Homework day 2 - The divine wisdom in the art of an abusive narcissist.

Here is something i wrote today. About 3500 letters...

The divine wisdom in the art of an abusive narcissist.

Many people don’t like Picasso, especially because of the way he was in his relationships with men and women. How badly he treated people, especially women. And they are right. In that area he was truly horrible.

Therefore they may brush him away as nothing but an abusive narcissist. And they might brush away his art in the same swipe.

But by doing so, they would miss out on great wisdom that are imbedded in his art. Wisdom that is imprinted in his very brushstrokes, which tells about his sense of freedom when he is painting. Wisdom that can teach us a lot about the degree in which we allow ourself to embody a sense of freedom, playfulness and grace while we are moving through life.

Let me give you an example from my own experience at the last Picasso exhibition I visited several months ago with my girlfriend.

In the exhibition there were at least 100 paintings as well as drawings and prints.

But it is the paintings I want to talk about.

More specifically, his way of being while he painted.

I remember I was standing in front of one of his paintings that I was drawn towards. A large canvas. Maybe 2x2 meters. It seemed very simple. A seemingly quick black and white painting of a nude woman in one of his very own distinct styles.

As I was examining his painting, taking it in, feeling it, and contemplating his brushstrokes, I noticed something.

A mistake!

In the process of painting one of her boobs and one of her legs were completely off, in a way that he obviously did not like.

Therefore he fixed it. Which makes sense.

But it was the way he did it which impacted me so strongly.

To the untrained eye it may look like he just nonchalantly and vaguely brushed over the mistakes with a bit of white paint, without caring to cover it properly, and then drawing the black line of the boob and leg in a different place.

But there was more.

The way he corrected the mistake was as if there was no mistake there at all. In fact, the mistake improved the painting drastically!

Because the way in which he related to his apparent mistake, he had demonstrated that there were nothing wrong about making a mistake. A mistake, if met with the attitude that mistakes are completely fine and human, and part of life, and even beautiful is no longer a mistake. Its a demonstration of grace. Something that is divine and beautiful and all-embracing. Embracing the fullness of our imperfect human nature and the messy human condition.

On top of that, his loose and free brush strokes showed no sign of hesitation, doubt or constriction, but rather the mark of freedom. Freedom to be oneself naturally and effortlessly without worry.

You may be thinking, okay thats nice. But if you are looking to embody more of these qualities in your life, you should listen to this.

The effect this painting had on me was profound. Not only intellectually, but energetically and emotionally. His brushstrokes and his way of painting had the power to transmit the energy and wisdom of that over to me in a way that made me feel as if I were embodying those qualities. and in that moment I was.

Now, that is the power great art has on those who in that moment are open to fully receive the gift that lies imbedded in the artwork.

You may have had a profound experience like this with a work of art before. But imagine being surrounded by works of art like that every day. Imagine the effect this can have you, if you are open and receptive to it.

This demonstrated so clearly to me that how you paint, and the energy, vibration and attitude you embodies while painting will infuse itself into the painting. And this in turn has the potential to transmit some of that vibration over to the right viewer who resonates with that painting.

It has to me, as meetings with art like this has completely changed the way I paint.

It also demonstrates the great impact art can have on us, and the great value of this. A great painting can be so much more than just a painting. It can serve as a tool, like a magical instrument.

So,

Despite Picasso being an abusive narcissist, he embodied a completely different dimension of himself while painting. And I don't believe he would be nearly as much of a genius as we know him to be if he weren't connected to this deeper dimension of freedom and grace while painting.

After all, and as he said, while painting he left his body by the door in the same way muslims leave their shoes before entering in to the mosque, into the place of worship.

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