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Wisdom from Paul Signac in 7 Facts and 11 Beautiful Paintings
French painter Paul Signac is known for helping develop the pointillist style. Learn life-changing lessons from the pioneer of Neo-Impressionism in 7 facts and 11 beautiful paintings: 7 from Paul Signac, and 4 from Sepia Flora.
Portrait of Paul Signac by Jean Marchand Christie’s, Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons
A Bit of History
Paul Victor Jules Signac (11 November 1863 in Paris- 15 August 1935) was a Neo-Impressionist painter. Along with Georges Seurat, they developed the pointillist style.
Among other historic events, Claude Debussy, one of the finest composers of all time, was born in 1862. Gustav Mahler, composer, and conductor was born in 1860.
In 1900 the book The Wizard of Oz was published. The first movie theatre in the United States opened in Los Angeles in 1902.
The Tour de France began in 1903. The First World War began in 1914. The Spanish Flu was in the year 1918. When writing this article, there was another pandemic in the world, the COVID-19 in 2020.
These historical facts place us on what the world looks like, now and then. It is a reminder of our momentary nature. While Signac was developing a new artistic movement, the world kept going without noticing his presence. This puts perspective on our lives.
Woman With a Parasol By Paul Signac Flickr, Public Domain, on Wikimedia Commons
Historic events as well as art masterpieces of everyday life are abstractions of our nature. When we surrender to the universe and view artistic creations with a broader perspective, we are less preoccupied with life’s tasks. Art offers us a broader interpretation.
In the following, I will introduce Paul Signac’s life more thoughtfully. One where we can learn through 7 facts and 11 beautiful paintings.
1. Inspiration Can be Anywhere
How much time do we waste during the day? I know I have lost time when I have an unfulfilling feeling of boredom. For example, when I read the news, or when I look at new collections from some clothing brands.
On the contrary, when I watch a meaningful television series or play an art game, I feel motivated. It is still a time when I am not working, but it doesn’t leave me unfulfilled. Don’t always think about doing work-related tasks. Pursue your passions and don’t harm yourself with meaningless actions. We should pursuit activities and lessons that nourish our minds and souls.
Lomalo Segelschiff by Paul Signac – Koller Auktionen Public Domain, on Wikimedia Commons
Paul Signac was going to be an architect before attending a Monet’s exhibit. With an open mind, he fell in love with paintings and changed his career. We learn from him that depending on how we experience life’s circumstances, we might gain valuable insights. Also, he loved sailing and every trip was new scenery and an opportunity for inspiration. A life with art is a slow life. Admire nature, and admire what constitutes your world.
Everywhere we are there is an opportunity. Let your imagination and instinct guide you sometimes. It is always possible to engage in inspiring activities.
2. Rapid Sketches by Paul Signac
When we sketch we develop different areas of our brains. Sketching helps our coordination and observation skills. Start noticing details and carry a notebook to be more aware. Gain focus and start paying attention to details. Develop this habit that can even improve your confidence.
Glasses Sketch by Sepia Flora
Paul Signac frequently had sailing trips around France. From these trips, we can see amazing colorful watercolors, sketched rapidly from nature. Also, there are notebooks where Signac mentions in detail his observations.
Opposite a white palace, with pink line, harmony in pink, with green blinds… Communal Palace.. retouching Gozzoli virgin fresco…blue background…
Paul Signac
Geneva by Paul Signac. Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons
3. Divisionism: A Way to Find Organization
Paul Signac was highly influenced by Georges Seurat. Especially, by his methodical working methods. Finding structure and organization was something Signac valued. With divisionism, he pursued a method of observation and sentiment. He was able to innovate by creating a new artistic movement.
This method consisted of painting with individual dots, thus separating the colors within the objects. The dots will interact optically, but not in the canvas. The white color of the canvas had a shimmering effect. This innovation was an important insight for later artists. It was a step towards abstraction.
There are two main ideas we can learn from divisionism. First, we can divide our troubles and work on them separately. Everything seems overwhelming when we try to solve everything at once. We can write and as Paul Signac teaches us with optics, we can visualize a better outcome.
Second, a bit of theory and structure goes a long way. We can discover new paths and understandings of our knowledge by adding stimulating research.
Art is a creation of a higher order than a copy of nature which is governed by chance…. By the elimination of all muddy colors, by the exclusive use of optical mixture of pure colors, by a methodical divisionism and a strict observation of the scientific theory of colors, the neo-impressionists insures a maximum of luminosity, of color intensity, and of harmony- a result that has never yet been obtained.
Paul Signac
Castellane by Paul Signac – Twitter [1] Public Domain, on Wikimedia Commons
4. Learn From Pointillism: Patience
This journey of incorporating art into my everyday life has taught me to be patient. I enjoy so much painting and drawing, but I want to get results quickly. While reading about Paul Signac, I was inspired to paint using the pointillist aesthetic. Believe me, it requires a lot of patience and time. The results? A clear mind, an inspired soul, and a stiff neck.
Learn to be patient and to cherish life’s experiences to become an astute and insightful person. Every dot represents every day of our lives. Every bit of wisdom and every day adds up to the whole picture. A blue day with a bright yellow day, make up greener pastures. It’s about our insight and the way we treasure who we become thanks to every circumstance.
