The Power of Art for Healing

Conference meditation paintings ©Sikes

Art, Healing, and Meditation--I believe in the power of all three, especially when they are used together. 

A few years ago, I presented a workshop in San Diego, California, for which I demonstrated the process of intuitively creating art and poetry for meditation and healing. This was at a World Healers Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Thought. Dr. Joseph Costa and his staff were in charge of the weekend event. (Sadly, Joe left the earthly plane earlier this year, so there will probably be no more conferences like that one. I always learned a great deal from him and from all those attending.)

During this event, I demonstrated my creation of meditation paintings, and I developed unique pieces of healing art, for several people, including Joe. I , also, wrote intuitive poetry for each painting. The work I made was with Robert Doak intense watercolors on Yupo, a favorite painting surface of mine.

There is a special element that develops in my work that I make in this manner. I believe there are important messages to be found  in both the painted image and the words that come as part of the process. There is power in the discovery, and meditation can bring healing for mind, body, and spirit.

Sometimes I use the Robert Doak intense watercolors on canvas and am amazed at what develops on that surface. These are two of the canvas paintings I created about the time of the conference.

"Optimism" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Love" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Sometimes I believe everything I paint is done intuitively. The words on these paintings can offer healing. I believe in the meditative power of art for healing.

Hiking Angel's Landing in Zion National Park

"On the trail to Angel's Landing" ©O Sikes

 It was a hot July day, and I had no idea what I was getting into. Our daughter, Allison, planned an amazing trip for us to visit some of the beautiful National Parks in Utah. Zion was the first, and someone suggested the hike to Angel's Landing as an activity. 

I loved the name, Angel's Landing, so I said, "Let do it."

It was already early afternoon when we began our trek. The climb was scorching and dusty. Since I couldn't keep up, our daughters went on ahead. I was thankful for the trekking stick that gave me more confidence for the hike.

Many people passed me along the way--young couples, families, rugged-looking hikers going it alone. They all headed with confidence toward Angel's Landing. But then there were others, coming back from the direction of our destination. Some dragged along, disappointment evident from their gait. Others appeared happier, more upbeat. Someone stopped to tell me about the chains needed for the final, most dangerous sections of the climb. 

With my fear of heights and lack of hiking boots, could I make it to the top, I wondered.

"Angel's Landing Sign" ©Mary Montague Sikes

 It began to feel unlikely, especially after I saw a sign, warning of dangers I had not expected. It was hazardous during thunderstorms and darkness. Of course, and it was also dangerous for those who got dizzy because of heights. There were lots more reasons for turning back. People died hiking this trail.

Naively, I originally thought I might actually make it to the top. I went as far as I felt safe walking and climbing. My expectations were too high. 

I marveled at those who crossed our country by covered wagon and survived. It took tremendous courage to battle the elements and the rugged landscape.

On the return hike back to the luxury of the lodge, I heard a flop, flop sound. When I looked down, I discovered that the soles of my tennis shoes had disintegrated along the way. Thankfully, I was not higher up toward Angel's Landing when that happened.

During our trip, we found easier hiking trails, all with glorious scenery. We enjoyed Bryce Canyon National Park, and much more. I never reached the top of Angel's Landing and neither did our daughters, but they made it much farther than I did.

"Angel's Landing Trail ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Angel's Landing" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Creating a Painting with Light and Love

 I am often asked how long it took to create the painting the viewer is studying on my gallery wall. If I think about it for a while, I might be able to tell him how many hours of work it took to put paint on the canvas, layer by layer. But that's not the whole story because each of my paintings has a lifetime of experience behind its creation. That is difficult to measure. That experience is Timeless.

  "Understanding Light" is one of the newest paintings in my gallery at Crossroads Art Center. It developed as I studied the woods behind our home. From morning to night, the light constantly changes. Light plays in different ways on the leaves on the dozens of tree that rise tall outside our windows. All day, I watch the images and shadows that grow among the trees. 

