Dr. Clarrissa Pinkola Estes wrote ‘The main struggle that people have with creativity is that they stop themselves from doing what comes naturally.’ (Creative Fire, 2009)
As a late diagnosed autistic person, finding out just what is authentically ‘natural’ to me after a life of conforming to an unnatural neurotype, is a daily challenge. Painting is an opportunity to look and stare; to question, observe and respond, to work with and learn about the vague lands of the rational and irrational self. I am hunting for compassionate feeling, for soul; for nebulous and hazy humanity in the people our culture dehumanises, I want to stand alongside the silent ones and roar for them.
Autism likes rules, goals and certainty but in painting, this is a disaster. So, my work is to find surrender, overcome doubt and blindly follow intuition, as it seems to know the way. Painting is about finding unknowns in unexplored lands, a quest without a map where all you can do is ‘feel’ the way. If you can hold your nerve, it is a fascinating hunt.
As a late diagnosed autistic person, finding out just what is authentically ‘natural’ to me after a life of conforming to an unnatural neurotype, is a daily challenge. Painting is an opportunity to look and stare; to question, observe and respond, to work with and learn about the vague lands of the rational and irrational self. I am hunting for compassionate feeling, for soul; for nebulous and hazy humanity in the people our culture dehumanises, I want to stand alongside the silent ones and roar for them.
Autism likes rules, goals and certainty but in painting, this is a disaster. So, my work is to find surrender, overcome doubt and blindly follow intuition, as it seems to know the way. Painting is about finding unknowns in unexplored lands, a quest without a map where all you can do is ‘feel’ the way. If you can hold your nerve, it is a fascinating hunt.