Greener Pastures by Sepia Flora
5. Paul Signac: Music and Frequencies
Something I truly admire about Paul Signac is his connection between music and painting. Music is composed by notes or frequencies, so is the way we perceive colors. Colors are electromagnetic radiations characterized by their wavelength or frequency.
Signac studied the theory of colors. As mentioned before, he divided the colors within objects. Divisionists believed that optical mixing would produce more vibrant colors than mixing pigments. Each color was valued by its wavelength to compose a visual symphony.
This is a direct connection with music. The colors Paul Signac chose for a painting were a performance because the spectator was part of the painting. After all, with divisionism, we are the ones that mix the pigments in our heads. Paul Signac was interested in the vibration of colors, as one distinguishes the vibration of individual sounds.
Many of his paintings were numbered like musicians did, with opus numbers. Beyond that, he made a series of paintings, like movements within a musical composition. Musical pieces are named many times by the tempo they are played in. Paul Signac also named his paintings according to this notion. Slow boats on the sea with low-frequency colors are a perfect larghetto musical composition.
Larguetto Opus 219. Morning Calm Concarneau by Paul Signac Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons
The art of the colorist has in some ways elements of mathematics and music.
Paul Signac
Music can be part of your life for expression and well-being.Learn from Paul Signac to admire and blend different forms of expression. Your admiration of the arts and of expressions would be more insightful.
6. Wisdom from Paul Signac
Fight for what you believe in, but do it wisely. Innovate and inspire others to do the same. There is never enough time to learn. You learn in your life when maybe it’s already too late. It doesn’t matter, you are a better person and that is what counts.
Plants from Balcony by Sepia Flora
Regrets? Well, many. I think we all have them. But it is not wise to think of them as regrets, rather as teachings. What can we learn from that time? Did you think you waste your time? Why is that? What did you learn from it?
The anarchist painter is not the one who will create anarchist pictures, but the one who will fight with all his individuality against official conventions.
Paul Signac
In the Time of Harmony by Paul Signac – Kasser Mochary Art Foundation Public Domain, on Wikimedia Commons
Stop political campaigns, stop posting happy pictures of your life. Let’s be wise together, let’s look at art paintings and learn from them.
Look at In the Time of Harmony. Here you can be part of a musical experience, dancing to the sound of music. We are all immersed in something. It can be arts, or it can be the way we are manipulated by the media. You choose what matters and what is valuable.
7. Hope
The golden age has not passed; it lies in the future.
Paul Signac
I am a self-taught artist and I recently began drawing and painting. It is an absolute joy to notice details, to express with visual imagery. Every day I learn, and I become aware of the immense abilities that one can develop. There is always hope for the future because every day we are wiser than the day before.
Life with Art and Signac by Sepia Flora
We can admire every painting and dream with them. A life with art is a life with hope. Artists are a companion both for uncertain and joyful times.
Change Your Perspective with Art and Live in the Present
Change your perspective when you feel overwhelmed. There is always a solution, and sometimes, by looking at situations differently you can find answers. Art is a coping creative process that helps you evaluate and visualize circumstances objectively. Nourish your psychological well-being with artistic activities.
Change Your Perspective
When you change your perspective towards suffering you can judge it better. How awful is the situation when you look at it from someone else’s perspective? Also, consider how terrible the situation is if you take a broader perspective. For example, does the issue affect you in a long term? Or does it have a consequence on your well-being?
It’s not about ignoring what is in front of you, is accepting it with courage. Nothing lasts forever and all troubles in life might be smaller than you think if you put them in perspective. Remember what the stoics have taught us, that we can only control our minds. Also, we must cultivate our virtue and morality. As we train our bodies, so we should exercise our minds daily.
It’s in keeping with Nature to show our friends affection and to celebrate their advancement, as if it were our very own. For if we don’t do this, virtue, which is strengthened only by exercising our perceptions, will no longer endure in us.
Seneca
What is Your Perspective? by Sepia Flora
Community and Individuality
The way to live in this world is with virtue and decency. Why? Because we live with other people. Others not only go along with us but can help us live with a broader perspective. People suffer, and sometimes because of us. You can use that perspective for your benefit. In other words, you can always rely on the feeling that you are not alone. First, by thinking about others. Second, by feeling that others are empathic because they also have similar feelings.
This is a move we encounter repeatedly in the arts: other people have had the same sorrows and troubles that we have; it isn’t that they don’t matter or that we shouldn’t have them or that they aren’t worth bothering about. What counts is how we perceive them.
Alain de Botton
Photo by Antônia Felipe on Unsplash
Art is More Than a Hobby
Do we need external resources to train our minds, or can we do it being alone without anything else? For example, through a pandemic what is the best way to live through isolation?
I usually keep my mind occupied with books, music, movies, series, and art. Do you think that is the best way to cope with isolation? I think it’s important to look for hobbies where our minds become wiser. Activities where they don’t rely on someone else to make it happen. How can we train our minds when being alone?
Also, why do we need social interaction so much? And because we do, what activities might help us connect with humans without being close to them? I wouldn’t rely on virtual encounters because they tend to leave me drained and sometimes with a headache.
