Page 102 - Winter Issue
P. 102

How  does  the  practice  of  "allowing  and  presence"
             shape your creative process?
             Anything can only be created within the present moment, to
             be authentic the act of making requires presence, the more
             presence  the  more  authentic  the  process.  The  level  of
             presence can vary but ultimately, the conscious intention to
             allow  creativity  to  manifest  through  me  is  always  the
             aspiration. When lost in this process, it’s a place of no time,
             no thought, and no ego, it’s a place of peace.       Lesson Acrylic on canvas, 30x30cm, 2024
             The  Irish  landscape,  with  its  fleeting  light  and
             dramatic changes, plays a big role in your work. How
             do you capture these transitory moments?
             My most recent series have been based on landscape, but
             it’s  also  an  amalgamation  of  places,  emotions,  and
             memories,  also  the  varied,  fleeting,  and  changing  light  so
             typical  of  the  Irish  landscape  opens  what  is  seemingly  a
             familiar landscape into a new visual realm, the glory of ever
             passing broken light and shade excites and focuses me. It
             feels like the greater part of me, perhaps spirit is connected
             to  the  essence  of  all  that’s  around  me,  however,  this
             amalgamation is the starting point, it’s the catalyst by which
             I  allow  presence  and  therefore  creativity  to  work  through
             me as I paint.
             You  describe  your  process  as  a  “catharsis”  and
             “deliverance from the ego mind.” How do you think
             this affects the way viewers experience your work?   Sermon Acrylic on canvas, 30x30cm, 2023
             Aspiring  to  remain  present,  to  allow  creativity  to  manifest
             through me is paramount for me in the making of authentic
             art, I can only hope that the viewers can in turn allow my
             paintings  to  be  their  catalyst  in  connecting  to  the  present
             moment  while  witnessing  the  work.  The  more  present  the
             viewer remains, the more they allow without labels, should
             and  should  not  the  more  they  will  in  turn  gain  from  the
             process,  and  the  more  their  experience  of  looking  will  be
             authentic, a recognition of truth. I hope the truth seeker will
             recognize the truth within my work completing the circle of
             connection.
             In  your  opinion,  what  role  does  nature  play  in
             connecting  us  to  our  spiritual  or  divine  selves,  and
             how do you translate that connection into your art?
             There are many ways we can connect to our spiritual selves,
             through music and art itself, however, nature is perhaps the
             most  inspiring  way  of  all,  being  surrounded  by  creation,
             around, above, and below us evokes a sense of the divine  View Acrylic on canvas, 30x30cm, 2023
             creation,  by  being  present  and  alert  to  our  surrounding
             nature we can often sense a connection, a thread that runs
             between  ourselves  and  all  things,  appreciating  the
             dichotomy of being separate but connected simultaneously.
             It’s only through ego and the thinking mind that we assume
             separation. This is the same practice applied when creating
             a work of art.


                                                           102
   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107