Creative Multitasking & The Freedom Effect

“The Freedom Effect” (11″ x 14″) – SOLD – Acrylics, lapis lazuli, glass beads, mica on canvas

Warning… this blog post may ruin your idealized image of me. Hee hee…

I recently shared this with a few people who were so grateful I did that I’ve decided to share it with you now.

Whether it inspires you to get creative or leads to being more gentle on yourself, good!

I smile when folks talk about what it must be like in my painting studio: “You must have incredible focus and patience Dominique.” Sometimes…

It’s true that there are projects in which I’m totally in the creative flow, channeling visions, messages, and energy healing while painting – especially Soul Energy Portraits.

But that’s not always the case.

That would be awfully intense to keep up during my beloved 12 to 16-hour painting marathons.

So sometimes I sing along to Sanskrit chants in meditative bliss.

Other times, I’m simply playing and experimenting while listening to inspirational podcasts.  

Then there are the times I’m painting to escape – from my overly Left-brain to-do list or my overactive thoughts.  In this case, I’ll often play movies in the background.

“How can you do both at the same time?” you may ask.

Easy. It actually helps. It gives my ego and/or Left analytical brain a task or distraction so that the Right creative brain can be free to do it’s thing.

I call it creative multitasking.

It keeps the critic, worry-wart, risk-aversive little me busy in one corner while I connect to my Higher Self & Spirit to create.

That’s what happened while creating the detailed layers of this painting called  “The Freedom Effect”.

I was in the mood for some dot-therapy. It can be so relaxing to just make dots for hours on end.

But parts of me were objecting – either out of boredom, frustration, or negative self-talk: “You’re overdoing it with the dots, Dominique. Keep it simple stupid! You’re ruining it!”

So on this dot-making day, I watched (or more accurately listened to) Netflix documentaries on Einstein, Ram Dass, Tesla, and Chris O’Neil (yoga photographer).  Very inspiring!

I watch Netflix for a living! Not bad, eh?

It’s all part of creating a life by design that incorporates so many of the elements I enjoy. I’m a total movie-buff!

And I apparently didn’t overdo it with the dots because this little jewel of a painting was sold after I posted work-in-progress photos on Facebook – before it even got posted in my online shop.

Now that’s a good day at work!

So now I ask you, what does or what could creative multitasking looking like for you?

Feel free to leave a comment below.