Category Archives: 2010 Abstract Paintings/Stories

Art and Creative Writing – “When It’s OK to Go Mad” by Karen Robinson

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Karen Robinson at her Solo Exhibition titled ...When words are hard to find - 6th May 2015 at Gee Lee-Wik Doleen Gallery - Craigieburn. Photo graphed by Angie Basdekis for Hume Leader Newspaper getimage.aspx.jpg

Karen Robinson at her Solo Exhibition titled …When words are hard to find – 6th May 2015 at Gee Lee-Wik Doleen Gallery – Craigieburn. Photo graphed by Angie Basdekis for Hume Leader Newspaper Getimage.aspx. Karen standing beside her Painting No. 43 titled:  ‘Life’s A Washing Machine’ Acrylic on Canvas Feb 2010.  NB:  All images are protected by copyright laws. jpg

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Whilst watching this ingenious YouTube produced by ‘The School of Life’ in collaboration with Artrake Studio – view below, I found myself relating to its content in such a way that it almost felt like, someone had secretly documented my life and forwarded onto this organisation, to use for research to make this ‘The School of Life’ YouTube. I’m being nonsensical of course – but so much of what is portrayed I found to be true. Yes, we can find ourselves on a treadmill where life is full of things we image that we have to achieve and determined by childhood learning’s, adult desires and society perceptions.  We image expectations for ourselves and for others and it is not until something tragic happens and/or when we ‘hit rock bottom’ that we can find ourselves asking why?

 

 

ESSENTIAL NORMALITY OF A LITTLE MADNESS YOUTUBE

 

This above YouTube titled ‘The Sanity of Madness’ is produced by ‘The School of Life’ in collaboration with Artrake Studio and published on 18 January 2016.  They state that ‘there’s so much pressure on us to be always rational, calm and sensible:  it’s time also to say a word about the essential normality of a little madness’.

 

CRAZY MOMENTS IN AN ORDINARY LIFE

It is true for me that there have been times in my life were due to circumstances, I either created for myself or circumstances for which I found myself being a part of, have led me to – just not being able to function like a normal well-balanced human being. Therefore presenting occasions where pushing forward just seemed impossible. Like the examples given within this ‘The School of Life’ YouTube, I too found myself just wanting to stop, just stop and get off the treadmill and just rethink about what’s my purpose on this blue planet.

A wonderful statement I really enjoyed hearing in this ‘The School of Life’ YouTube was this: “No good life can or should go by without a few quiet open incidents of complete breakdown”.  Wow…this was so good to hear, as it can be hard to forgive oneself when you find yourself doing just that breaking down, feeling like your failing miserably at life, letting yourself down, your family down and ‘the whole world down’ well perhaps not quiet the whole world. According to this ‘The School of Life’ YouTube, a complete breakdown really needs to be accepted as normality and not as something that is seen as a form of perhaps ‘madness’. That we actually need ‘crazy moments’ to be able to work through our lives and think of these moments as just “part of ordinary life“. I do love this statement  “just part of ordinary life” and how true it is and a much kinder, productive way of accepting that we are human, fallible and vulnerable.

 

 

PAINTING NO. 43 – TITLE:  ‘LIFE’S A WASHING MACHINE’

There have been many times in my life where I have been just that, a true human being – fallible and vulnerable and at my ‘wits‘ end.  Below here is an example of one of my abstract paintings which I had painted during a time where there was much turmoil in my life.  A time were I was grieving for the loss of my son and caring for my husband during his recovery from chemotherapy treatment.

 

Painting No. 43 - Title 'Life's a Washing Machine' Feb 2010 Acrylic on Canvas 122cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cms Deep. Abstract Artist Karen Robinson NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 43 – Title:   ‘Life’s a Washing Machine’ Feb 2010 Acrylic on Canvas 122cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cms Deep by Abstract Artist – Karen Robinson.  NB:  All images are protected by copyright laws!

 

  • Acrylic on Canvas
  • 122cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cms Deep
  • Feb 2010

 

 

PAINTING STORY

This painting was inspired by how life at times feels like loads of washing tumbling around in a washing machine. Getting pulled this way and that way. Contorted, reshaped, dirtied up, washed out and then hang out to dry – only to start all over again the very next day! A whole mixture of life experiences tumbling into a single life which is shared with family, friends and work colleagues.  It is at times enough to drive you mad…

Karen Robinson © February 2010

 

CONCLUSION:  THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD MENTAL BREAKDOWN

