KARIN HART, PsyD
As a psychologist, I have found that art can reinvent the psyche. At any age, doing art can stir emotions, and has the magical ability to challenge perspectives, and ignite introspection. It does, indeed, act as a mirror, reflecting the depths of the psyche, a catalyst for reinvention, inspiring new thoughts and feelings. I don’t fancy myself as an accomplished artist, but creating art does help reshape my inner landscapes by offering a different lens through which I view the world and myself. Or sometimes it simply provides an outlet for unspoken inner mysteries. Abstract art, with its fluid forms and open interpretations, can be a portal to the enigmatic realms of the unconscious. The interplay of colors, shapes, and lines can evoke emotions and thoughts that might be lurking beneath the surface. As you engage with abstract art, the sensations and thoughts it elicits might unveil mysteries hidden within your own psyche, offering a visual language for the unspeakable.
Change
(Oil on canvas. 24" H x 32" W)
Embarking on the artistic journey with my lifelong friend, a skilled fine artist, as my gentle coach, infuses the creative process with a profoundly personal connection. Our friendship, which took root at the tender age of six, serves as a rich soil from which my artistic efforts may blossom. The fusion of her guidance and my creative expression results in an exploration that is not only fun and exciting but also marked by the occasional nuances of frustration, underscoring the complexities of the artistic endeavor.
In this particular four-part series, the reddish-orange shapes stand as symbolic representatives, not just of me but also open-endedly, of you. This intentional ambiguity invites viewers to find facets of their own identity within the vivid contours, creating a tapestry of relatability. The circles and curves that grace the canvas become a visual ode to ones feminine side, reflecting a wholeness, and capturing the essence of strength and completeness inherent in the feminine experience.
Yet, interwoven within are other shapes that narrate the struggles intrinsic to the journey of growth and change. These shapes manifest the hurdles, the twists and turns that mark the evolution of self. They are visual echoes of the challenges that, when confronted, give rise to resilience and empowerment.
Optimism, determination, and hope are the guiding forces throughout this work. These elements infuse this piece with a sense of purpose and positivity. Themes of empowerment and strength emerge as overarching motifs, encapsulating not just a personal journey but resonating with universal narratives of triumph over adversity, a celebration of the human spirit and its capacity for growth, change, and unwavering strength.