"Whatever your life brings to you, respond with creation. If you are celebrating, create. If you are grieving, create. Only create. Always create. Constant creative response. This is the engine of resilience."
- Elizabeth Gilbert
Current work in progress, acrylic and collage on a diptych
I just returned from a week of vacation in Mallorca, full of inspiration and island vibes. For some time now, I have been thinking about how to create art that is a little more cohesive, maybe even a series. The trick is to not feel restricted by it! Quite a dilemma for a free spirit like me. But I am determined to try (again). One thing that has inspired me for a long time is the color teal. The ocean reminded me of that again. Just look at the color!
On the last day, I snuck out really early to catch the sunrise by the water. I felt relaxed, inspired and so appreciative of the time away. It was a sweet moment in time, where I had a feeling of recommitment to my art of sorts, as if that fire in my belly was lit again.
It is a beautiful thing, to dedicate oneself to art. After a week without distractions or social media, I felt this clearly again. Living a simple life does that, I guess - my time consisted of coastal hikes, good food, lots of exploring and nature, soaking up a different culture, at a very slowed-down pace. Suddenly, there was space for new thoughts and ideas to enter my mind.
Back home, I could not wait to get back to work on my current painting. Also, my little furry studio companion was happy to have me back.
Current painting in progress, acrylic on canvas
Around June a new summer series took shape. I started playing with watercolors, line drawing and abstract shapes after an interesting experimental doodle during a long phone call. These are small works of art on 14,5 x 20,5cm paper - here are some finished pieces of this ongoing series:
Another big project that took all summer was that I committed to working through Julia Cameron’s 12 week course “The Artist’s way”. This probably deserves a blog post for itself. It sparked SO many ideas and new ways of being, but most importantly, it helped me to get back to a regular painting practice. It’s probably the best book on creativity I have ever read.
Snapshot of my studio this summer. Sunflowers, Sini the cat and a big painting I was working on.
100x100cm, acrylic on canvas, work in progress
close up of the layers, 100x100cm acrylic on canvas by Tanja Zinkl
One thing I am always interested in is finding different surfaces to paint on! I got lucky and was offered some birch wood, that was turned into a lot of surfaces for painting, look at this:
Lots of space for creativity!
Many mandalas in the making!
A finished piece. Acrylic on wood.
There are only a few finished pieces yet, and lots more in the making - more info coming soon as I finish more of these paintings on wood!