Photo by Carissa Weiser on Unsplash
Art is capable of connecting us with other people by the way we express our feelings. Also, as mentioned before, art shows us that others also suffer. This not only helps us train our minds to be more resilient but also to change our perspective of what truly matters. For example, when feeling desperate through a pandemic because we can’t go out, what if we consider that others actually can’t eat. Others lost their jobs because of the situation. When we ponder about life-threatening situations, our lack of social interaction is more tolerable. A change of perspective makes everything more tolerable.
Also, remember that art increases the release of dopamine from your brain. Low levels of dopamine are linked to depression. And, it turns out that dopamine levels play an important role in how you perceive the world.
Art to Change Your Perspective
When you paint or draw a scenario you are thinking of it differently. As an example, rough neighborhoods in Brazil, called favelas, have a reputation for being dangerous. By painting the walls with colors and with beautiful landscapes, the violence decreased.
Brazil, Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash
In Bogota Colombia, a whole neighborhood was painted so that when seen from afar it looks like a butterfly. Also, there are many murals around the city painted by local artists. This gives people a perspective of belonging. They like going to their home, and they take care of their surroundings because they want to keep them beautiful. It is easy to see how you can behave with the objects that surround you. If you take care of the place where you live or work and use art as a form to shift a perspective, you can be able to observe your obligations from a different point of view.
Bogota, Photo by Jorge Gardner on Unsplash
Art: A Tool That Can Help Us Be More Sensible
Art is a form of consolation. We can find consolation by expressing and observing. When we put situations in perspective we may find a way to cope with our troubles. How can art help us do that? By looking at beautiful pieces that reflect a person’s sorrows. Also, by expressing your own and contemplating what they mean.
Just as you train your body to be fit, so you need to train your mind to be in shape. The sum of every day comes to be your life. The routines you develop come to shape the way you are. That is why art can help you gain perspective over your life.
Vanishing Point to Change Your Perspective
A vanishing point is a point of a perspective drawing where lines converge. These lines are parallel and the representation is used to recreate two-dimensional perspective drawings of three-dimensional spaces. It is a point where everything tends to vanish.
Vanishing Point by Sepia Flora
This is a creative activity where you draw anything that you want to change your perspective on. For this, use the vanishing point as an extremity of a circumstance. For example, draw the past on the vanishing point. Accordingly, draw other events of your life away from that point. This will help you realize that you can’t change your past. Also, that we tend to idealize our past and that we shouldn’t trust all of your memories.
If you want, you can draw quite the contrary. The vanishing point is where you want to go. It represents that point in the future that you can build up with optimism. When you change your perspective and build habits with optimistic thoughts, you can accept situations as they happen. You start to value the way you live because that is the way you have created your life to be.
Scale Drawing
What is this problem that you are facing right now? How can you put it in perspective of everything that you have lived? Of everything that you have survived?
Focus on what is Important by Sepia Flora
When we think of everything we have lived, we can conclude that we are capable of managing difficulties. We are far more prepared than what we give ourselves credit for. We can cope far better than we think. Also, we realize that most of our problems are nothing if we visualize the universe. What is going on now in the world? What is our life compared to everything else?
It is nothing at all. We are just here to survive, and most of what we do doesn’t affect the world at all. This helps us change our perspective of what is important. Choose wisely and observe what you are prioritizing. Every choice we make builds up our lives. Remember, how we spend every day makes up our lives. By drawing, you can visualize what it is that you are prioritizing. As a consequence, you can change your perspective of what you value the most.
What are we in the universe? by Sepia Flora
Draw Your Virtues
Draw what you like about you or just draw what you like. Also, paint with your favorite color. A little goes a long way… What we are is what we do every day. Don’t think about enjoying everything you do, but cultivating what is good for you. This art routine will empower you. This happens because you are constantly remembering your strengths and embracing them to create.
Cherish Your Virtues by Sepia Flora
It is about cultivating your powers. Don’t focus on what you wish you had, focus on what you have. Cherish your personality and don’t expect to be someone else. Also, think about how you can reprogram or change your perspective with positive affirmations. It is proven that you change your subconscious, thus becoming more positive about your life.
Just Let Go to Change Your Perspective
I find this practice to be the most rewarding. Letting thoughts go and accepting them just as they are. When I am stressed I tend to think a lot about how some situations are difficult. I keep talking to myself that I am not going to have enough time to do some obligations. The opposite is also quite stressful. Thinking about solutions and how some situations can be different if I do this or that. That constant thinking and speculating is what is overwhelming. The feeling of being in charge of everything is exhausting. Sometimes all we have to do is let go.
Let go of thoughts by Sepia Flora
Let go of controlling situations and thinking of solutions to everything. I am stressed about thinking negatively, I am going to think positively. Think, think, think. What if we let go and accept circumstances as they come? Again, we shape our lives by our daily actions. Drawing is a form of acceptance.
What would happen if we drew every day? How can we change our mood by perceiving objects and people around us? How can we use the objects that surround us as sources of inspiration? Consider, for example, drawing some items that you like. Also, you can draw with different mediums and materials.
Observe Paintings
In this article, Alain de Botton observes paintings and makes analogies with our lives. We feel part of a community when we discover artists that express sorrow. We all feel sorrow, is part of being human. Seeing that all of us feel it and that we can express it makes us feel elevated. It is because we feel part of a group and because it constitutes a source of inspiration. When we discover that we as humans feel desperate and that we all do, we feel life less of a burden. After all, we didn’t choose to be here. It is not our obligation to be happy all the time. We only have one obligation and that is to die.
