Absolute Passion
Another one of the Foundation Principles from IPEC, my coaching program is
“Absolute Passion is the highest form of consciousness.”
It means being a participant and observer, absolutely passionate about coaching and life, while being completely non-judgmental at the same time.”
This reminds me of the “Process Painting” class that I took at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY at the beginning of this month, June. It’s not about painting a specific outcome or image or abstract, it is about painting what’s inside us and not judging it, easier said than done! I can’t paint like an artist; however, I am an artist for myself and love to paint with the beautiful colors. We used Tempera paint and they were beautiful colors! I painted nine pictures in 5 days, that expressed all different feelings inside me! At first, I did judge me and the paintings but I was going through a situation at the time and was able to work out most of it through the painting and it was amazing to me that I was able to do this! We painted five hours each day of course, with a two-hour break for lunch! After a few hours of painting, one does need a break! J
The teacher has a book called, LIFE, PAINT AND PASSION by Michelle Cassou and Stewart Cubley. Stewart was the teacher at Omega. I am almost finished reading the book and will quote a few of the passages that meant something to me and if I am brave enough, I’ll copy one of my pictures.
“Without technique you are at an advantage. You won’t have to unlearn patterns and stereotypes, you will have to resense and re-create everything. Every image and shape will come out fresh, real, alive. Your technique will evolve by itself as contact with the feeling develops. This is what even the most experienced artist strives to do.” “You don’t need to paint an exact replica of a body, you just follow your feelings.” This reminds me of some of Picasso’s paintings!
“To discover that you can paint without special talent is a great revelation. An endless stream runs through you, enough to paint for lifetimes. Talent is universal. You can dip into that source to your heart’s content. Everyone is good at what comes to them spontaneously. If nothing is put in your way, talent will meet you there.”
“If you are waiting for the right image, think about this. What would you paint if you were not trying to impress anybody with your result?”
“At a certain point you must make a choice in painting between the process and the product. You cannot embrace product and process at the same time. If you paint freely, you will most likely end up loving what you do because of your intimacy with it, but in the meantime, it is necessary that you let go and surrender. You do not need an incentive. The process is enough.”
“To meet your passion, you must jump naked into the deep waters of the unknown. It is an act of love and trust. You paint what is given to you, as it comes, never avoiding, postponing or bargaining. You listen carefully inside, entering the mystery, moving toward the real, learning to be where you are.”
“Let your arm go, follow your desire, let the brush play. This is not a painting, it is just an exercise to relax. Don't take it so seriously.” Scribbling can be appropriate for reconnecting with ourselves when we are caught in a mental pattern concerning beauty or meaning what we should do next.” Young children scribble before they paint. It is the most primitive and pure gesture, unconcerned with result and meaning. It is tapping into the source again, remembering the freedom of the beginning.”
OK, I tried to give you a sense of what I experienced. The web site is called www.processarts.com. If you are interested. They have an online painting experience so you can do it at home and I plan to do that soon. They also have a facilitation class to learn how to coach people in painting and bring out what is inside people. I am going to start that program in July after I finish my online class on how to create a coaching group.
Being vulnerable here! Two of my paintings, each very different! Yikes!!
In summary, I had so much fun and painting is my passion now and it does relax me and I am learning not to be judgmental of my work and that will take some time!
After I learn how to coach the painting experience, I am going to incorporate it into my coaching, probably sometime next year.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at coashlisa@lisabotwinick.com and I’ll be happy to respond!
Bye for now!