Intuitive Art Diaries 8: The Painting After the Flood

Hi everybody,

After being away from the blogosphere for almost four months I'm finally getting back to you. My routine was interrupted by some challenging events. Last June my mom's house was flooded and, apart from emotional distress and consequential physical effects, we also have been dealing with materialistic damage and loss. To help me process what happened and start the healing process I took out my watercolors and created an intuitive painting, a rather large piece (48cm x 36cm) called Transformation and Purification. Since I believe that my intuitive artwork is guided by a divine source, I closed my eyes, emptied my mind and prayed before starting. Additionally I asked the universe to send me an encouraging message. I hoped to be reassured that things would be all right.

"Transformation and Purification", Watercolors on Paper, 48 cm x 36 cm, Intuitive Painting

Intuitive Art Diaries 7: The Painting Portal and Light Being

Hi everybody,

If you enjoy the blooms, sounds and colors of late Spring and early Summer then I have a real treat for you. I'm happy to present you my newest intuitive painting Portal and Light Being. It is done with watercolors on 300g/m2 watercolor paper. The image came to me in a purely intuitive manner and is filled with visual symbolic language. I'm excited to share with you how I read it. 

"Portal and Lightbeing", Watercolors on Paper (32cmx24cm), Intuitive Painting

Chatting Intuitive Painting with Rika Dehombreux, Artist

Dear Readers,

You probably have heard about my project to connect with fellow artists and share views about intuition in art. If you are interested you can find out more about it by clicking the page Getting Featured. Fellow artist Jacqueline Wild was the first to introduce herself and tell us about intuition in art. You can check it out at Chatting about Intuitive Art with Jacqueline Wild, Artist. 

She responded by interviewing me about my intuitive painting on her blog. I really enjoyed answering her questions which inspired me to dive deeper into what I am all about. I invite you to read Interview with Rika Dehombreux. Thank you so much Jacqueline!

"The Fairy and the Little Dragon", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Intuitive Painting and Collage in Mixed Media Art

Hi everybody,

Have you ever wondered about your relationship with mixed media art? Mine is rather complex and goes a long way back. I have always been intrigued by the combination of different media and the rendering of texture but I had to overcome a few creative blocks before I could freely start exploring this type of art making. I made a mini series of small works (24 cm x 17 cm) combining intuitive painting and collage. Let's dive into the world of mixed media art and let me share a little of my journey with you.

"Dream", Mixed Media on Paper, Intuitive Painting and Collage

Fluorescence and Patterned Paper in Intuitive Art

Hi everybody,

Did you ever wonder if you could get away with using fluorescent paints and handmade patterned papers in your intuitive painting and collage? You suspect these materials are not lightfast but still you cannot resist the luscious colors and pretty prints. I have been struggling with this for a very long time and now I finally feel comfortable using them in my professional artwork. Let me tell you what I figured out.

"Magic" (detail), Mixed Media on Paper, Intuitive Painting and Collage

Featuring Artists Reflecting on Intuition and Intuitive Art

Dear Fellow Artists and Art Lovers,

For a few years now my passion for sharing my intuitive art and connecting with other artists has been pushing me on an amazing adventure in order to get out there and show my artwork. The road has been challenging but I have gathered many enriching experiences along the way. I have researched, studied and read about online presence like websites, blogs and guest posts. When I first started out I never imagined I would get this far. Now I realize that developing my skills to present my artwork is an ongoing learning curve with determination as the main ingredient to keep me on track.

"Elephant and Lotus, Reflections of Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

The Buddha and the Lotus Flower in Intuitive Painting

Hi everybody,

Buddhism is a lovely theme to explore in intuitive art. It offers so many possibilities to work with joy, peace and compassion.

At the end of 2014 I completed the intuitive painting Reflections of a Buddha Meditating by Night. I worked with watercolors on 300g/m2 watercolor paper. The idea was inspired by a graceful motif that previously appeared in my work. The color palette is cool and the figure is sitting on a lotus leaf while the surrounding flowers are closed for the night. I intended to convey peace of mind. 

