Why it's important to unlearn.

Yes, actually you need to go back to the start, to forget everything you have learned in art class. Do you recognize this situation, where you tell yourself, that your artwork isen't good enough? That you are not skilled, or that you didn't attend the right artschool? critizing your every move? You properly are, and it can be a huge task to go beyond these inner obstacles.

Marie J.Engelsvold "Don't think, just do it" 2014

Be your own authority. Create with persistent, and have fun. Be aware when you create. Be aware of your mental chatter, of your feelings. Observe it all, but don't go into it. Don't let the mental chatter and the feelings of insecurity overwhelm you. It sounds easy, but I know it's not easy at all.

If you really want to be abel to create something authentic, you have to practice this inner state of awareness. To be present with your creation, to enjoy the process, to set some time aside.  You really have to commit to this, so you can experience the enormous benefit of creating from who you are. Not from fear, not for applause from other people, not to earn money. If your artwork is going to be strong, you have to be strong.

You have to say, yes I want to create because I think it's the most important thing in this world. This fantastic blogpost from brain pickings says it all. Go and have a look here

"Afraid that our inner light will be extinguished or our inner darkness exposed, we hide our true identities from each other. In the process, we become separated from our own souls. We end up living divided lives, so far removed from the truth we hold within that we cannot know the “integrity that comes from being what you are.”

The Elusive Art of Inner Wholeness and How to Stop Hiding Our Souls BY MARIA POPOVA

You have to take the time aside to do this for yourself, and in this process you will grow with inner strength. By expressing your inner feelings you will learn about yourself, and your artwork will radiate an enormous energy that will spread out to other people.

In our society we go to school all our youth. We take an education, but do we learn about ourselves? Do we learn to navigate in the sea of other opinions and find our own voice?

No I'am afraid it's not on the scheme. Instead we mostly  learn to lisen't to authorities outside of ourselves. We learn how to fit into the system. We learn that if we don't do it right, we will fail and be failures. We learn that we have to do something that other people want all the time. But doing so, we loose ourselves. We loose our fantasy,  and with that we loose our ability to stand out. So to be an artist, is an enormous act of revolt. You do it in spite of everything, you do it because your soul is craving that you express who you are. 

So by committing yourself to start drawing from within, you are actually taking an huge step, and if you find it difficult in the beginning, it's okay. 

• 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.

Let your feelings be your guide.

You have probably experienced a lot of times where you got stuck in your drawing process. You begin to think about if you like your drawing, and if it would fit into the livingroom. Suddenly you start censoring yourself, judging yourself and you might stop the whole project. Another drawing is ending it's life in the bin. ( see my post: Wait before you throw your drawing in the bin)

In our society and in the schoolsystem, we often learn to use our analytical skills more. We are told to lisen't to the authorities, and so vi gradually lose contact with our own feelings, and the way we see things. (see my blogpost: "Why it's important to unlearn). Of course of that, many of us have difficulties in living creatively, and expressing ourselves in a unique way. When we are creative, and only uses our mind, it's difficult. The mind wants to have full control, to draw things that it knows, and can explain, and generally have a quick result without too much effort. 

Most children loves to draw, and do it quite intuitively. Children don't draw what they see, more how they feel it. These drawings have an irresistible radiation. Because they don't censor themselves and they don't censor their feelings. But at a certain age, we want to make drawings that are naturalistic and "correct". When we fail, many of us drop to draw. We think we don't have the skill. We want to be able to draw what we see. In school we don't learn to draw, like we learn to read.

If you want to be abel to draw naturalistic, I can recommend  the book ”Drawing of the right side of the brain” of Betty Edwards.

But I'am more concerned about the fact, that we loose our ability to draw what we feel. A lot of people have difficulties with feelings. We don't have a proper language for feelings, because they many times are wordless. But through drawing or creating we can be connected with parts of ourselves, which might have been buried for a long time. 

When we have contact with our feelings, our drawings will be more authentic and playfull. We are not afraid to dwell in the process. Connecting different things to create something new. You have to give your feelings a chance to lead the process, without the mind interferring all the time. In the beginning it might be a good idea to be more focused on connecting with your body and feelings. Gradually you can incooperate your analyzing skills. The result is to be abel to create without judging your creative process. To flow and be intuitive, when you decide you want to connect with your feelings. And being abel to decide when you will stop the process, and work more mind based and analytical.

Creating is actually a balance between the mind and the feelings. But letting your feelings be the guide, so your artwork will be brave and authentic. Try it!

• 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.

Don't be afraid of change:-)

When I draw, it's important to be present in the process. I try not to think about the result, but flow with my inspiration, knowing that I can always change the drawing. I have learned that the  "mistakes" gives me the possibility, of taking my drawing to a new and unexpected level. What is a mistake anyway? It's just something that doesn't fit into your perception of the "right" way. The "mistake" might be the thing that makes you try something else.

Ways to change your drawing:

• By cutting out a piece of paper, and cover the area that doesn't feel right. I really like the texture it brings to the drawing. Another option is to cover the area, with the white marker, or another color. In that way, you can see the history of the process.

• Sometimes the drawing just need some more space around it, and I cut it out, and place it on a bigger piece of paper. It's an endless process, but normally I don't work more than 1-2 hours, and it's done. For me it's about capturing the present moment.

Stay productive, if you are drawing every day, or as frequent as possible....you don't expect masterpieces every time. You will grow more courageous and more curious. When you are curious, you just say "hmm, this drawing might not be the best, but it's very interesting, and I can use some of it's elements in a new drawing". 

When you experience that you always have an opportunity to change the drawing, you will be more relaxed and present while creating. Another gift by being in the process is the surprising result. I love to get knocked out be my own creations:-)  "This is really different, but I really like this! it's strange, and a little funny, what could this be about"?

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Trying to stay present" 42 x 29,7 cm. acrylic markers, paper cuts and pencil on paper. 2015.

• 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.

Express your feelings

This whole summer all my drawings was about reconnecting with my inner space, to find comfort and strength. It has been a challenging time, and it helped me a lot to draw. To draw is for me the most easy and immediate way to express myself, I don't need to be in a specific place, or have a lot of materials. 

I was in a cottage by the sea with my family. I didn't have a place to go to be alone, so I installed myself at the dining table, with some relaxing music in my ears. In that simpel way, I created a little space for myself, and almost every day I created a new drawing. I love to use music as a way to stay focused in the process, and it is a great way to create your own private space, wherever you are. So instead of saying "No, I can't create now, I don't have the space, I can't be alone, and my family needs me". I just allowed myself the time and space, and everybody was happy.

Marie J.Engelsvold: "Inner lamp" 29,7 x 21 cm. acrylic markers (molotow), and pencil on paper.

How to draw, when you are in the midst of personal challenges?

So if you have a busy time, or challenges in your life, it can be quite healing to express yourself through creating. Eventhough your are totally miserable, your whole life is collapsing, and you don't think you have the time and space to create....now is the time!  Express your feelings, get them out on the paper. Use the paper as a place where you don't have to hide, a place for confession. Feel all the sensations in your body, and, feel how they flow out in your arms through your fingers and through your drawing tool. Don't try to control it, just let it flow.

This article get it right to the point "The Courage to Be Yourself: E.E. Cummings on Art, Life, and Being Unafraid to Feel"

Actually the drawing process can be a way to heal and accept your current situation. Do some drawings every day and see how the drawings progresses togheter with your own feelings. When you look at the drawings afterwards, they might struck you as some of the most powerful creations you have ever made. They might not be beautiful or aestethic in the traditional way, but thats not what you are looking for either....? They might be quite messy, and rough but wonderful, unique and charismatic. Try it!

• 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.

Can drawing be a kind of meditation?

To draw is for me a kind of meditation, it’s a way to stay in deeper contact with my inner space. I don’t plan anything, I just start. Sometimes it can be kind of scary, the white paper, and the sense of loosing control. But I know the feeling, and know that the scary feeling will turn into a fantastic feeling of joy and freedom. I just have to keep on drawing, and something unknown an magical will happen.

When I meditate, I come into another state of mind, and it's the same for me when I'am in the creative flow. I totally forget time and place, and I'am deeply focused in the present moment, feeling at peace and excited at the same time.

The energy of the creative process:

I also experience that the work I create when I'am in the flow, are more unique and have a special feeling connected to it. These works tends to make me excited, mirroring the same feelings I had when I created it. Eventhough I was kind of miserable before I started to draw, the whole process of creating often lifts my energy. I don't know if it's true, but maybe it doesn't matter as much how an artwork looks like, but as important the energy that is attached to it.? The energy of the creative process. For me it makes sense, because when I do some drawings or other artworks while I'am totally disconnected from the process, they will never have the same attraction. They might look bright and have a beautiful design, but they will not ressonate with my feelings.  

Very often the drawings made in the meditated state, is the drawings that I can’t really make sense of, when they are done. My rational mind can't make sense of them, but it doesn't matter because they makes me smile:-)

This summer I made a whole little collection of drawings. Here are two of them. Have a look:-) 

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Dancing chair" 29,7 x 21 cm.Acrylic markers on paper. 2017

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Release" 29,7 x 21 cm. Acrylic markers on paper. 2017

• 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.