Process Painting

Supplies:

Watercolor or acrylic paint, brush, absorbent paper or canvas

In process painting, the process of making the painting is where we place our attention. We are less concerned with the final outcome or product. The artist does not begin with a plan or concept in mind. The focus instead is on deeply experiencing the making of the painting as a form of meditation; noticing thoughts as they drift into awareness, paying attention to the felt senses and emotions as they arise and dissipate. Every color selection and brush stroke is an intuitive process. There is no logic to this, no right or wrong. It is about maintaining connection to the process, and not abandoning it for some idea of what is good or attractive. It is about observing the evolution of the painting without judgement.

Begin by simply dipping your brush into the color paint you feel most drawn to in the moment. Make whatever mark intuitively seeks expression. Notice what has transpired, and continue. Allow yourself to surrender all ideas and concepts. Let the paint and colors guide you. Pay attention to how colors and shapes relate to each other as you progress. Pay attention to tactile sensations, the sound of the brush gliding over the paper or canvas. Take in shapes as they form, colors as the blend. Notice your mood, your somatic experience, your tendency to evaluate, your attempts to make sense of what you are doing. You decide how to know when you are done.

What you are doing is painting the present moment. What it looks like, is what it looks like.