"Reflection of a Buddha Meditating by Night", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Sylphs as Light-Beings in Intuitive Art

Hi everybody,

Have you ever heard about sylphs? I did some research on the matter and I found out that they could be considered a particular type of fairy. Their element is air and their being is therefore usually ethereal in appearance. The sylphs I created are light-beings and are like the reflections of the rainbow. They are enlightened, clairvoyant and have insight in the workings of the universe. The rays on their forehead represent a fully developed third eye. I believe sylphs are messengers of love, hope and peace. 

"Sylph of Love", Colored Pencils on Paper, Intuitive Drawing

Traveling to Avalon in Glastonbury

Hello everybody,

A few years ago, in March of 2013, Sam invited me to the Spring Avalon Faery Ball and Fayre in Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. We were still living in Germany at the time. We didn't know what to expect really and we ordered some books about the place to do some research in advance. We decided to stay in a local B&B and off we went.

Glastonbury Abbey, Intuitive Photography by Samuel Woodbury

About the Intuitive Painting Series: Portals

Hi everybody,

Let me tell you the story behind my intuitive paintings Portals. It concerns a series of seven works done in 2013 using gouache on watercolor paper. The sheets are rather small in size, all measuring 24 cm by 17 cm or 9.4" by 6.7". I used a watercolor pad from the brand Hahnemühle with different weights and surfaces. The particulars are indicated on the back of each sheet. 

"Portal, Where Light-Beings Reside", Gouache on Paper, Intuitive Painting

About the Intuitive Painting Series: Healing Watercolors II

Hi everybody,

With this I am concluding the intuitive painting series Healing Watercolors. In previous blog posts I have discussed the making and interpretation of the first piece Positive Change and Indigo Child and the next four paintings in Healing Watercolors I.

"Rose Nature and Fairy Prince", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

About the Intuitive Painting Series: Healing Watercolors I

Hi everybody,

Let me tell you the story behind my intuitive painting series Healing Watercolors. It was created spontaneously in 2012 in a purely intuitive manner. During my introductory meditation I actively asked a question concerning healing in the holistic sense of the word to the cosmic source I believe is guiding my intuitive work. Positive Change and Indigo Child described in a former blog post, is the first piece of the series and is the only one made on a 22 cm by 26,5 cm watercolor paper. The others except for one are created on 24 cm by 17 cm watercolor paper with different weights and textures of the brand Hahnemühle with its specifics printed on the back. The series includes nine works in total, all made in watercolors and all depicting a light-being. Following are the second to the fifth paintings.

"Destiny", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Intuitive Art Diaries 6: The Drawing Echoes of Atlantis

Hi everybody,

Echoes of Atlantis is the third piece in my not yet named intuitive drawing series. The symbolic language of the drawing and the sensation that came to me while I was working on it reminded me of the lost world of Atlantis.

"Echoes of Atlantis", Colored Pencils on Paper, Intuitive Drawing

Intuitive Art Diaries 5: The Drawing Light, Love and Peace

Hi everybody,

Light, Love and Peace is the second drawing in my yet to be named intuitive drawing series. It is made with colored pencils on beautiful A4 drawing paper that I particularly like because it is rather heavy (180g/m2), acid-free and has some texture. I worked in a purely intuitive manner. This means that I started out without concepts, sketches, studies or designs. I did not make any conscious decisions along the way but just let it happen. Every time I started to judge about what I was doing I took a short break. I thought it would be fun to record the proces in order to show you how it works.