It is not pessimistic, it is realistic, and it can take a burden out of your hands. By changing the perspective of what life is supposed to be you can live free of choosing how you want to live. It is precious to live in the moment. When we are focused only on what is in front of us is liberating.
Another great example is to surround yourself with wisdom. You can be physically alone, but psychologically you can choose how you want to be. Again, it is about perception. We can admire paintings that reflect our state of mind. It is about feeling understood and knowing that there are people that share our sorrows.
Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash
How can art give us hope? Rather than needing a stern dose of disenchantment, we’re more likely to require art-tools that can feed and sustain our beleaguered optimism.
Alain de Botton
Art to Express and Art to Feel Understood
Any activity that you choose, whether it is to draw or observe, enhance it. It is about making the best of what we have. It is about seizing the best perspective there is for us.
How to Use Colors to Communicate
When you need to communicate, colors can be a great tool. You can use them to make a statement or to have a psychological effect. Get your feelings out by taking advantage of the powerful representations of color.
The importance of acknowledging your feelings
It is important to recognize your emotions. Therefore, don’t try to suppress your feelings. You need to recognize them and accept them. Above all, if you hold down your feelings, they will grow like a snowball. Then it will be harder to interpret them.
The use of colors to communicate is a great tool because you don’t need to put words to your feelings. You just have to listen to yourself, and later, explore your feelings with the use of colors.
There are two main ways you can do this. The first one is by using colors in a nonrepresentational form. You can read everything about this method here.
The second one is by using the psychological effect of colors. This means that you can use colors either to evoke or express feelings. So when you don’t know how to express your anger, frustration, happiness, or excitement, choose colors. Also, when you want to highlight your motivation use colors! Let’s look at these two concepts in detail.
How can colors affect your perceptions:
Colors to express feelings
Colors to evoke feelings.
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
1. Colors to express feelings
When you want to express something in detail, the use of colors to communicate can help you make a stronger statement. You can have a clearer picture of what is going on in your head by helping you express your feelings.
Think about the association of feelings with colors. Look at the following list which will help you determine the color you want to choose. It will also help you highlight the feeling you want to express.
Compassionate: pink
Elegant: black
Emotional: orange
Energetic: red
Happy: yellow
Optimistic: orange, yellow
Passionate: red
Practical: grey
Protective: black
Responsible: blue
Safe: green
Look at this poster with all the emotions associated with colors. It’s a great piece to have in your house whenever you want to express something!
2. Colors to evoke feelings
Colors influence judgments. If you don’t know the word for a particular feeling, consider choosing first the color. Pick a color because you feel like it. You can interpret it later, or you can start feeling something because of the color you chose.
Below is a list of some colors and the feelings associated with them. Remember, you can choose the color to communicate, and you can discover more in the process.
RED: Motivates, stimulates.
Common things: red carpet, love, lips, blood, and strawberries.
Yellow: clarifies, inspires.
Common things: the sun, raincoat, school bus, yellow pages, and bananas.
Blue: relaxes, supports.
Common things: ice, ocean, and the sky.
Green: balances, relaxes.
Common things: clover (luck), emeralds, nature, and trees.
Orange: stimulates, encourages.
Common things: basketball, traffic cone, life vests, prescription bottles.
Orange is the happiest color.
Frank Sinatra
Pink: nurtures, comforts.
Common things: ballet, cotton candy, piglets, and flamingos.
Grey: soothes, stabilizes.
Common things: fog, silver, dust, granite, wolves, and mice.
Black: seduces, intimidates.
Common things: bats, black holes, pirates, charcoal, and black panthers.
White: simplifies, purifies.
Common things: paper, snow, cotton, clouds.
How to use colors to communicate
You might probably choose red and paint with strong strokes to express your anger on a piece of paper. This way, you are making a statement and highlighting that which you are feeling inside.
With this process, you might discover where the anger is coming from. Hence, you might associate that anger with sadness. Later, you might look for a color that represents this feeling, for example, blue. With this process, you will have a clearer picture of your feelings.
If everything was clear from the beginning, you can also find how to resolve or accept that feeling. The colors you used to communicate were a tool to have a clearer path or to accept the feeling. You have to acknowledge the feeling for you to learn from it.
Consider not only the color but also its shade
For instance, think about your feelings towards dark green versus pale green. For example, look at the following image. The background is light green and the plant has a darker shade of green. Do you feel the same towards both colors?
Photo by Runze She on Unsplash
Think about whether or not the light green gives you a sense of calmness. Also, consider if perhaps the darker green is more encouraging.
Brighter colors are energetic while darker are relaxed. Saturation also diminishes the sense of comfort. For instance, light green is more comfortable and suited for a relaxed state than dark green.
Examples to use colors to communicate
Stressed: blue and green
I was feeling stressed so I decided to express myself with colors. I chose blue mixed with green. Blue because it creates calmness, and green because it relaxes.
Green and Blue to Relieve Stress by Sepia Flora
Towards the middle, you can see my frustration. Notice how the shade changes there. Also, think about how you can play with the shades to relieve or highlight some feelings.
