I'd like to share my personal story about how I came to discover I could do soul paintings.
Since graduating the National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1997, people would have been aware of my artwork through my sculptural work, paintings and exhibitions.
Soul art is a part of my art practice that many aren't aware of...!
Soul painting, was definitely not something that was taught in art college or anywhere, for that matter!
I’ve had an interest in the area of healing, art therapy and meditation for years and especially after the passing of my mother in 2004. We were extremely close and the depth of grief I experienced after her passing, opened my heart to a whole new level of pain, as well as a new depth of love and connection.
I became more aware of how interconnected we all are and how connections still exist between souls even after a loved one passes away. I believe there is an eternal flow of love and spiritual connection, that transcends the physical world.
I'll try my best to give you a glimpse into how I came to realise I could do soul paintings.
To be honest it has taken me years to get to this point, where I am able to share this, put words on it and not be crippled by fear of what everyone would think….so here goes.
In 2013, a friend recommended a psychic healer to me. I was unsure but I trusted her opinion and made an appointment. I was curious but nervous and I won’t lie, I nearly cancelled the appointment several times, even on the journey over I was tempted to turn back.
He told me many things that were accurate and interesting but what I remember most clearly about that meeting, was that he had told me I could do soul paintings for people and that I could do them without the person being there.
I had never heard of a soul painting and I have to say I laughed out loud. I was the only one laughing though!
He suggested trying it to do soul paintings for people I knew, to see for myself how it would connect to people.
As I drove away, I had an image in my mind’s eye of a range of colours connected to a particular person. I didn’t really do anything about it for a while but the colours stayed the same and kept coming to mind.
So eventually, many months later, I sat down to do soul drawings for a few people I knew. I wrote the person's name on the back of each drawing. I showed a range of the drawings to the people I had created them for. I just asked them what image they were drawn towards. They all picked out their own without seeing the names.
I was pleasantly surprized and intrigued.
I went on to do 12 soul images, before I even thought of doing my own!
What followed led to a whole new level of awareness, that I will share more with you in following blog posts.