But as it stresses within this ‘The School of Life’ YouTube, it’s important to have a ‘good mental breakdown’! A good one “is where we reconnect with the valuable truths that we have lost sight of” and where we also reconnect with “emotions and insights that ordinary life has prevented us investigating“. I feel this is just what I have been engaging in for the last 7 years. I have ‘”returned from the land of madness” and landed “in the fields of apparent sanity“; and through my painting, photo-taking, story-telling, creative writing and volunteer speaking I have been able to regain a good sense of well-being. Its enabled me to push forward and into a pathway that has led me towards a better, most positively fulfilling life…with some ‘healthy crazy moments‘…

 

Karen Robinson © January  2016

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson

I Do Art Discussion No. 17 – “Life’s a Washing Machine” by Karen Robinson

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INTRODUCTION

Sometimes, I find painting to be just a way to vent pent-up feelings and emotions.  It can be a way of putting the days/months/years frustrations onto a canvas via paint; and it can be a way to just unburden one’s daily struggles and frustrations.  Once it is done, I can stand back and say, well it’s all there, on the canvas, and I don’t need to carry around that particular burden anymore in my mind, heart and soul.  Adding to that process is the writing of the painting’s story. By this I mean, the act of verbalizing its meaning, which then allows me to be able to examine exactly what’s been going on within myself.  This whole reflective mechamism is and continues to be, a very therapeutic process that effectively increases my sense of well-being.

NB:  Better Health Channel summarize the meaning of well-being as:  “Well-being is not just the absence of disease or illness.  It is a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health factors.  Well-being is linked to how you feel about yourself and your life” (Better Health Channel 2015).

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PAINTING STORY

The inspiration for this particular ‘I Do Art Discussion Blog’ Painting as featured below, came from a time in my life, where it felt like I was on a treadmill and I couldn’t get off. The pressures of work and family life seemed never-ending and no matter what, it had to be endured to ensure we had a roof over our heads, cloths on our backs and food in our bellies. It did not help that I personally struggled with anxiety and depression. The following is the painting story that I wrote for this particular Painting No. 43 titled “Life’s a Washing Machine”:-

“This painting was inspired by how life at times feels like loads of washing tumbling around in a washing machine. Getting pulled this way and that way. Contorted, reshaped, dirtied up and washed out, hang out to dry only to start all over again each day! A whole mixture of life experiences tumbling into a single life which is shared with family, friends and work colleagues…..”

Written by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist 2010

 

Painting No. 43 - Title "Life's a Washing Machine' by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson - 2010 All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 43 – Title “Life’s a Washing Machine” Feb 2010
– by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson All images are protected by copyright laws!

 

PAINTING DETAILS

Painting No. 43 – Title “Life’s a Washing Machine” Acrylic on Canvas February 2010 – 122cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cm Deep by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson

 

PAINTING FORMATION

The painting formation is made up of contoured bracing that have a circular movement.  It is like when you view cloths being washed in a washing machine that has a glass door that you can see the washing through.  You can see the objects being sloshed and tossed around in the water and suds action.

 

CONCLUSION

Art Therapy has been an incredible tool to help me as a painter/person.  It can be at times like looking into a mirror and seeing my thoughts, feelings and emotions at work.  It offers me an opportunity to revise and reinvent a better me. By sharing my story I hope to inspire others to take up art for therapy…


NB:  To view my Abstract Painting Gallery, please click here. Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! 

My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist/Blogger/Writer/Photo-taker

 

I Do Art Discussion No. 15 – “Road to a New Life…”

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INTRODUCTION

My ‘art as therapy’ journey has allowed me to explore ways of being able to endear feelings, thoughts and emotions about family members dearest to me into my abstract paintings.  During 2010, I had painted a series of paintings which were done with my darling dear daughter in mind.  In the year before, 2009 Nov 5 her brother, my son had been killed in a single vehicle car crash.  Much of my paintings over this period of time had been about the loss of my son, about my grief and despair.  It was hard to think about anything else at that time in our family lives.

During 2009/2010 my daughter and her then partner, now husband were building their new home; building a new life for themselves to share together.  I decided to do a series of paintings for my daughter; below is the first in this series.  I needed to paint with joy in my heart instead of grief and despair.  Painting for my daughter was a joyful experience and helped me to look forward into the future.  Another example how ‘art as therapy’ helped me in my journey.

 

Painting No. 47A – Title “Road to a New Life” Apr/June 2010 – by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson All images are protected by copyright laws!
Painting No. 47B – Title “Road to a New Life” Apr/June 2010 – by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson All images are protected by copyright laws!

