“I love painting. It’s so relaxing.” Mats, 7 years old

Our world is full of to-do lists, plans, and instructions. We quickly feel like living in a cage of tasks and routines that are hard to escape. During the lockdown, we all had to deal with the feeling that had lost control over our lives. I believe that such a feeling of losing control over what you do and when you do it leads sooner or later to feeling depressed, a bit lost, or unmotivated. It impacts your outlook on life, your whole energy, your health, and not to forget it also affects the people around you.

The artwork above has been created by my seven-year-old nephew who used an iPad and the Procreate app for the first time. He started immediately with the drawing and didn’t really think about it. He doesn’t know the “rules” yet that would judge a painting to have the right proportions, composition, or perspective. It’s really all about allowing ourselves to decide what colour and what pen or brush we use at the moment. When you look at what you create, don’t think of what someone else might expect. It’s your art and creation and no one else can ever tell you it’s right or wrong. Sometimes I get asked what the intention or the message of a painting is, and in the past, I struggled to answer that. These days I would say that there is no message with these abstract pieces and you can interpret the painting as you see and feel it. It’s the end result of me having fun, letting go, and losing myself in the process. I paint what I feel at that moment.

Here’s how you can start enjoying intuitive painting yourself:

1 - Have at least one of you your favourite painting or drawing tools easily accessible: I highly recommend having some tools ready so that you can grab them and create whenever you feel that you want to express yourself. For me, my portable iPad and drawing apps work their magic.

2 - Don’t think, don’t analyse, don’t judge. Switch off your phone and TV. Retreat from the daily hustle and dive into your own world of imagination. Be a kid like my little nephew. Quiet your rational mind.

3 - Is there an artist or arty person in your circle? Connect with someone who’s doing intuitive painting already. They will motivate and inspire you automatically.

I’ve been enjoying intuitive painting since age 15, and wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s very therapeutic, and a guarantee for me to feel connected, calm, and content again.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS:

• IT’S FOR EVERYONE - not for those select few talented and well-practiced artists. That view is outdated. There is no right, there’s no wrong in intuitive painting. I personally think it’s even better if you don’t have any prior painting experience because you let go easier and are not influenced by following rules and painting techniques. You will create more authentic artwork.

• LET GO OF PERFECTION AND INNER CRITICAL VOICES - this can help you to become more agile and flexible even at work. You will challenge your inner critic and let go of the high standards a lot of us are setting for ourselves. Once I let go more often, I did not only feel more content but also became more confident.

• YOU INVITE INSIGHT AND DISCOVER WISDOM - intuitive painting activates your spontaneous right brain. This helps you to visualise better what you see in front of you for example. You learn how to switch off the brain chatter (that can cost us sleep at night for example. Access your creative, spontaneous and visual side with it more often.