After the exercise, I came to realize where my stress was coming from. While I was making the strokes I wanted to draw more and more in the middle. I wanted to have some relief from the frustration. Consequently, I noticed I was overwhelmed by my job. With a lot of things to do, I can see now that I need to organize them better. I need to break down my tasks and work on them one by one.
Compassion: pink and yellow
With the second drawing, I decided to show compassion to my loved ones. Compassion because my family is going through a difficult time. I also wanted to express positivity, that all things will pass. We don’t control the outcome, but we can choose the way we face adversities.
Pink and Yellow for Compassion by Sepia Flora
For this reason, I chose pink combined with yellow. Above all, I am feeling enthusiastic and I believe that we can see life’s experiences as opportunities for growth.
Don’t hold on to your feelings, explode, and show what you feel. Either to yourself (choose colors to communicate with just feelings, don’t think!) or to others (consider what certain colors evoke).
Remember that colors are very powerful. For instance, if you want to make a statement, consider the feelings they evoke. If you want to communicate your feelings, express choosing the right color and shade.
Cherish the experience and express what is inside you. Therefore, take advantage of the way colors evoke your feelings.
Do you think when using colors? How do you evoke your feelings? Do you have any associations with any colors in particular? How do you choose which colors to wear or paint with? Leave your comments below.
How to Use Colors to Explore your Feelings
Use colors to explore what you are feeling. The use of colors through artistic creations can help you gain a better perspective over your emotions.
It is overwhelming to look for perfection. Don’t push yourself all the time to have things figured out. What you need is a path of self-exploration. Accept that things are not perfect all the time and that you can constantly work on your wisdom and tranquility. All the great stoic philosophers worked constantly, and they were incredibly wise men. Just as your body needs to work out, so does your mind.
First, you have to acknowledge your emotions, accept things as they are, and don’t try to suppress your feelings. As you admit your feelings, you can work towards a solution. If you don’t know why you are feeling a certain way, you can use art to explore your emotions.
Using Art, you can figure out why you are feeling a certain way. You can also be more in touch with your intuition by using your observational skills. Look at this video that highlights the way art helps you be more attentive.
The use of colors is a tool for self-exploration. There are two main ways you can do this:
As a nonrepresentational form of art.
Using color meanings to communicate.
Here read about the use of colors to communicate. In this post, let’s savor the use of nonrepresentational art and the use of colors to explore our feelings.
Color Buckets by Sepia Flora
Nonrepresentational form of art
Nonrepresentational art usually has no meaning and is disconnected from reality. Its purpose is to explore, to free the mind from figurative objects. Here you can read the meaning of nonrepresentational art more in-depth.
The difference between nonrepresentational art and abstract art is that the latter usually is a distortion of something. Whereas, nonrepresentational art is not symbolic.
This exercise aims to use the feelings you acknowledge to produce something visually. It is for you to use the tools you have at hand to express freely. Don’t put labels on the colors, just grab the one you want and don’t think about the choices. Don’t try to name your feelings, just feel, paint, and observe.
Photo by Pawel Czerwiński on Unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Exercise: connect with yourself
The exercise consists of creating paintings without a guide, without having a plan in particular. Begin painting by choosing the color you want, not the one you “should” be using. Paint and use the colors to explore yourself. Let your feelings guide you in this process.
You are savoring the process itself, of being on your own without being judgemental. You will be using art to help you free your mind from distress and wondering.
This is why painting is a great form of therapy. Paint freely with the color or colors you have chosen and paint anything you want. Whether it’s something figurative or not, it doesn’t matter. Again, don’t think about the outcome but the process itself. Your soul is guiding you, and you are letting it speak through the paper using the colors of your choice.
Below is a creation I did with the use of only one color. Also, look at this list of unicolor paintings. It is diverting and shows you that artists may also use their talent for their reflection.
Nonrepresentational Art by Sepia Flora
Explanation: why use color to explore
There’s no doubt that color is a powerful tool to evoke feelings. But is it color a two-way form of expression every time?
That is to say, if you pick a color, for example, black, does it mean necessarily that you are protective? Or you just picked it because you like it or it reminds you of your dog?
Consider for example the paintings shown below. The first painting is during the summer and desperate for water. The second painting is during the winter admiring the snow.
Drinking Water Summer vs Winter by Sepia Flora
When asked, most people associate the first one with feeling happy and the second painting with being sad. In reality, they are the opposite!
Visual compositions don’t represent every time the state of mind. They are many times subjective and only the person who created them knows exactly what they mean. Well, and sometimes art therapists know too.
It is a personal therapy that many of us choose to incorporate every day. The creations are for yourself. They are merely an expression.
When you paint something, the color is not necessarily associated with a preconceived feeling. Meaning, black is not sad and red happy, as someone might usually assume.
Interpretation
What your choice of colors might mean
After painting freely you might have a better look at your feelings. Maybe during the process, you grabbed a color and realized why you did it. If not, read further and you might find answers.
Colors’ associations
Looking at your painting associate the colors you chose with memories. Do you use to like that color when you were little? Was that the color of your first car?
By trying to think of your past, you can associate that particular color to a feeling. For example, you chose purple. You used to have a purple car, and you felt safe inside your car. Hence, you can associate purple to calmness.
