Alright, so I messed around with some pantheistic artwork stuff recently, and figured I'd share how it went down. No fancy art school jargon, just the nitty-gritty.
First off, I started by trying to wrap my head around what pantheistic art even is. It's basically art that tries to show the divine in everything, nature, the universe, you name it. I didn’t want to just paint a landscape and call it a day. I wanted to feel that connection, then try to put it on canvas (or, let's be real, my iPad).
Phase 1: Gathering Inspiration (aka Staring at Stuff)
- I spent a whole afternoon just outside, looking at trees. Seriously. Trying to see the patterns, the energy, not just 'tree'.
- Watched a bunch of nature docs. Planet Earth type stuff. Helps get you in that 'everything is connected' mindset.
- Did some reading about pantheism itself. Didn't need to become a philosopher, but understanding the core ideas was crucial.
Phase 2: Initial Sketches (aka Doodling Like a Maniac)
I started with thumbnails, just tiny, messy sketches. This wasn't about making pretty pictures; it was about getting ideas out. I focused on:
- Repeating patterns: spirals, fractals, anything that showed up again and again in nature.
- Flow and movement: the way water moves, wind blows, plants grow.
- Light and shadow: the contrast between them, the way light reveals forms.
Phase 3: Choosing a Medium (aka Deciding What to Slap Paint On)
I went digital. I'm more comfortable with Procreate on my iPad. Easier to undo mistakes (and there were a lot of mistakes).
Phase 4: The Actual Artwork (aka The Fun Part...Mostly)
Here's where the rubber meets the road. I decided to focus on a single tree. But not just any tree. This tree had to embody everything I was going for.
- Base Layer: Started with a dark background, like a night sky. Used a textured brush to give it some depth.
- Tree Form: Roughing in the basic shape of the tree. Didn't worry about details, just the overall silhouette.
- Branching Out: This is where the patterns came in. Instead of just drawing branches, I used spiral shapes and fractal patterns to represent the interconnectedness of everything.
- Light and Shadow: Used a soft brush to add highlights and shadows, emphasizing the form and creating a sense of depth. The light source was coming from behind the tree, creating a kind of halo effect.
- Details (aka The Painstaking Part): Added smaller details, like leaves and textures. But even these were stylized, incorporating repeating patterns and flowing lines. I even experimented with adding some subtle geometric shapes within the leaves, to represent the underlying structure of reality.
- Color: Kept the color palette simple. Blues, greens, and a touch of gold for the highlights. Didn’t want to overwhelm the viewer with too many colors.
Phase 5: Tweaking and Refining (aka Second-Guessing Everything)
Spent a long time zooming in and out, tweaking details, adjusting colors. This is the part where you start to question all your life choices.
Phase 6: The Final Product (aka 'Yeah, I Guess It's Done')
Eventually, I just had to call it done. No artwork is ever truly finished, right? I stepped back, looked at it from a distance, and decided it captured at least some of what I was going for.
What I Learned
- Pantheistic art isn’t just about pretty landscapes. It’s about trying to convey a feeling, a connection.
- Don't be afraid to experiment. Try different techniques, different styles.
- Patience is key. This kind of art takes time and effort.
- Most importantly, have fun! If you’re not enjoying the process, what’s the point?
Is it a masterpiece? Nah. But it was a cool experiment, and I learned a lot. And hey, maybe it'll inspire someone else to try their hand at pantheistic art (or just stare at a tree for a while).
