July 16

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Rhythm, cycles and flow

By Maryse Gauthier

July 16, 2019

2019, July, Monthly painting

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WHAT DOES BEING AUTHENTIC HAVE TO DO WITH ACCEPTING OTHERS

Here is my only 2020 painting!

Since 2019, I have been in the theme of embracing my true nature. Huge changes occurred which imposed reorganization and distancing from different things.

2019 was a pivotal year of acceptation, decision and action that led to my self-discovery.

2020 was the year of entering my purpose for exponential progress.

2021 has been the year of narrowing further what my true nature is and closing the year with the decision to confront remnants of old premises to unlock my full potential.

2022 will be the year of new heights of growth, success and actualization by trusting I do not need to control how I'm interpreted to produce the good that is in my intentions. I can express my nature openly and trust it will reach those who are meant for it.

I am reconnecting with painting with joy and inspiration. My hope is to inspire more humans to embrace their own unique authenticity to bring meaning to their life and contribution to humanity.

What does being authentic have to do with accepting others?
But how do you connect with your true nature?
How do you tell if you are being yourself?
Why is self-discovery so important?
What it means to be genuine?

Embracing My Essence

This is the title of my only 2020 painting. I created it in the tiny apartment I lived in with my soul mate. I wanted to express the discovery of authenticity as my new home and as the symbol of the unique relationship that was unfolding with my beloved companion as a result of embracing my nature.

I treasure his presence in my life as a precious gift.

I didn't know how to illustrate this concept, so I did like usual. I trusted my inituition and painted.

I find the outcome interesting. The pointed edge reminds of an arrow piercing through a fabric displaying a fascinating outerspace universe. The eye represents the reflection of the discovery and exposure of the true inner self.

It is the beginning of a new experience.

It is the product of decades of trial and errors, searching, experimenting, risking, discomfort, doubting, evolving, etc. Living life to it's fullest at the best of my knowledge, awareness and capacities. It's is not the best but it is my best and would not change anything.

What follows are the different stages I went through that led to this beautiful fortune.

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My original fallacy

From as far as I can remember, I was obsessed on understanding how the human mind works to find a fail proof solution to make every human the best version they could be, so they can enjoy existence to it's fullest.

I was convinced that no matter the severity of trauma or hardships someone experienced, there had to be a way for them to access happiness, peace, serenity and fulfillment. I wanted to uncover the formula to open this access to everyone, no matter what.

It became my life obsession and it developed in the urgency of finding the solution for everyone's problems and difficulties. In emergency mode, I was in alert full time, restless, and disconnected from my own identity, needs and desires. So much that I didn't even believe I was human, I didn't know how to communicate and interact with others, I just wanted to fix their life. My goal was to start living my own life and enjoy it only after I fixed everything around me.

In fact, I allowed myself to have some kind of existence in secret, never openly. I believed that humans were all too fragile, too vulnerable and needed assistance for everything since they were so helpless.

I believed I was their only hope and that I was so powerful that it might be a serious threat and danger for humanity if I dared living openly. They might not be capable of sustaining this and I would be responsible for irreversible damage, possibly fatal.

It was too serious to risk that much, so I preferred to continue analyzing and searching for the truth and solutions.

Being socially deficient, I also believed that in order to integrate and succeed at anything in society, I had to learn to communicate and interact.

So I decided to work in restaurants to have access to as many different humans to observe, learn and practice social interactions. I thought I might learn to become human too.

What it means to be genuine

This week, it became clear to me how authenticity works, is expressed and non-selective.

Authenticity treats people as capable to deal with the expression of other's authenticity.

Authenticity trusts that each individual is ultimately responsible of their own problems and are the only ones with the power to solve them at their own pace and their own manner.

Authenticity is concerned to be true not to micro manage how it is understood by everyone.

It trusts that the people it is meant for will receive what they need the way they need it.

What my authentic self is not for others

  • Dangerous
  • Harmful

The major obstacle to authenticity is fear not confronted. Every fear we decide to overcome brings us closer to discovering our identity. 
~ Maryse - Amoritz

This is my first painting, outside of Paint Nite events, that I wanted to achieve.

Two years later, I finally made it! 

Find out why it took so much time.

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Analysis

In 2017, not long after I overcame my fear of painting, someone I knew created an electronic music album and was looking for someone to illustrate it.

I figured I would give it a try, as the worse that could happen was that I would fail, so, no big deal. He accepted, thus, we listened to his album and I instantly got a flow of ideas. While taking notes of my ideas, I discovered similarities with my Shiatsu massage therapy training I took several years ago. Consequently, I used my course documentation as a source of inspiration for the painting.

Indeed, I could hear the flow of nature's elements, therefore, it made sense to find extra inspiration from Shiatsu, which is based on acupuncture. Shiatsu relates every organ to an element in nature for specific characteristics.

Execution

Next, I sketched my idea in a way to cover every side of the album cover. This was going to be my first original painting outside of Paint Nite events. 

However, it took me over a month just to do one of the four sides of the album. Truely, I was lacking the experience for ease and speed of execution. For this reason, we decided that we would keep it to one image for the top cover of the album.

Nevertheless, I always wanted to achieve the whole painting with everything I had imagined. Accordingly, I reorganized the objects for a single canva. What a relief to get it off my mind at last!

Let me know what this painting evokes for you in the comments!

Element harmony Surrealist painting by Maryse Gauthier 07-2019

Element harmony Surrealist painting by Maryse Gauthier 07-2019

About the author

As a passionate artist of the mind, I wish to stir your desire to express your authenticity, as the most generous way to exist and contribute to life.

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