Self portrait

                         

                            A PAINTING ODYSSEY



                 'I am an artist at living-my work of art is my life'- Suzuki


The above terse quotation by Suzuki got me thinking that life should be treated as if its an empty canvas.An empty canvas awaiting to be filled with different kinds of feelings,thoughts,emotions,imagination,whims,with whatever contours and variation of brush strokes.

This empty canvas represents life,mine or yours.As progressive human beings by nature we are obliged to work on it daily,to see through its completion,to fully and conscientiously engage with it,to attempt to perfect it.This empty canvas that is life evolves with each passing day.
"life is a canvas and your birth commissioned you to be its artist"
In the recording 'Apparently' (Cole 2014) as performed by J Cole contains lyrics which echo my sentiment as shall be further revealed.The lyrics go like so; 'this is my canvas and I'm gonna paint it how I want it'. Its as if him and I the singer that is were struck with a similar epiphany.

The canvas I'm working on isn't a Paul Gauguin or a Paul Cezanne nor is it a Paolo Veronese but rather it is a Paul Nemaguvhuni.


Photographic self-portrait


Even when one goes through phases of melancholy,felicity,sorrow or ecstasy such phases will be reflected on the painting either intentionally  or otherwise.

Life is a canvas and your birth commissioned you to be its artist. Bear the painstaking ,exciting,excruciating as well as exhilarating process of creating a masterpiece.Whether it be an abstract-expressionist or a neo-classical piece or whether it was inspired by any modern or ancient movement does not matter. Your audience(people in your life) should marvel at its magnificence, they may be awe-struck ,amused,shocked or puzzled by it. Their bloodstreams ,nerve endings,minds and hearts should simmer cause of its invocation of myriad feelings quality.

"let the inner artist in you be enlightened"

By your banal inhalation and exhalation of breath you continue to endow your painting with meaning,significance,symbolism and relevance.

Life is the end product of painting-painting in this context being living. The world is your studio,immerse yourself in it. The entire universe is within you,likewise tap into it, find your muse from it.

When my life or yours has come to its inevitable end maybe the envisioned painting(life) will be complete or not. The soul and spirit shall be at ease though knowing that you its artist gave your best shot. That you poured your Zest,Energy,Passion,Zeal and Every Fibre of your being into it.


Art is life,life is art.Some of us have awakened to the wisdom that we are artists. Yet most of us are just mediums that allow our surroundings and circumstances as well as other people to impose their designs,lines,perspectives,finishes and will on us. Inactive,passive mediums,recipients of whatever may be imposed is what most potential artists have been reduced to.

Let the inner artist (laying dormant somewhere deep in the confines of your subconscious) in you be enlightened! Thus you can begin a painting odyssey of your canvas.


                           
                           
                                             Sources consulted          

Cole,J.2014.'Apparently'.forest hills drive.J.Cole.[compact disc].Columbia.

Sharma,R.1997.The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.United states:Harper Collins.

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