Spread from my current art journal for experimental painting methods
Since a very young age, my parents have tried ceaselessly to explain the concept of think-before-do to my brother and I. At home we were always reminded to try and think before we spoke and at church we were reminded to think about the repercussions of our actions, in terms of how energy or intent would be reciprocated, before we dedicated ourselves to a course of action. It wasn’t until I began studying art in college that I was exposed to the concept of active intentionality in a way that really hit home. In both art and art history courses alike we always concern ourselves with why an artist may have made a decision and how that appears to the viewers and we are meant to apply this to our own practice (as is the trend for contemporary art.)
As a result of engaging with this process I have become more acutely aware of the connection between intention, decision, and delivery in a way that has permeated into many aspects of my life. Taking the time to thoughtfully engage in a process of discovering your intentions and deciding on your ideal outcome can help guide the course of action you decide to take. Engaging with this process can give you the opportunity to parse out who you are as a person and can help to make big decisions just a little bit easier.
When I embarked on this journey I had concocted a rather malnourished type of intention, bare bone ideas of what I may perhaps wish to gain from the experience. At the beginning, my goal was pure and simple: learn as much as possible. Having been here for a little over a month now, I have managed to sit down and contemplate more thoroughly what exactly it was that I meant by that statement. What did I want to learn about it? How did I want to interact with and apply that newfound knowledge? What was my reason for wanting to learn about that thing?
Now, some of the circumstances that have helped me to fine tune my intentions have happened out of order. I didn’t realize I wanted to learn more about arts education and then signed up for a volunteer position at a gallery. I didn’t show up and decide to experiment with how I think of my art practice and then sign up for an advanced, mixed-media painting class. However, I did find myself in these situations and think about my intention to learn when deciding my course of action in order to get the result that best coincided with my intentions. And that is what it’s all about.
So, in relation to the concept of engaging in any sort of abroad experience, I suggest that you take time and think about what sort of experience you want to have when deciding to go on this type of journey. Why are you going to that place? Why that place over any other? Even if it wasn’t your first choice (which, believe me, deciding on Australia took some convincing #spiders) find something about that place that ignites your curiosity and be brave enough to allow yourself to indulge in that curiosity. That decision may change your life.
Until Next Time…