DAY THREE: Contemplation; Discoveries during this process so far

Even though I have only been going through this process of feeling the depths of me in the moment and creating Art/Photographs depicting those feelings, what I am experiencing at that moment in the day for the last three days, I have started to recognise some discoveries and realisations.

Before, I explain those discoveries and realisations, I am also going to take this opportunity to give a little background info. I have recently been through some huge changes; relationship breakdown and as a result became homeless and currently living with friends, which has meant that my creativity became stifled due to not having access to my normal Art equipment and feeling unable to express myself. This has resulted in me going through quite a depressive state and feeling quite hopeless and totally unfocussed, struggling to believe in anything.

My art has in the past been the cathartic catalyst to helping me change that state, so, when my friend gave me this challenge of creating a photograph each day depicting the depths of me in the moment, I took it on. I did not know where it was going to go or how it was going to reveal itself or even for that matter if I could rise to that challenge and show the depths of me. I wasn't even sure if I could capture a photograph depicting my depths of me because at that moment I wasn't even sure what my depths were. However, I accepted the challenge and became open to the process awaiting it's revelations. At least now I had a focus.

So, what have been my discoveries through this process;

• All things are possible, you just have to find the key to unlock your possibility. It really is a mind switch; If you think it's not possible, it will not be possible, you have locked the door to that possibility, so ask yourself why you don't think it's possible, sit with it, work through what you believe is holding you back, then challenge yourself, tell yourself that you ARE going to do this and keep telling yourself that until it becomes a reality. Break it down, find another way, there is always another way. I didn't have any canvases nor could I buy any or a sketchpad, so for now I am using my face as a canvas to explore the depths of me. Initially, I couldn't see how I could be creative without my canvases, I had lost touch with artistic fundamentals - art does not need a canvas, it just needs to be created. It doesn't even need to be paint, art can be expressed in so many ways, unfortunately, the world conditions us to see things in traditional and constrained ways even in the Art world. Be different, show the world there are many ways to do something and no one way is the right way, stop conforming and just be.

• Being creative focuses the mind on the now; be careful not to get to lost in it, focus on what you are feeling through the process, the silence in your creative process, watch your process as you create your piece, don't think ( yes, I know hard not to) just observe - feelings, emotions, connections.

• Being authentic is opening up your vulnerability and being raw, exposed and unapologetic - it's your true essence. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable through a process allows your authenticity to shine and in turn allows the creative process to shine, your art will connect with the viewer in ways you cannot imagine at the time. For me art should evoke emotion at the very least for the artist and when it evokes an emotion in the viewer your art has power beyond its original intention, the intention to create an authentic art work.

• All emotions are valid and staying in one emotion unbalances your equilibrium. Allow the scales to naturally rock and swing back and forth. To deny an emotion is deny self and it will cause disharmony within, it will be emotionally, even physically be your undoing. So, let them flow as they are, recognise them, let them be and work on through those feelings and emotions, use whatever skills you have to do this or what is at hand at the time.

• You don't know you cannot do something if you don't do it. Action is the key to discovery of self. I was so lost and numb in my world of not believing I could be creative because I didn't have my art equipment. It wasn't until I received my challenge that it unlocked my creative processes again. Before my first day of the challenge and the night I had been given the challenge, I went through a process to connect with my emotions, to find the depths of me. The title and cover photographs contain self portrait photographs of that process of discovery and getting in touch and connecting with self. The photograph at the beginning of this post is one of those taken during this process. It helped me unlock my creativity and see what was possible.

• Be gentle with yourself. We are often are own harshest critics, we allow our own fear to stifle our possibilities and allows doubt to creep in and prevent us from being creative. Creative people are some of the most sensitive, doubting people and often push through fear and doubt. Fearing vulnerability and exposure to others, specially judgement of others of our Art because often in that art is our heart and soul. Shift the focus of creating your art for you and if you like it that is all that matters, you do not need someone else's approval of your work, be vulnerable, be open, connect and be gentle with yourself. Did you know there is not a right way to create art? There is only your way.

• You owe it to yourself to be in the moment, open, vulnerable, authentic, and honest, totally raw, exposed and unapologetic. You should never apologise for being who you are.

I will leave you with a quote from Pablo Picasso:

"The purpose of Art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls"