Research

A friend asked if I do a lot of research for my subject matters and I said yeah I usually do a half an hour google and that I base my knowledge about different cultural references to my past lives.

Afterwards I thought about it seriously. And it’s not that different.

And I’m not that serious.

Overall I think I do use a lot of time to research but it's the basic 'google what is interesting' and happens organically.

Subjects and ideas happen organically as well. Sometimes I have to look up backround information so that I can be sure I understand what and why I’m drawing or painting.

This digital collage I’m currently working on has Gayatri mantra in it.

The flowers in the collage are ones I photographed this summer. It’s one of my favourite things now in the process of making art. Spending time in botanical gardens and finding interesting flowers and leafs.

And bugs.

And butterflies.

Not a herring salad por favor

Sometimes when I'm writing a social media post about some traditional symbolism or figure, I of course google that it's correct. There's always my own interpretation and personal twist how I view it but the basic backround info has to be right as well.

I prefer books but good ones are hard to find and I try not to own many books, so it's mostly web.

Things that I have to/ love to look up are things like symbolism of whatever I'm working on, the attributes and their meaning of the god/goddess figures or phenomenon, and also things like moonphases when I make my mooncaledar.

There is a thought behind every detail. Nothing is there just to make a meaningless herring salad of random cool looking stuff. It has to make sense.

I like to use sanskrit (mostly upanisad verses) as a visual effect and spell purposes ;) , and then of course I have to find the fitting verse with the right meaning. And the translations vary so it’s not straightforward stuff.

The image above for example: While I was drawing the picture this collage is based on, I listened to a song that has the Gayatri mantra in the lyrics.

Gayatri mantra is the greatest mantra in Vedic tradition that appeared first in the Rig veda, but is also mentioned in Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Translations vary but seems it’s a prayer mantra to the presiding deity of our solar system.

Swami Vivekanandas translation: ‘ We meditate on the glory of that being who has produced this universe, may She enlighten our minds.’

As this digital collage is about the Spirit of Mother Goddess Earth I feel the mantra fits well.

Apparently one should’t use mantras like this lightly or utter them inappropriately. I think it’s important to have a certain kind of reverence while using ancient stuff like this in art, and use it for a purpose.

To me they are reminders.

Generally

Research is a wonderful aspect of artmaking.. Having to go through various spiritual writings, or just any information you learn so much about things you weren’t originally even looking for. It takes you places.

During the slow process of arting I get to really mull that stuff in my head. Thats why I say artmaking is also a spiritual practice for me.

The other aspect of how artmaking is a spiritual practice is the creative process that I have gradually been getting to know and experience consciously.

At the beginning I didn't know that artmaking is a doorway.

I thought it’s just making pictures and stuff.

The other thing

The other thing I enjoy researching is nature.

Observing.

Taking pics.

Sketching.

Identifying.

Incorporating.

Watching rivers, lakes and oceans is my favourite research and studying method for drawing a line. And being in human element.

Shapes, lines and movement in nature are perfect. Being close to them makes me forget the flaws of human.

And slow the f down.

In nature I’m closer to my natural state. Small part of something bigger. The direction of the focus is outwards and not inwards. Less individual less ego. More part of the whole. More happy.

Deepening the relationship and connection to nature is an endless process and I'm just in the beginning with that which is a portal as well.

Manifestation malfunction

One of my favourite researchy activities is museums.

I’ve been lucky to have seen great museums in my life but unfortunately now that I’m older and more specific and geek-nerdy with what interests me and feel like I could make thorough use of that experience, I haven’t been able to travel that much.

I have never been able to spend as much time in a good museum as I would have wanted.

And there are so many good ones it’s literally painful to even think about it.

So.

Maybe there is a mantra for this specific situation.