I uploaded some of my paintings (mostly birds) to my paintings page today. I haven't actually painted much past few years (other than rocks). Goodbye to rocksPainting rocks is a low key relaxing activity. They can be as detailed or simple as you like. I started the final rocks that I had just before Dad died, then finished them and put them out for others to find not long afterwards. I'm done with painting rocks for now. I like to paint on canvas but it's been a while. I'm preparing to do a painting for a community exhibition. Flying Solo is the most detailed rock I painted. It's a metaphorical self-portrait (most of the birds in my paintings are). Painting with wordsI find visual art much 'easier' than writing as I don't need to try organise words to communicate. Writing requires cognitive effort and I have cognitive impairments with my disabilities.
I would often paint, when I need to get 'something' out, even if I didn't know what I was feeling. It's a form of expression. The paintings are actually loose visual mindmaps with stories. To help me remember what my key themes are when I write. The main reason I haven't painted much these past few years, is because I have been focusing what energy I have into writing. I write a blog piece if I just want to express something smaller but linked. My books read differently, as I spend a lot of time on a story and reworking them. I currently write about relationships with disabilities (including bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum). I have one more novel left in me, drawing from my experiences. It will likely take some year to complete but having it on my radar helps me to direct everything I do towards it. It's called Soar Purpose, and it's the sequel to Pet Purpose. Pet Purpose: Your Unspoken Voice took me seven years from conception to publication. When there is processing involved, plus the challenges I have with my disabilities, things can take a long time. A sense of purpose, courage and determination is what got me there. Purpose, is what gets me through the extremely challenging times. Courage, because some will mock you and knock you and it takes courage have a voice when some will disapprove. It also takes courage to be vulnerable, including emotionally. Determination, because picking yourself up to carry on, is how one accomplishes incredible things. It's going to look different for everyone but I wanted to exceed expectations. Sometimes there are setbacks and tangents but during those times of focus, I get closer towards my purpose. I did the painting Focus because I wanted to paint a tui. I named it afterwards and for a while it was on my wall, reminding me to focus on my book projects. A friend I hadn't seen since childhood came to one of my solo exhibitions and bought that painting. Pet Purpose is my most challenging work of art involving writing, so far. I painted the cover, Snowball, which then gave me more ideas while writing.
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Xanthe Wyse('Zan-thee Wise'). Disclaimer: the author of this blog is not an expert by profession and her opinions should not be taken as expert advice.
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