PAINTINGS No. 47A & 47B – Title “Road to a New Life” Acrylic on Canvas  April/June 2010  90cms Length x 50cms Wide x 3cms Deep each

 

PAINTING STORY

This painting represents the new estate where my daughter and her now husband were building their new home, which has since been completed. The linings on the painting are the estate roads, leading up and into where they live.  Like a lot of new estates to begin with, there is not much to see except new roads and bare plots of land awaiting home constructions. Their new home was very symbolic of new beginnings together as a couple.  They had worked very had at their work and careers; worked hard at saving money and worked through very difficult times during the process of building their home.  Our daughter during these times had to deal with the knowledge her father had cancer and would need to have chemotherapy and thankfully now, in 2014 – is in full remission.  She also had to deal with the sudden and tragic death of her brother.  During this period of time she had also been training and studying. It is a real credit to her that she was able to find the strength and courage to keep herself on track over the these very difficult years.  We are now in 2014 and both my daughter and her husband have done well for themselves – I am so proud and pleased for them…

 

ABOUT THE COLOURS

The Matisse Paint colours I chose to use for this painting, were heavily influenced by what I understand to be some of my daughter’s most favourite colours.  The earthy colours are a direct link to the colour of bare, just freshly turned dark rick soil, being the plots of land awaiting housing construction.  The grey representing newly made roads leading into the new estate.  The blue is one of my daughter’s favourites and it also is representative of the expansive beautiful, big blue sky that can be seen within the region where the estate is being established – just outside of Melbourne, Victoria – Australia.  The fine bands of silver and gold running across the paintings are representative of the wealth of goodness I find in my daughter…in her soul and heart.

 

CONCLUSION

Painting for my daughter at this particular period of time in my life 2010 was an important moment.  I was looking to find hope and a way to find joy again in life.  My daughter became this beacon of light and as it should be…thank you my darling, dear daughter….

 

NB:  To view my Abstract Painting Gallery, please click here. Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! 

My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist/Blogger/Writer/Photo-taker

I Do Art Discussion No. 11 – “Salvage Code Red”

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Using art for therapy has helped me, not with just being able to express grief and despair but also as a way of protesting about important issues, particularly to do with the environment.  It becomes a way of being able to vocalise concern, fear and doubt; to bring about awareness.

Painting No. 49 – Titled “Salvage Code Red” July 2010, acrylic on canvas as featured below was inspired by the man-made disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, fifty miles off the coast of Louisiana – April 20, 2010 (Time. 2014). It was the largest Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig crude oil spill in US History. There were 126 people on board the floating oil rig when the explosion occurred. This disaster cost the lives of 11 men on the burning rig. The disaster griped the entire world as the crude oil was spewing out from the ocean floor sea bed. “At the time of the explosion, the rig was producing up to 336,000 gal. of oil a day and carrying some 700,000 gal. of fuel oil” (Time. 2014). The final report of this man-made disaster showed that poor management was the cause of this dreadful environmental disaster.

 


It was after viewing many news media images, over a matter of months, that inspired me to do a painting of this man-made disaster.  I used red and yellow colour in the painting to represent fire, destruction and loss of life. The brown and charcoal grey colour is representative of the oil sludge which had carved its way through the ocean towards the shoreline; suffocating the life out of the sea. And the blue colour – is the portions of oceans, struggling to regain its majesty, dominance and breath…

Painting No. 49 – Title “Salvage Code Red” July 2010 – by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 49 – Title “Salvage Code Red” July 2010 – Acrylic on Canvas – 137cms Length x 81cms Wide x 3cms Deep by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB:  All images are protected by copyright laws!

This image below of a poor pelican, covered in sludgy oil, is a clear example how devastating this man-made disaster impacted on wildlife.  Many other forms of wild life such sea turtles, dolphins struggled with the sludgy oil on the ocean surfaces which had spewed from the Gulf of Mexico’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill (National Geographic. 2010, June 8).

National Geographic Daily News Photo ID - gulf-oil-spill-killing-wildlife-brown-pelican-wings_21352_600x4501.jpg.

“Oil Weighing Down Wildlife” – National Geographic Daily News Photo ID – gulf-oil-spill-killing-wildlife-brown-pelican-wings_21352_600x4501.jpg.

The loss of human life and wildlife, along with the terrible impact on the ocean’s resources, beach fronts within the Gulf of Mexico’s shore lines; and the devastating impacts on the lively hoods of thousands of people, was a message to us all about the risks we are taking with our natural resources, with our planet’s wellbeing.  How long can we go on doing this?

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson

References:

McNamee, W. (2010, June 8). Getty Images. National Geographic. Daily News. Gulf Oil Spill Pictures:  Birds, Fish, Crabs Coated. [Photo ID:  Oil Weighing Down Wildlife]. Retrieved July 19, 2014 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/photogalleries/100608-gulf-oil-spill-environment-birds-animals-pictures/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_n1p_intl_ot_w#

Time. (2014). 100 Days of the BP Spill:  A Timeline. Day 1. Retrieved July 19, 2014 from http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2006455,00.html

Five. (2010, Jul 4). Oil Disaster The Rig That Blew Up 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2014 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So–O0g2860