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How do you come up with ideas? What’s your inspiration? Nature? Food? Books? Music?
Photo from Graphicstock photo
Years ago when I was in Graphic design school, my color theory teacher had told the class of his experience working with one of the leading graphic designers in the city. The prominent designer has won awards for his amazing designs. One day, this designer was stuck. After designing over 20 covers for a magazine he was truly stuck on what to design next. So even the best designers and artist can experience what we call the ‘creative block’.
After completing the Love is Series, I was stuck and looked outside myself for an idea. ‘Aha’ moment or something epic and huge experience that would truly tell me without a doubt that whatever came was brilliant. Sadly my inspirations doesn’t always come that way. At times it is like a quiet whisper.
Couple of years ago I had ordered these slender canvases 18”x36”. I loved the slenderness and had no idea what I would do with them. Pulled them out and let them stand against my studio wall. One day while brushing my teeth I stood there looking at them.
“Hmmm…. I wonder.”
A whisper. Goddesses. This activated an old desire, as I’ve always wanted to paint strong, powerful and magical women but never felt confident. So when this idea came up fear of lack of confidence showed up and my analytical brain fired away its judgments.
“Goddesses? Really? Isn’t goddesses over done already? I mean how many are there in the world that have been done over and over again.”
Many months later I still criticized the goddess idea and was ready to kick the idea out of my head. Yet, one day I was looking at a small print out of the chakras (click here to see view Kundalini chakra ladder). Being spiritual I was intrigued by the design and the symbolism. I even used the heart chakra as the inspiration for one of my paintings “Love is Spiritual”. That is when the idea hit me. Chakra Goddesses!
This was something I’ve never see or even heard of and naturally assumed it was done a gazillion times like the other popular goddesses like Aphrodite, Kwan Yin, Kalli and Lakshmi. So I searched online to see what artists and illustrators have done. Well lo and behold, only a small handful has actually done it. I knew I would be an artist who would do something completely different leading the way.
After thinking about it I decided to do some research on what potentially these goddesses would even look like.
- Did I want them to be all the same just dressed in difference colors to depict each chakra?
- Or are they individuals with their own style and personality?
- What does each chakra mean anyway?
Rather than ‘think’ my way into this I decided to tune into their energy and feel how they would like to express themselves.
- What would they say?
- What would each wear?
- What is their personality type?
©Divinity Chan All rights reserved
For the next few weeks I will be revealing each goddess and my journey with them along with the creative process. In the meantime stay tuned and be sure to come back. All of them will be revealed for an upcoming show showcasing the whole chakra series November 21-23 weekend at a local shop called 05 Tea Bar – a tea lover’s dream where they can experience organic and unique teas brought directly from the farmers internationally.
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