Priming is when choices are influenced by past events. If you want to read further in the subject, this is a great book.
You can grasp more into your feelings with this exercise. Subconsciously, you can also start figuring out answers because you are doing something oriented towards your well being. Start developing a growth mindset.
Subconscious Learns Colors by Sepia Flora
Analyze your surroundings and the things you see daily. For example, the banners you see every day or things in your house. Also, consider your cultural background. Which colors people in your country use for ceremonies or special events?
The exercise aims to activate long term memory associations. Through this connection, try to define the feelings you can’t put into words. The colors you used to explore were the perfect way to evoke those feelings.
What the process can say about you
After finishing the painting, try to recall all the thoughts you had when you were painting. What came to your mind when you chose a color? Did you associate the water of the glass to something else? How easily was to choose a color?
You can make yourself a lot of questions about the process itself. You were trying not to think about your decisions, and because of that, other thoughts may have arisen. For example, did you feel uncomfortable? Did you think about your job and the way it matters to you? Did you think about your family or friends?
Just put the date and your signature
You have also the option to make a series of your discovery.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
It is possible that you don’t find an association, or that doing so is boring or painful. If you are feeling discouraged by the analysis, you can always come to it back later. Give the exercise some time, and repeat it many times. You might have a glimpse into the process due to associations.
Cherish the experience
In conclusion, this exercise is not about the outcome, it’s about your exploration. It’s about learning about yourself and the things you like or want to learn from. The exercise of using colors to explore, helps you be mindful for a while and gives you another perspective.
Paint on the Floor by Sepia Flora
Do you have another way to evoke your feelings? What do you think of the use of art for this purpose? Leave the comments below.
Capture Your Creativity With a Notebook Like the Great da Vinci
Everywhere you are you think. Either all of your ideas and thoughts are worth keeping or are things you need to process. This is why you should carry a notebook like Leonardo da Vinci to embrace your creativity.
If your thoughts are great ideas or something artistic, you want to remember it later. By all means, write them down. If you are thinking about your life, how to organize better, or how to change a pattern, write. You should write everything down to have a better perspective.
The result of writing things is to have a better viewpoint for resolving them. For example, you can observe your activities through time. You can address things and think about whether or not they are worth your time.
The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.
Leonardo da Vinci
You can also use the notebook as a way to declutter your mind. If you have a project in mind, put it on paper and you can deal with it later. Also, you can work on a plan to come up with a solution.
Stop ruminating over thoughts, write instead in your notebook. Using tools like brainstorming, timelines, delegating, managing appointments, make your mind less crowded.
Photo by Julia Joppien on Unsplash
This study shows why you should carry a notebook. The main conclusion of the study shows that being reflective of our performance enhances confidence. For this reason, you want to carry a notebook like da Vinci to improve the quality of your thoughts. Most importantly, you will cherish the only thing you control: your mind.
Look at the following six ways (inspired by Leonardo da Vinci) you can fill a notebook to convince yourself even more.
It’s easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.
Leonardo da Vinci
How to enhance your creativity carrying a notebook all the time
Study and learn
Draw or paint
Create a coding system
Observe, analyze the world
Dedicate some time to review your life
Set goals, dream big
1. Study and learn
You can start to learn a new language or you can write in your notebook in any language you want. For example, use your imagination and incorporate words in other languages to your daily annotations.
Learning never exhausts the mind.
Leonardo da Vinci
Also, you can combine drawings with words in other languages and you will create your visual dictionary. All this, while you practice your drawing abilities.
Try this exercise using one of da Vinci’s drawings: the bell. Look at the bell and write all the words that come to your mind about it. Think about the mechanism, the sound, the material, where it is placed, etc.
Draw like da Vinci and Learn by Sepia Flora
Write the words in various languages and notice similarities and differences between the languages. For example, are there languages that employ the same word?
You can also learn about things that you are passionate about. Because you are carrying a notebook like da Vinci, there will be many opportunities to study your notes. Also, you can add things that come up that you want to research further.
2. Embrace the functions of the eye
Painting embraces all the ten functions of the eye; that is to say, darkness, light, body and colour, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest.
Leonardo da Vinci
When you draw or paint you are being mindful. Science proves that art is good for you. Now, all you have to do is choose what you want to draw or paint. In other words, grab your notebook and start a wonderful creative process by inspiring yourself with all the objects around you.
Embrace your Observation like da Vinci by Sepia Flora
As da Vinci mentioned, you embrace ten functions of your eye and you start observing with a critical eye. Above all, you will be aware of the things around you, thus develop a mindful mindset.
3. A unique diary
A lot of people believe that da Vinci was messy. But, it could also mean he had a unique system of taking notes. He valued his thoughts and not the way they were written.
For example, you could see a grocery shopping list next to a drawing of the human body. That was what was on his mind at the time. You can recognize that because he wrote the grocery list. He didn’t have to think anymore about what he needed to buy. This allowed him to concentrate solely on the study of the human body.
He also invented new words and used shorthand symbols. That is because he was making the notebooks for him and not for others. That also explains why he used mirror writing. He wasn’t trying to protect his work, he was making it more comfortable for him to write. It is believed he was left-handed. Mirror writing prevented him from touching the ink with his hand while writing.
