Somatic Painting
Somatic Painting is also an important part of this process because it is very different from drawing for a couple of reasons. First, it is much harder to control the results and tends to be more organic and abstract. Second, it is messy. Yes, it can also be messy and bring up all of our issues around that. Third, it is very tactile and sensuous if we allow it. So these three things often bring up early life experiences where we were encouraged to maintain control and discouraged from making a mess. Yet freedom to explore without having to control the outcome is a crucial part of us regaining the fullness of our creative expression.
The paints I like to use the most are cheap, craft, acrylic paints that come in little 2 ounce bottles in a myriad of colors. I prefer the matte finish rather than gloss. Acrylics are also permanent when they dry, which is useful for a number of reasons we can address later on. Another option is Kid's tempera paints, which are washable and non-toxic too. Tempera paints are great for their sheer convenience and easy clean-up, but they don't dry permanent, so it is harder to work over them later with other water-based media. Whichever you choose, I encourage to at least try this process. All you need to do is lay down some plastic or newspaper and get a cloth or paper towel and a little cup of water. (Yes I know it could spill, but this is where you get to use your ability to dialogue with your inner critic and tell her it's okay now, you're grown up and responsible.) You can try using a brush, or an old credit card or even better, your fingers to try spreading the paint around. Try different colors and layers without worrying about the end product. We're all in this together and it's an even playing field when it comes to somatic creative expression. |