Art Project

Artists on Couches (AOC) is a conversation-based art project providing an opportunity for visual artists to exchange philosophical, spiritual and intellectual ideas about the creative process and artistic expression.

AOC allows artists to make genuine connections with their peers as they explore the mystery of the creative process and discuss intuitive ways artists work through these conversations.

I’ve created an active online conversation, Instagram.com/artistsoncouches, giving artists worldwide a way to share how they access creativity, discover their voice and trust their intuition while receiving and executing ideas. 

What has been discussed and uncovered through these online conversations is how to artists develop their own unique process and artistic expression. It’s through this self discovery and understanding of their individual “why” that allows artists to create their best work. Another interesting find learned through these discussions is that many artists have similar methodologies in their art practice, but express them in their own profound ways.

I want to delve deeper and share these ideas and concepts so others can apply them to their art and lives. AOC aims to activate and expand the innate creative consciousness of the participating artists and listening audience. 

 

  • Imagine being a fly on the wall during the philosophical conversations between the members of the New Mexico Transcendental Painting Group or during the mind-bending discussions of the Surrealists in Paris. Think what we could have learned and gained from their insights and ideas.

    This is what AOC strives to uncover by listening to, capturing and sharing the special moment and wonderment created when artists define the undefinable.

    AOC eliminates the actual tangible form of an art piece and breaks down the idea of art to its purest realization — an exchange of ideas. 

    AOC is an artwork in itself, made entirely with the collective energy created by participating artists discussing and sharing personal reflections and perspectives about creativity and artistic expression. 

    The intent for AOC is to explore and unveil the mystery of the creative process and to create a platform in collaboration with individuals who think about, experience and work with this phenomenon daily. 

    The goal of the project is to strip down art to its simplest form and using energy and connection to create art. 

  • I’m deeply inspired by transcendental artists, especially Hilma Af Klint, Agnes Pelton and Emma Kunz.

    During my own meditation practice, I often receive clear images of future artworks. Three years ago, my meditative vision was of myself sitting on a couch with other artists having a conversation about the creative process. This is how AOC began.

    Instead of creating art like the transcendental artists who used color, light and design to connect with the divine, AOC taps directly into the creative flow by simply exchanging ideas and connecting with others who have similar passions and purpose.

  • To create the most illuminating and thought-provoking conversations possible, the participating artists are carefully selected based on the merit of their work, awareness of their own practice and their willingness to share their experiences and viewpoints.


    The Artist on Couches conversations is prompted with intentionally-constructed questions to invoke genuine reflection of the participating artists. 

    Sample questions:

    • How and when did you know you were an artist?

    • Why do you make art? 

    • What is the purpose of an artist?

    • What is art and why is it important? 

    • How did you discover your artistic voice? 

    • How do you tap into inspiration and use it in your work? 

    • How do your ideas come to you and where do they come from? 

    • In what ways do you use and trust your intuition while working?

Let’s start the conversation.