Create a Unique Journal by Sepia Flora
If he would have wanted to protect his work, he definitely would have invented his language. Certainly, his intelligence is never been questioned.
Taking da Vinci’s example, you can create your coding system for a notebook. Also, you could invent symbols or write distinctively. Doing this will take your imagination further motivating you to have a creative mindset. Doing so will benefit you mentally in a tremendous way.
4. Observe and immerse in the world
Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.
Leonardo da Vinci
Just as you can draw or paint, you should reflect and write next to your drawings. For instance, the notebook you carry like da Vinci is the best companion for this.
Observe what is going on in the world, what you can do about it. You might realize that you control almost nothing. To clarify, the one thing you control is your thoughts.
Reflecting on the world, on human behavior, has the powerful ability to enhance your emotional intelligence. You start to question the importance of things and start to build empathy and care about other living things.
Being selfish is not a pleasant feeling to cultivate. Caring about others and what you can do for the world has the power to fulfill you emotionally.
5. Review your life
There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.
Leonardo da Vinci
You want to be the person who sees. The person that observes his or her life. Remember that reflecting on your life and your surroundings is a healthy habit because you learn from your mistakes. It helps you cultivate gratitude, and it helps you gain perspective over the importance of your thoughts.
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
You will reflect on your actions and what you could change in the future. This will make you a more thoughtful person and more comfortable with your self.
Within the notebook, you carry like da Vinci, reflect on the way you want to live your life. Make note of the things that bother you and make you happy. Next time you are tempted to do something you don’t like, you will think twice before doing it.
For example, look at how people who lost weight succeed more by writing everything they ate in a day. It is a form of reflection. One that helps you be aware of the things that harm you or make you fit.
6. Set goals, dream big
Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.
Leonardo da Vinci
This article explains why writing your goals makes you more prone to succeed. It turns out, that if you write down your goals and expectations you are more aware of them. Consciously you develop the ability to work towards achieving your expectations.
You direct your energy and time towards the things you want to accomplish when you carry a notebook. Write down and look every day at your goals. As a consequence, you will succeed in your expectations.
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pexels
Don’t live your life expecting things, that is the best advice you can receive. Live your life in the present and work towards your well being. Be aware of your thoughts and of the things you can control. Direct your life and attention to the things that matter, for example, towards your tranquility and peace of mind.
Above all, the objective of the notebook is to write things so your mind will be present. Don’t expect to achieve your dreams and goals to be happy, you will never feel fulfilled. Carry a notebook like da Vinci to reflect. Be grateful and cultivate the one thing that matters: your mind and your choices.
Read more about the notebooks and other resources here.
How to Practice Gratitude With Trees and Art
According to the Harvard medical school, gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. For instance, in this activity, you can practice gratitude with trees and art.
It sounds crazy and you might be laughing, but read further to understand what all this is about. This article states that by being around trees you are less likely to have psychological distress. Also, this article enhances the importance of art used therapeutically. Now, why not combine both of them?
Look at trees that are everywhere and are admirable. Certainly, they remind you that you need to go one step at a time to grow and become strong. Look at the trees, pick one, and find a comfortable spot to start drawing it with an attitude of gratitude.
This activity helps you be more grateful by analyzing and focusing on all the things that make up a tree. Also, you can relate them personally with the things that constitute your life. Practicing gratitude brings joy to your life and helps you focus on the positive rather than the negative aspects.
Photo by Sepia Flora. Colombia
The activity aims to let your imagination flow. Don’t judge yourself and be present with the things that surround you. Focus on the tree that is in front of you.
Use the tree to be grateful by breaking down its parts:
The bark, your structure.
The branches, your traits.
The leaves, your beauty, and how you learn from others.
Oxygen, what you give others
1. The Bark of the Tree
Start by looking at the tree and admiring its bark. How dark or light is its color? Brown, grey, or yellow? Is the bark broke or peeling? If so, is it vertically or horizontally? Into strips or scales? Realize that the bark is protecting the tree, it is carrying a life inside of it. Do you want to know more about branches? Look at this page.
Now it is time to use these observations and make an analogy with your life. Think in positive terms and bring gratefulness to the experience. You are grateful because trees exist. You might as well be grateful for the things in your life that represent your bark.
What is your bark? How do you protect and embrace yourself every day?
You are strong because you are at this moment doing this activity. What brought you here? You are an ambitious person because you take care of yourself. Moreover, you look for answers and activities that nurture you.
The Bark of a Tree by Sepia Flora
What do you admire about yourself? Think of that voice that pushes you forward. Your desire to be alive, present, and at peace, that is a great place to start. The bark is that strength that supports you and reminds you that your strength is within you. Appreciate this thought, the fact that trees remind you to be grateful for what you are. Therefore, practice gratitude with the trees now with art. Start painting with this thought in mind.
Start Drawing
Choose a color. For example, do you want your tree to be lifelike or something created from your imagination? Pick any color, it is up to you, and depending on how you are feeling at the moment.
Now, paint the bark with the color you chose. While you are doing it, remind yourself of what you consider to be your bark. You can even make the tree with the words that arise. Those words that remind you of your strengths, the things that push you forward. It can be as simple as, I just want to eat or feel better. Also, words like, I am going to conquer the world.
Anything that works for you. The fact that you want to be at peace is enough. Use that to realize that you always want what is best for you, and that is valuable.
