our goals.

Often the inner critic begins to beat us up. We begin to sabotage ourselves. It is not good enough. We try again and again, to get to the desired result but we fail. Sometimes we actually succeeds, and the result is satisfying. But often we have to cross both arms and teeth to get there. We can also have learned a lot of techniques, so everything we do looks okay, it is actually really nice and tidy and people like what we do. But you may not be completely happy, and you are dreaming of something else.

The dream you feel, is not the expectation. The expectation is that mental picture you have of yourself, that you have to feel and be a certain way. The mental picture of your outcome. The expectations will always get disappointed, and you begin to judge yourself if it is not met. So drop that mental picture, The dream cannot die. The dream is the one you think is unrealistic, the one that can't be done. The one who is only possible if you had lots of time and money and courage. But it is the dream that makes your heart beat, the dream that gives your life direction, and the dream which nourishes the flame in your passion. But how do we go from the expectation to the dream ??  It's a bit like the same mechanism as when we switch from the left side to the right side of the brain. And the harmony when we get all our parts to play together. I'm talking about the same thing, just in different ways. Because we constantly run into the same problems, but because the situation changes, we do not see it.

In the creative processes, you meet yourself head on.

The first thing you have to do is forget the result, go into the process, be present in the process and don't think about the end result. The dream is now, it’s not a destination. If you build a lot of expectations around the dream, the dream cannot come into your present reality. The dream is not a picture, it’s alive. That  is what is the adventure, to enter into the unknown.

These are the same mechanisms as in your life, if you are afraid of the unknown (and we are all to a lesser extent), then you cannot be present in your life. So that's why I say that in the creative processes, you meet yourself head on. And if you dare to go into the eye of the storm, you can free yourself from your limitations and learn to accept and love yourself in your wholeness. Without cutting pieces of yourself out.  This is also why we have such a hard time being present in the process, and accepting our own self-expression because we meet ourselves all the time. And we all have parts we don't like and don't accept.  So the expectation of the result is also the expectation of yourself.

When you expect things from yourself and other people, you also judge if your expectations is not met. If you judge yourself, you tell yourself that you are not good enough. You do not accept yourself as you are, but only as the image of how you want yourself to be.

Release the expectations on how to get there, and surrender to the journey.

So when I say, go into the process and forget about the result, it sounds very easy. But it's not easy, it's really challenging for most of us. And so, it is something you learn gradually.

I, myself have been a visual artist for 20 years, and of course I also love to be in the process when I am in flow. And I think that is why I became an artist. When I was very young, I discovered that I could disappear from the world and go into my own dream. I could come in a state of true presence and joy. That is the flow. Forgetting time and place, being fully present in what you do. That is the price. And then you have arrived. When you live the dream, the dream is all there. Allow yourself to dream big, and allow yourself to trust it. But the dream becomes reality only when you follow your inner voice and allow yourself to rely on the process.

 You still can't figure out how to get there ?? Take the first step, and that is your creative passion. You must turn on the spark, before you can burn. Release the expectations on how to get there, and surrender to the journey. And if your dream is more time to be creative and express yourself, take that time. Start with what you can today, and then expand slowly.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

Donate

• Turtorials and tips
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• psycological aspects
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• turtorials
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
• video
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

Make a kickstart.

Happy new year!!

I always like to start the new year, reflecting on how satisfied I'am with my life. What I like to change, and how I can do it. This year I came to one single thought. I just want to be me. I want to keep things simple, not starting up new projects without checking in on how I feel about it. I want to have time to go all in on what I really appreciate. And what I really appreciate, is to create. But as you know, creating takes time. You need to spend time, to really commit to your creative process. Since you are reading this, I assume you also want to express yourself. Creating from a true authentic place.

So why not start the new year by really committing to your creativity? What about making a kickstart? 

If you really want to commit to your creative process, you have to set aside some time in your schedule. I will recommend you to start the new year with a dayly routine.

1 drawing pr. day, for 1 month. Use 30 minutes or better 1 hour pr. day. Do this to make a kick start.

You will see that it really makes a difference. You will end the month with a pile of drawings. I guess you will  be quite hooked on these creative moments, where you can  connect with your self. Try to make it fun, let go of the result. If you have a very busy calendar, make it down to 20 minutes. You can ask me "But why forcing myself to draw everyday, even when I'am totally stressed and just don't feel like being creative?" I say "just try to make room for this activity for 20 -60 minutes pr. day, and see what happens". Just make small doodles on a little paper in the train, or even in front of the television. But commit to do it everyday, and make a new and rewarding habit for yourself. 

Small drawings. My kickstart. :-)

I'am excited to hear from you, how you are doing?? If some of you are situated in the area of Copenhagen, I can recommend to sign up for my course. "Find your own visual language" The courses are ongoing 11 mondays. Time is 8.45 -12.15 am. Hope to see you around. 

• Turtorials and tips
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• psycological aspects
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• turtorials
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
• video
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

What is your drawings all about?

It can be challenging to make sense of an intuitive drawing, because it is made in connection with your feelings and inner space.
 (see my blogpost, let your feelings be your guide).

I like to sit for a while when a drawing is done, looking at the drawing. I just look, and at the same time feeling my body, feeling sensations, emotions. Very often I only have to wait a couple of minutes before some words begin to pop up. I write them down. And immediately I start to formulate a title. For me it's important to do this mindwork right after the drawing is done, while I'am still in the process. The drawing is a visual of my inner state, right at that moment. If I put on a title days or weeks after, it tend to be not so accurate.

When you have done around 10-20 drawings with titles, you can look at all the titles, and see if you can formulate a little text on base of that. In that way you will slowly get a pattern, of what you are working around. Every time you have a pile of drawings. Could be every month if you make a drawing a day, and it's not unrealistic. (You can be quite depended on your daily drawing time.:-) Try to formulate a little text. It's very rewarding to explain your drawings in words, actually that process can also generate new ideas.

In the beginning, my drawings didn't have a title. I wanted the viewer to make their own interpretations. But one day I had a talk with another artist about the issue, and I suddenly realized that my work was totally unapproachable to the viewer.

I actually had a lot of thoughts about what I tried to express. Immediately I started to write about my process. I guess I was ashamed of discussing my work, because it was so personal. All my drawings is about feelings and thoughts that I rarely speak of, and are barely aware of. Complex mixtures of all kinds of contradictory sensations that is hard to explain in words. 

And I realized that I didn't have to write a novel, but just to give a few words to help the viewer, and myself sharing my inner world. Sometimes I even incorporate the title into the drawing, like I have done in this drawing. 

Marie J.Engelsvold “Try to flow with life”, Acrylic tusch on paper. 42 x 29,7 cm./11,8 x 16,5 inches. 2014

I hope to inspire you to create in an authentic way,  getting in contact with feelings which might have been buried inside, letting it out on paper to have it released and integrated...and at the same time making some fantastic and unique artworks.

• Turtorials and tips
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• psycological aspects
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• turtorials
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
• video
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.