Light, Love and Peace, Colored Pencils on Paper, Intuitive Drawing

Intuitive Art Diaries 4: How to Relieve Creative Block

Hi everybody,

It occurs now and again that I feel overwhelmed with the good thing, so much that I get creatively blocked. Then, I even find myself unable to make intuitive art. Last spring for example caused everything to bloom and the light to change. The imagery was absolutely inspiring. I could see potential in the smallest bud and the widest landscape. As always I was also working on an art course because I find it important to keep challenging myself. In the same respect I like to look up other artists whom I admire in order to analyze what they do and how they create. I am also continuously educating myself in creative entrepreneurship. It happened that all of this input inspired me so much that I felt pulled in a billion directions. There were all these techniques that I wanted to try out, all the subject matter that I wanted to explore, all the color combinations that fascinated me, all the surface treatment that looked intriguing, ... all these possibilities. Then it dawned on me: "Is a lifetime long enough to get it all done and if it is, where to start?". Before I knew it I was swimming in ideas, wonderful imagery and unable to create plus feeling rushed. Then I thought about the saying "One cannot have too much of the good thing" and that made perfect sense to me.

"Portal, Be Authentic, Be Free", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Intuitive Mixed Media and Collage Art

Hi everybody,

To me intuitive mixed media or collage art is a great way to explore new materials and techniques. Like usual, I approach a new piece intuitively after taking a moment to clear my mind. Also here I feel that my work is guided by a cosmic source, but in this case the emphasis is much more on the choice and manipulation of the materials than on the drawing or painting of shapes and elements. In a way mixed media and collage feel much more tactile and physically involved than drawing or painting. I love mixed media art and I enjoy creating it.

"Dream, Transformation, Manifestation", Mixed Media on Paper, Intuitive Collage

When Mermaids Appear in Intuitive Drawing and Painting

Hi everybody,

Little Mermaid and Sunny Day is the first intuitive painting I completed at the beginning of 2015. She is reminding us of summer and beautiful weather. I painted her with watercolors on 300g/m2 watercolor paper.

"Little Mermaid and Sunny Day", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Mermaids have always spoken to my imagination. Occasionally they come and visit me in my work. Here they always stand for love, compassion, hope and mysticism. When considering the idea that what appears in my intuitive art is guided by a cosmic source, it is reasonable to assume that they are light-beings.

Intuitive Art Diaries 3: Positive Change and Indigo Child

Dear Readers,

Let me tell you a little more about my intuitive watercolor painting Positive Change and Indigo Child. It is the first work in my series Healing Watercolors. 

"Positive Change and Indigo Child", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting

Intuitive Collage and Art Journaling

Hello everybody,

As an artist I have been practicing mainly in more traditional media like drawing and painting materials and some polymer clay as well. There are many other forms of art though that I find fascinating. I have been experimenting with intuitive collage and art journaling. Mixed media techniques make me happy. Here is what I came up with. 

"Fantasy Elephants", Mixed Media on Paper, Intuitive Collage

Intuitive Art Diaries 2: The Drawing Traveling through Life

Hi everybody,

Last year I have started a series of intuitive drawings. Traveling through Life is  the first work that gave me the idea for creating more with the same approach. As always I first took the time to quiet my mind and then just let it happen. I picked colored pencils as my medium and beautiful drawing paper as my surface and got started.

"Traveling through Life", Colored Pencil on Paper, Intuitive Drawing

Intuitive Photography: Little Worlds in the Pollard Willows

Hi everybody,

Holistic views often mention how beneficial it is to learn how to be in the moment. One fall day I felt particularly overwhelmed and nervous. Furthermore I was suffering from lack of inspiration. I went to the meadow behind our backyard for a stroll with Lupa our dog. I was disappointed since I thought being in nature would help but it didn't. Then I remembered the phrase: "learning how to be in the moment".

"Mannekin in the Pollard Willow", Intuitive Photography by Samuel Woodbury

The Romance of Ruins in Intuitive Painting

Hi everybody,

In the future I would like to share more about my studies and experimental work. At the end of last year I finished up a watercolor course with the London Art College. I have loved it. While working through the assignments I had the chance to explore the medium in new ways and apply it to my intuitive painting.

"Seascape Ruin", Watercolors on Paper, Intuitive Painting