As I worked on my painting in the studio, I turned it 90 degrees daily and added paint from a new direction. I studied the work of abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell from during the early stages of her career in the 1950s and 60s. I was enthralled to learn that instead of red, she used a salmon color in her paintings. Since the early 2000s, I have used Vermilion, a more salmon orange-red as the under painting for my works on canvas. As I turned and painted, I became aware of new elements to add. Meandering pathways through the sometimes glowing trees grew in importance. It was winter when I created this work of art and no leaves were visible on my trees, but little circles of light shone there. Splashes of gold appeared. Lines in light and shadow came to be. Each day, something new hid in the shadows of my creation.

 

 

 

 

"Understanding Light" ©Mary Montague Sikes

  

Then, one day, a poem came to me for my new painting. Here is the beginning of that poetry which will go with the painting to an owner who finds delight in its growth from blank 40" x 40" canvas into a new creation:

 

I walked into the valley, and, there, I saw the snow fly.

My heart gathered forth the energy lost when I watched

A bird perched high on the limb of a white oak tree.

Wings furled, it called out to me to visit the leaf-covered ground.

 

This is a new journey, I said, clutching my paint brush close.

I must visit the far marsh and see the snow settle over the waters.

Brown and serene, they play magenta and purple, rushing always.

Colors plan my journey and dance among glimmering shadows.

©Mary Montague Sikes

The painting is hanging now in my Richmond, Virginia gallery, awaiting an excited new owner who will experience a special journey in color and light that will forever change his/her perception of life. 

Hemingway - Loving Key West

 

The three evenings we recently spent watching the Hemingway documentary by Ken Burns reminded me of our many journeys to Key West, Florida. On several occasions, we visited 

"In the Hemingway Garden"

Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, where there are numerous displays and videos depicting the life of Ernest Hemingway when he lived in Key West. The Custom House exhibits inspired us to explore the Hemingway House where the famed author lived and wrote and where we saw the descendants of his special six-toed cats.

Hemingway "Look Alike" Festival ©Sikes

On one visit to Key West, we encountered the Hemingway "Look Alike" Festival which was quite interesting. Looking at photos from it, 

"Six-toed Cat" ©MMSikes

the resemblance of the participants to the actual man is quite incredible. The photo I took was a location in front of the famous Sloppy Joe's bar that Hemingway enjoyed so much.

While we were in the Custom House Museum, we were fortunate to see many amazing sculptures by Seward Johnson. They sparked such an interest for us that every time we visit Key West, we have to stop by the museum to see the different works by Johnson.

In Johnson's "Mona Lisa" ©Sikes

"Olen and Marilyn" ©Sikes

Our journeys to Key West have always been memorable. No wonder Ernest Hemingway was fascinated by the southernmost destination in our country.

MontiSikes.com 

Marshland Magic

Bright sunshine cast the sharp, dark shadows of leaf-barren trees across the landscape, but the warm air hinted of spring. I pulled a long yellow legal pad from a book shelf, picked up a pen, and headed out to stand on our sprawling redwood deck.

The narrow creek was higher than usual. I could see pine trees from the other side reflected in the still waters. I often wondered if this was one of the creeks branching off the York and Mattaponi Rivers that Captain John Smith explored by barge long ago, soon after the settlement of Jamestown. Pocahontas and her friends might have played in our woods that edge the creek. I wondered about that, too.

Something compelled me to step down from the deck and hurry to my spot where I often study and photograph the marsh. Drawings and paintings have resulted from those studies. Angels live in the marshland. I am sure of that.

"Angel of the Marshland"
©Mary Montague Sikes

Angel of the Marshland

Angel of the Marshland, your colors amaze me

And you have such a vibrant glow.

Like lost among the brown grasses

You’ve changed the colors to suit you.

 

I love the trees and waters of the marsh.

Do you hide there often?

                                                                                                                 I will look for you next time I go.

                                                                Then, I’ll touch your golden hair.

                                                                                 ©Mary Montague Sikes

This is a painting that resulted from my visit to the hill overlooking the marshland that day. The poem (there are two more verses) came to me later. I could sense the presence of this angel standing near a tree soon to come alive with bright green leaves. The dogwood would have flowers as well. 

My painting and poem became part of my very special book, Artful Angels. This is a book filled with spiritual beauty and poetic wealth, designed to heal the body and the mind with its mystery and magic.

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