The other night, as I was trying to fall asleep, I had a pretty big realisation. I've never created or made art from a place of love.
Whenever I've made art, written, or even organised art events, I've done it mostly, and kind of embarrassingly, with an intention to prove something. To myself. To others.
Maybe I'm trying to prove that I'm capable of creating. That I, Matilda, can make things too. Maybe even good things, sometimes.
But I don't think I've ever really made things from a place of love.
And then I started thinking: what does that even mean? What does it mean to make something from a place of love?
I suppose it could mean giving myself real time when I create. Not rushing. Not judging what I make or how it turns out. Being gentle with myself, and maybe even with the materials I'm using.
For instance, I've always used paint and brushes quite excessively and roughly. Lots of paint. Heavy brushstrokes. Quite brash and impulsive. Which, to be fair, can lead to some interesting results.
But what if I slowed down? What if I tapped into myself a little further? What if I felt safe enough to do that? What if I let myself take as long as I felt I needed for a painting? What if my studio felt so cosy and relaxed that I absolutely loved being there? What if I spent more time organising my events, making sure that I absolutely loved them, rather than feeling like I had something to prove? What would come out of all of that?
Then I started thinking about art specifically.
What do pieces made from a place of love actually look like? Can I make art that feels like a hug while I'm making it, and when someone else sees it? Can a painting feel like a soft, warm embrace?
I don't have answers to any of these questions. But I'm so curious about them. I feel like I have to explore this idea more.
It's such a big topic: doing things from a place of love. I might even make it my phrase of the year for 2027.
Maybe I could make a whole new collection exploring this idea too. I find this idea very exciting. And I haven't been excited like this about painting in a pretty long time.
So stay tuned. Let's see what creations will come out down the line.
Have you ever thought about making something from a place of love?
I'd genuinely love to hear what you think. Feel free to comment below or reach out to me on Instagram if you'd like to talk about it more.