Female Artist Focus - Lilly Andréasson on why, “Creation is Meditation”
In this guest artist female focus blog, I ask Swedish artist Lilly Andréasson about Vedic art. Lilly’s work in this field is fascinating to me, as I have practiced Vedic meditation and yoga for many years. I’m also drawn to contemplative processes. I’ll let Lilly tell you the rest…
Artist, Lilly Andréasson
1. How did you start painting and decide to become an artist?
I have always loved to paint. I grew up in an art collective and there was always a natural opportunity to express myself creatively. At the age of 20 I started painting on clogs, mainly for children. These were very much appreciated, so I also started painting for adults. In Sweden, painted clogs are popular and typically Swedish.
I then had a shop where I sold my own work, but also other people's arts and crafts. I painted some customized items, such as furniture at customers' homes. In addition to this, I started designing jewellery in silver and semi-precious stones, which I then had produced in Nepal, India and China. I ran the shop and did all the painting and design for 22 years, then all my energy ran out.
From a course. One of the participants has chosen to pick straw from nature and started playing with the materials.
I did not want to hold a brush anymore. I chose to close my business and moved far away. It took almost 9 years before the need to spend time with the colours again, and then it contained a lot of concern. I had a strong opposition to start painting in a way that forced me to sell things. At the same time I did not know what else to do. I had always only painted to sell, nothing else was good enough. But the need to meet the colors again eventually became greater than the worry that I would not be able to sell anything. So I signed up for a basic course in Vedic Art.
In 2017, a friend and I went to southern Öland and attended a one-week course. I did not understand anything. What I forgot to tell you before is that until then I only painted figuratively, and now I would paint freely from myself. What would it look like? So I kept painting figuratively, because that was all I could do. It took another two weeks of training and lots of self-practice before I managed to let go of the figurative and let myself be presented. After that, it has gone fast and the more creativity that is used the more it emerges.
I never ‘decided’ to become an artist. It just happened. I have only continued to paint after the basic course in Vedic art clicked with me and I am probably still in that process. I am just painting.
When you start painting Vedic Art, you often release the control of the fact that paint can only be spread with a brush. The hands are very good tools, which can do everything from large swipes to small dots with the fingertips.
2. What does your artist practice mean to you?
Art means lots of different things. It means freedom, free time, meditation, joy, free from listening to my thoughts. Being with myself in my colours is like a spiritual experience. Others could probably say that it is a presence of God. I associate with my art, as a healthy relationship, where you exchange thoughts and feelings. I see how fuzzy it sounds when I write it but I can not explain it in any other way.
3. What does other people’s art mean to you?
For me, it is an invitation to greet another person's thoughts and feelings. It can be enormously difficult if the art is about others' difficulties, but at the same time someone else's art can give new impulses to completely new insights. It is fascinating to get to know a person through her art.
I love bubbles! They have a beautiful shape and can reflect the whole world on a small surface.
4. Can you tell me a little about Vedic art? What is it, where does it come from, what are the main principles?
“What is Vedic Art"?” is probably the most common question I get. The name itself does not say much. Vedic Art is a method that through the artist Curt Källman saw its light in Skåne, Sweden, in 1988. The seed of Vedic Art was sown many years earlier when Curt began his inner journey to find an unpretentious way to express himself on the canvas.
An important part of the method is The 17 Vedic Principles of Art and Life. Curt learned the names of these 17 principles in 1974 from the famous Indian meditation teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . He then developed the Vedic Art method's creative activities and pedagogical approaches during the 1970s-80s and went on to found the Vedic Art method in 1988, in Sweden.
Part of a course participant's painting. When creativity is given free rein, shapes and colors that you often do not usually make or choose. It can be really exciting shapes.
The word ‘Vedic’ comes from the Indian Sanskrit word ‘Veda’ which means knowledge or wisdom. The basic view within Vedic Art is that we all have great creative power and knowledge within ourselves from birth. Painting is an important tool for picking out these inner resources, so that they can be used in a concrete way in life and art.
5. Has your work and process changed?
Yes it has. From not enjoying the creation to today feeling that the creation is a meditation in itself. Today I have a confidence that I can paint if I want to, and if I only have a feeling that needs to come out through the colour, it is also good enough.
You can beat paint with a hammer when frustration needs to come out!
6. Which artists do you admire the most and why?
Wow, great question. Where do I start ... There was an artist named Hilma af Klint around the turn of the century. A Swedish woman who has not been particularly famous until recently. In the last thirty years, I think it is, a fantastic treasure that she has left behind has been discovered. It turns out that she is the first artist to have painted abstract, so her painting treasure rewrites the entire history of abstract art!
Then I like art where the artist plays with the light in the painting, like Edward Hopper. He also painted an everyday realism that appeals to me.
Then I love Pinterest! There are so many amazing home artists around the world.
Once a year I go to Öland and just paint for myself. Those weeks are heaven! When I release everything else I can create beautifully, my mind is clear and I can brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming year.
7. What are your plans for the future?
Right now I am working on an art project with a friend that we will auction off for the benefit of a cancer fund. At the same time, I have two weekend courses in Vedic Art planned. I think I will have time for an exhibition maybe in April next year as well. I have thoughts about holding courses online... And of course I will go to Öland this summer, where Vedic Art has its own summer courses, the kingdom of heaven on earth!
L. From a course. It is possible to make large brooms of grass to use to make patterns with.
R. Also from a course. One of the participants picked up beautifully shaped leaves which she printed on her canvas.
8. What makes you really happy as an artist?
Seeing others find their own creativity. It's so exciting and at the same time it fills me with reverence to be allowed to guide others into it.
It also makes me really happy when other artists give me praise for my art.
A brand new white canvas also makes me happy, it evokes so many ideas that want to come out!
I paint often and happily outside. Which results in me having colour from head to toe. There is a pleasure in my body and my mind when I can express myself through the colour without any limiting walls.
Female Artist Focus, Lilly Andréasson Biography
Lilly was born and raised in Sweden, in an artist collective. For most of her life, she has been self-employed in art and design. She is a trained Vedic Art teacher and holds weekend and weekly courses in Sweden.
The only way to learn Vedic Art and the Seventeen Principles is to attend a Vedic Art course with a trained Vedic Art teacher. The method requires no prior knowledge. Everyone is welcome.
The basic course covers creative activities or exercises to ‘open the eyes’. The creative activities are freely designed by Curt Källman based on inspiration from traditional and modern Western art tradition from the Renaissance onwards. They are developed or reworked to focus on artistic freedom, the creative process and on life.
The Vedic Art method does not promote a specific painting style, but instead helps people find their own personal expression.
Next Steps: If you have enjoyed this blog and would like to find out about more inspiring female artists, you can read more at Female Artist Focus.
Find Lilly online:
Website: www.lillyandreasson.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/lianstavlor
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lianstavlor/
The art project:https://www.facebook.com/Konstprojektet-110436847447822/
Information about Hilma af Klint
All images courtesy of Lilly Andréasson