The Emotional Landscape

This piece is what it feels like to ride the wave of creativity instead of fighting the tide. To move with my body instead of against it, honouring the days that my creative energy is cyclical not constant. Some days I show up with clarity and this painting captures that moment: the feeling of being fully inside the act of creating, when that energy surges through me and I am unapologetically myself.

The brushstrokes in this piece show instinct rather than logic. They follow movement over planning. some days my body paints without resistance and other days it takes effort and focus to recreate what flowed so naturally before. The fluctuation in my hormone levels definitely correlate with the mood and energy I have when I paint. My art is constantly changing and adapting and I am learning that there is no need to try control, tighten or perfect it to match a standard that only exists in one phase of my cycle. It has become a power move for me to accept this version of me as a woman, one who doesn’t perform the same each day like a robot but the one who listens to her body’s rhythm and creates from it.

The Story of Creation

This piece was created in the follicular phase where my body had the energy to paint big, the confidence, strength and motivation to stand in front of a large canvas and move with it. It isn’t discipline that creates this kind of art its biology. For most of my life I judged myself for inconsistency thinking it was a flaw. I assumed that if I couldn’t paint like this all the time it was a lack of talent or I wasn’t committed enough. The more I created I started noticing a pattern and paid more attention to the days my body asked me to rest, instead choosing to paint more detailed pieces instead of large expression pieces.

The post-period clarity, the rise in oestrogen, the follicular spark shows in this painting and is what made this bold confidence possible. The scale, the looseness, the unapologetic brushstrokes are the result of allowing my body to rest on those slow days, and no longer force productivity or expect myself to perform like a machine. This painting is a record of what becomes possible when I let creation come from within and stop trying to stay in the lines or external expectations.

Personal Connection

The more I learn to create in alignment with my cycle the less I apologise for not performing consistently. This painting marks the point I stopped trying to keep up with a pace designed for a body that constantly changes. Instead of pushing through those low energy days and resenting myself for not creating the high energy ones all the time. I am learning to let each phase has its purpose. I am allowing myself to no longer create like a machine but instead like a woman.

Display recommendations

This piece is deeply tied to the rhythm of my body and creative energy. It captures the days I felt fully aligned with my creativity. My best work doesn’t come from forcing consistency but from listening to my body’s natural cycle. It is a reminder to reflect and let creation naturally unfold. Slow down and listen to your body don’t fight it. Ideally, display near natural light so you can watch the light move over the canvas, echoing the rhythm and fluctuation, ultimately portraying the meaning behind this painting.

Size: 150cm x 100cm
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas