This painting, the biggest I have done this year is called ‘Taming the voice inside’. I have written before in my Journal about ‘Learning difficulties and Art’ and how moving to West Cork 3 years ago has forced me to reflect on how my dyspraxia affects my work process and also how I see the world around me.
Being able to see things with fresh eyes has highlighted for me how challenges in my day-to-day life are mirrored in my work. Consistency and framework are important for someone with dyspraxia, so disruption to this can leave us with feelings of disorientation and insecurity.
As my work becomes more abstract, I realise that leaving the recognisable image behind can also be a scary ‘big decision’. Learning to let go and trust the process when painting has for me become a huge part of moving on with my work. The disorientation I felt after moving away from everything I had known for most of my life is similar to that of ‘letting go’ in a painting. And finding my place again, like bringing that abstract work to its conclusion.
So this painting for me illustrates very well the dilemma of needing a certain level of order and control in my life to be able to function, yet at the same time longing for the freedom of expression that lies underneath and can only be experienced by letting go of that need for order.
This painting, the biggest I have done this year is called ‘Taming the voice inside’. I have written before in my Journal about ‘Learning difficulties and Art’ and how moving to West Cork 3 years ago has forced me to reflect on how my dyspraxia affects my work process and also how I see the world around me.
Being able to see things with fresh eyes has highlighted for me how challenges in my day-to-day life are mirrored in my work. Consistency and framework are important for someone with dyspraxia, so disruption to this can leave us with feelings of disorientation and insecurity.
As my work becomes more abstract, I realise that leaving the recognisable image behind can also be a scary ‘big decision’. Learning to let go and trust the process when painting has for me become a huge part of moving on with my work. The disorientation I felt after moving away from everything I had known for most of my life is similar to that of ‘letting go’ in a painting. And finding my place again, like bringing that abstract work to its conclusion.
So this painting for me illustrates very well the dilemma of needing a certain level of order and control in my life to be able to function, yet at the same time longing for the freedom of expression that lies underneath and can only be experienced by letting go of that need for order.