2. The Branches of the Tree
Look at the branches of the tree and analyze how they arise. Do they come from a bigger branch or are they carrying smaller ones with it? Moreover, do branches arise upwards, downwards, or are they growing in all directions?
Are the colors of the branches similar or the same as each other? Is the color of the branch related to that of the bark? Above all, do they have leaves or is it perhaps winter and they have lost all of them? Do the branches carry fruits or flowers? If not, do you wish they did?
With these observations consider the branches to be your traits. What makes you who you are?
You have your personality and many traits inside you are valuable. Do you admire yourself intellectually, physically, the way you treat others, or your principles? These are all things that constitute you. As a result, they are your branches. Now, it’s time to write them down and be grateful for all that you have.
You are beautiful the way you are
Remember that this is just an activity for you to practice gratitude with trees and art. This activity aims to help you be grateful for what you have. Don’t be judgmental, you are who you are and that is beautiful.
As with the tree, for example, you could wish it had flowers or some fruits. Just consider this affirmation: everything is as it should be. Why is that? Because the tree is not producing fruits or flowers at the moment because perhaps it’s winter.
The tree perhaps will never do because its purpose is to give shadow to other living things. For example, the kapok tree. Just look at this beauty.
Photo of Ceiba by Anne and David. Flickr
Apparently, the tree doesn’t do anything at all for you. But why if you could ask a bird, what would it say?
It’s the same with you. You may not know why you are in this world, or may not appreciate some of your virtues. But remember that you are like this for a reason.
Practice gratitude with trees expressing artistically your virtues
Paint the branches again however you want, just observe and represent them however you want.
Branches of a tree originate periodically and beautiful patterns emerge. Therefore, be aware of that and make your representation of trees using repeated and aleatory shapes.
Everything is valid and remember again, it’s not about the outcome but the process itself.
The process of sitting down, looking at the tree, analyzing everything it has, and making the same with you.
Branches of a tree by Sepia Flora
Practice gratitude using the observation of trees and expressing through art. All that you are and everything that makes you, you. Don’t label things good or bad, certainly, you wouldn’t do that to a tree.
3. The leaves of the tree
It’s very interesting to look at all the leaves and realize that there are not even two the same. Also, it’s amazing to look at all the different colors that constitute them. You could just say green or bear in mind that each green is different. Similarly, observe that some leaves have spots, others have holes. Some leaves are brown, and some are ready to fall and give its place to a new leaf. Thus, when it falls to the ground, it provides its nutrients to the soil.
Photo by Sepia Flora. Colombia
It is just stunning, and as Queen put it better in one of their songs, The Miracle:
If every leaf on every tree
could tell a story that would be a miracle.
Queen
The miracle comes from them, but thanks to the sun. They need the sun as much as we need the trees. Think about how you learn from others, and how others in your life shape the way you are. Also, you are what you surround yourself with, so look for positive, heartwarming, beautiful experiences. Think about what you put in your body, warm sun, and enriching rain? Or chemicals and things that are drying up your leaves?
Leaves by Sepia Flora
Mindfulness with the leaves of a tree
This activity aims for you to be mindful. (Read here to dig further on other art activities to be mindful.) You can do it in one of two ways:
Looking at the tree in front of you and painting the color of the leaves. You can also paint how you would like the tree to be. The main objective is to be present with the colors and let yourself express.
Paint leaves with a color palette and associate feelings with specific colors. Consider for example this color palette. How can you represent your thoughts and feelings at this moment with it? You can also create your color palette and color code feelings. The activity here is to use the colors to let go of your worries. Thoughts and feelings are less of a burden when you can have different perspectives on them. You have created a map of the things that are currently in your mind.
Color Palette by Sepia Flora
4. Leaves produce oxygen
Looking at the leaves think of this powerful thing: they produce oxygen for free to every living creature on earth. Trees sustain your life, and you sustain theirs as well because you give them carbon dioxide. That is a powerful feeling. You depend on trees as much as they depend on you. Practice your gratitude acknowledging the importance of trees with the use of art.
Noticing this flow of oxygen makes you aware of breathing. Consequently, it makes you be in the present and be conscious to calm down, to be mindful.
Animals coexist in harmony with trees. On the other hand, we are just beginning to take care of them. You can pass this feeling of gratitude.
Photo by Sepia Flora. Colombia
With that in mind consider what you are willing to do for others. Also, consider what you have already done for others expecting nothing in return. For example, by smiling you are brightening up someone’s day and yours as well.
Did you know that if you smile your brain assumes things are ok? As a result, if you smile constantly you can make your brain produce happy thoughts?
Think about what you can do for others. Most importantly, take care of the trees for everything they have done for us. You should recycle, reuse, or pick trash in a park. Doing things for others elevates your endorphins, and gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Besides, you will be helping the environment.
You can paint oxygen as well if you want. Imagine the air going round and round with the leaves. For example, imagine autumn, the colors, how it interacts with nature. Also, pay attention to the air, what sound does it make? Is it bringing you calmness or are you cold?
Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain.
Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.
May Sarton
Be present, be thankful, and enjoy this experience.
If you want a different activity you can do this one.
Leave comments in the section below for your insights. How was your activity? How do you feel after looking or painting trees?
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