There's something magical about intuitive painting that is difficult to fully grasp until you try it for yourself. I started diving into intuitive painting a couple years ago when I was struggling with my mental health. I painted from reference photos for the longest time, until I decided to experiment with painting from my own emotions in hopes that I could finally explain my thoughts in ways I couldn't explain them in words. Since then, I've learned a lot about myself and my love for painting with my intuition.
Intuitive painting is a method of creating art that aims to explore aspects of the inner self by playing around with color, texture, and brush strokes. It allows you to express yourself and your emotions freely while getting lost in the process of painting. I'm free to play as much as I want and am always surprised by what comes out in my painting just from going off of my intuition. As an abstract expressionist, I enjoy using intuitive painting as a way to inspire and spark creativity. Not planning ahead and just going for it is what makes painting so much more fun.
I like to begin an intuitive painting with journaling to open my mind and get my thoughts out on paper followed by meditation to relax myself before painting. By doing this, I connect better with my emotions and am more aware of what I am feeling during the painting process. I like to use acrylic paint since it dries quickly and I can work in layers. I also explore different painting techniques as I go, including splattering and gestural brush strokes. I have learned that starting with calm colors such as blue, green, and purple starts the intuitive painting session on a relaxing note. I've currently been exploring different blue and orange color combinations as blue helps me stay calm when I am feeling overwhelmed, while orange balances my energy. Knowing the common meanings of colors can be helpful if you are interested in trying intuitive painting so you can process your work at the end of the session and learn more about your inner self.
Since becoming an intuitive painter, my mental health has improved as I've experienced the power of art healing. I have learned to not be so hard on myself and just paint for me, because that's what brings me so much joy. We are all a work in progress, but sometimes our emotions and anxieties get the best of us, and emotional management is not a universal thing. I founded Shannon Egan Art to connect people to holistic methods and explore the emotional freedom of art healing. My goal is to help people live a healthy, happy life and embrace the beauty of being a work in progress.
If you're interested in trying intuitive painting on your own, I offer personally curated paint kits and intuitive painting journals. Follow the prompts and open up your mind before you start playing around with paint, color, and techniques. I also offer free consultations for my therapeutic art coaching services and a one-on-one intuitive painting session where you will learn how to create a painting solely using your intuition. We will open and relax your mind through the use of journaling and meditation. You will leave the session feeling relaxed after learning new techniques for quieting your mind.