Meditation

[Octave13]

Ok, this is an odd question, but I'm curious. Do any of you meditate and if so, does it help your art? The reason I ask is because I, myself, am lazy and as such, my artistic ability isn't developing much. I want to find the love that I know I have for creation. I want to quiet my mind long enough to find some sliver of passion for it and embrace it, feed off it and allow it to motivate me to reach my artistic potential. I know that only time, patience and practice are the only real ways to develop, but what I'm lacking is true motivation and I'm wondering if anyone else has had success in meditating on the subject. Sorry if I sound like a tree huggin' hippie, I just take great interest in this kinda stuff and am curious about it.

[Signature]

Maybe not meditation directly. But what I think can help is playing with your imagination.
For example instead of trying to draw a vehicle directly on paper close your eyes and try to see one ... in motion maybe.
Walk around it ... basically just use your inward eye (the bliss of soliture :D ) and be aware of it.
Then ask yourself how you can paint or draw it.
If you can't come up with a concept maybe start with a car and make changes to it.

If you ask people for a good way to meditate you will probably hear tips not geared to artists ...
stuff that will only distract IMHO.

[Octave13]

I'm no expert, but I feel comfortable with my ability to envision objects or items, beforehand. My issue pretty much lies solely in finding the passion for creating art in the first place. I had it when I was a kid and I have it when I'm in a place I'd rather not be, like say... church, for example. (no offense to people who go to church) Or at a boring lecture in school. Some of my best drawings were done when I should've been taking notes and that's only because I was somewhat spaced out, due to boredom. I was a daydreamer when I was a kid. I've since lost that ability to block out everything around me and focus on one thing. I know of some truly amazing artists who meditate and come up with their ideas while in an altered state of consciousness. Alex Grey is an artist of this type. I mean, granted, he also does enough LSD to make his brain resemble swiss cheese, but the artwork he creates is just mind numbingly awesome. I know Andrew Jones has done some of his SP's while half asleep. This is the approach that I'm curious about. I just wanna know if there are any artists here who meditate on what they're gonna create, before they create it.

[geoffd]

don't think, just do. if you think too much then you aren't using your creativity. i just put my pen or pencil or toothbrush to some paper and just start going, start by drawing circles, shapes. get the process going to where you start using your right side of your brain (the creative side) and STOP THINKING. you more you think the more you analyze your drawings and the more unenjoyable it becomes. if you can just sit and begin doodling and let the shapes take form then slowly you will become unaware of your surrondings and the only thing you'll be focused on is your paper... it's almost like you become one. nothing else is there with you and time just kinda slips away. it really is an excellent feeling. i know this has helped me out a lot.

[carpal]

Originally posted by Capt.Harlock
. STOP THINKING

indeed, and to relate this back to you wondering about meditation it does correlate. A lot of "beginner" mediations are all about not thinking. Do NOTHING but focus on breathing in and out for half an hour and let nothing disturb you from it. Count each breath, when something pops in your mind and you forget to count and focus, start again at 1. Doing this for half an hour to an hour will instill patience and it helps your mind from going a million places. It is very tough to focus these days because we have a constant barrage of things coming at us. Settle down, stop thinking and just get your groove on.

If you get good at that I think you can keep your mind focused on anything. Like getting better at art

[bizarre]

daydreaming works wonders.
listen to music and stare at the blank paper/whatever.
soon you'll start to see shapes, ideas.
it's good if you've got a knack for composition
sit and stare, then... a moment of insight and then you're off.

have fun with it.

-returns to rub things onto pulverised wood sheets.