Intuitive painting is a method of creating art that aims to explore and uncover aspects of the inner self. It is is suited to beginning artists, and to advanced painters. The goal is not to learn specific techniques, produce a body or work or develop a commercially viable style. Each work is part of an inner, meditative process of self-exploration. It’s a style that draws parallel with art as a form of therapy. And it provides a place where as adults, we can play, enjoy colour, texture and lose ourselves in the process.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

Pablo Picasso

But if you’ve always painted in a formal way, or feel constrained by perceptions of how art ‘should’ be and whether you are any good at it, how do you begin the process of intuitive painting?

1. Paint as a way of journalling

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.”

Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

When I begin an intuitive painting, I’ve learned to trust that it will evolve to say what’s needed at the time. I often begin with a simple exploration of how, or rather ‘what’ I am feeling. There’s no point trying to force the work or direct it towards a particular outcome. Often, this process works best straight on the canvas with paint, although I tend to sketch out vague ideas in pencil first.

Don’t question it. If you feel drawn to paint a particular thing, or express a certain mood, let it out. I often find I don’t really know how I feel, but that confusion and difficulty transmutes as I work. It’s almost as if any unwelcome feelings are transformed by being expressed – a little like the lightness that comes from getting something off your chest. Except the result is more beautiful than any of the internal conflict.

I often find myself drawn to profiles. I use the faces to express worries, hopes or dreams that I have. Each painting develops spontaneously before the detailed work begins. This is where the initial sketch comes in handy. A bit like taking notes for a more in-depth piece of writing, the first pencil marks define the shape and topic of the work. Then the paint brings it to life.

All art is, to some extent, a self portrait, in that even if it doesn’t show the artist’s likeness, it describes part of the artist’s experience. I find this to be true, especially of intuitive painting. All of my paintings are, on some level, paintings of myself. And as I create them, I find myself.

2. Silence your inner critic

Picasso also once said:

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

I like this quote because I find it very relatable. I have a strong perfectionist nature and have always worked to be ‘good’ at things. However, when I began making art from that place behind the inner critic, my work actually improved. Part of this is a normal process. If you want to be good at something, it is absolutely necessary to allow yourself to be bad at it first. Another part of it though, is that it’s actually only possible to be ‘in flow’ if the analytical part of the brain is switched off. Learning to ignore your inner critic doesn’t mean accepting work that’s less than your best – it means accepting your work for where it is, and more importantly allowing it to take its own form. 

3. Paint as a cathartic opposite of perfectionism and ‘correct’ practice

I had a violin teacher who once said to me:

“There is no point turning up to your practice expecting yourself to be where you were yesterday. Just accept where you are today and start from that point.”

This is such simple advice, but I still need to remind myself of it on an almost daily basis.

There are all sorts of tools, affirmations and games you could play in order to free up and paint from where you are today. But most importantly, just trust the process. Don’t pin yourself down worrying about being good enough. Just as with any creative process, and indeed any aspect of life, the best stuff happens if you can get out of your own way.

By starting anything with the intention that it will be perfect, we leave ourselves open to disappointment, harsh self-criticism and procrastination. It’s likely that we’ll never even finish the task at hand, because if it’s not finished there’s still a small chance that it will, eventually, be perfect. We also close ourselves off from possibility. Remember, art is play. I take my art very seriously indeed, but I also take it lightly. Treat it with respect and joy, not fear.

4. Paint to feed your artistic journey

The process of creating an intuitive painting feels different from the process used to prepare art for an exhibition. What is the distinction? I believe it’s the external expectation and projection – what will other people think of it? Is it good enough? Will I sell anything? Will I get ‘recognised’? Will anyone take me seriously as an artist, or is this imposter syndrome actually representational of my reality?

As a violinist I’ve made the mistake more times than I can count of thinking, planning and worrying what fellow artists, teachers and audition panels will think about my work. The result, every time, was a total inability to perform to my best, and a complete lockdown of any of the communication that should have been, and is, a natural part of my music making.

The clincher here is that I spent a significant amount of time and effort, and a great personal cost, learning to play the violin. I see it as a skill, something I receive validation from. I have actively avoided following this path in my painting, because I’ve fully experienced the damage it can cause, both to my self-esteem and to my ability to communicate. I’m always very touched and happy when someone is moved by one of my paintings, but I don’t paint for a future audience. I paint in the moment. This is the most powerful way that I have found to develop my art and to find my own personal style.

5. Paint to free yourself from creative and personal blocks

Focus on colour, texture, feelings, sensations and even sounds. Every single one of us has something to say, something of value to add to the world, and a lifetime of unique experience through which we can build connections with others.

Form the habit of painting a little every day. By taking small steps in this way, you will find you are no longer crippled by your creative blocks. As a mentor of mine is fond of saying, motivation is motive plus action. So take the motive, the reason you are driven to make art, and take small, imperfect actions towards that goal. This, in a sense, is the basis of all spiritual practice. Or as the yogi, Sri Pattabhi Jois said:

“Practice, and all is coming.”

Next steps: If you enjoyed this blog, you might like to read about the birth of an oil painting.

Images thanks to Taelynn Christopher  Senjuti Kundu  Kyle Glenn