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Jun 22, 202312 min read

Embracing Authenticity: A Sentimental Artist Unveils the Secrets Behind Her Painting Process

Embracing authenticity and vulnerability is terrifying, but I must leap into the unknown to find the genuine connections I seek.


Trust me when I say this, “embracing authenticity and being your true self is scary as sh*t.”

I’ve been consciously shedding all outer layers –designed to protect– in an effort to strip away the nonsense of surface-level existence.


By trusting one’s own instincts, and garnering enough courage to keep going deeper --even when it hurts (especially when it hurts) ... I believe we can find a meaningful purpose of existence. Or at least, another piece to life’s puzzle.


Deeeeeep. Let’s go deeper. I’m packed and ready. Let’s go!



This Article Will Take You on a Journey.

Are you ready to see what your insides look like?

What if I told you that embracing authenticity through art can lead to an immersive experience with the power to inspire you to seek out the purpose of your own existence and trust your intuition.


Cutting out all the fancy-schmancy words that I cling to… if you read this article, you’ll learn how being true to yourself can lead to a powerful experience that inspires you to find your purpose and trust your gut.


I’ve hit record and publish while I go through this journey so I can tell you with confidence, “The waters of your fears aren’t too shallow. Jump in head first and I’ll be down here waiting for you.”


Table of Contents


I sometimes go off on tangents and so, here is a quick hyperlink section for you to get to gettin’ what you want and need from this story:


My Creative Process


My Creative Process


Getting in the zone to create starts with deep-talking, deep-writing, deep-painting, deep-thinking, just… going deep inside to reach your pure truth.


Getting into the Zone


The computer screen stares at me with a bolded headline that became the catalyst for me to write this article:


“Why do you share the entire thought process behind your paintings?”

The cursor blinks back at me. My mind starts to clog up with low-priority thoughts and tasks; and if I followed my mind’s directions, I would lead myself down a wormhole of procrastination.


This isn’t working.


My deep study of fear gifted me the ability to analyze, identify, and override my body’s reactions to venturing outside of my comfort zone. This dreadful feeling is my personal response that paralyzes me and keeps me from finishing goals that scare the shit out of me.


TAKEAWAY: You have to prepare for these moments or fear will win and you will not journey deeper. Build an override system that will get you changing gears when you’re freezing or fleeing from situations that cause a fear response.

Switching from Auto Pilot to Manual Overdrive


I grab my lapel microphone, set up the basic voice recorder on my phone, grab my coffee and now we’re in audio mode; manual overdrive. Speaking my thoughts will get me out of the funky fear of exposing myself and going deeper.


I say to myself with conviction, “Body, I love you, truly I do, but I’m not gonna let you jump into an autopilot flight response. You can chill. We’re scared –both our conscious and subconscious minds are trying to fight this internal battle– but I got us. Trust me. I’m taking over.”


TAKEAWAY: You have to realize that when you charter into unknown territory, your brain is going to literally try and take over. Your body is going to fall in line like obedient, chemically reactive soldiers that follow the brain’s orders to flee from the perceived danger. You must go to war with yourself and your conscious self must be the victor in order to pass the uncomfortable side effects of such an internal struggle. This is where your manual overdrive will help you.

Pre-Flight Announcement.


I have fun with the process by kicking my feet up onto my desk and recording in my best announcer voice.



This is your pilot, Natalie, speaking and I’d like to welcome you aboard. We’re gonna be taking a deep dive today into ourselves to work out some questions. This geeky process will involve lots of pacing, coffee drinking, pondering and pontificating— and the entire time, I will be naked and exposed. Yay, this is gonna be super fun.


We expect to feel some turbulence on today’s journey, but no worries. We’ll make it there and back safely. I promise.


We’ll have layovers in different areas of thought and this mind travel itinerary includes the following excursions:

Devil’s Advocate Cliff

We’re gonna address the highly debatable concept of an artist sharing one’s statements, impressions, processes, and overall interpretations of their original paintings.


A Sentimental Artist’s Preservation

We’re gonna dive deeper into my personal story and discover why I feel the need to use words, music, philosophies, and experiences to explain my artwork; an explanation that in theory should be spoken through the painting. Doh, I can never follow the societal norms.


Nude Lagoon

We’re gonna learn how to strip away the nonsense so we can get to the core of what Your Travel Artist is all about. Spoiler Alert: It’s not about the destination (it’s not about buying a canvas that has acrylic paint smeared on it). It’s about the journey (what immersing yourself in the painting will bring to your life).


Free Thinkers Community

We’re gonna end and when we do, I hope you will message me your thoughts. I showed you mine, if you’re ready, I’d love to see yours. xo


TAKEAWAY: Don't be too precious with your first draft or first attempt at facing your fear. You may find it helpful to create a structured outline to intentionally think in a direction that will get you deeper into the core of your question.


Who the Hell Do You Think You Are?!

This a question that the defensive artist inside of me asks every time I hit publish.

How Dare You, Madam.


Listen, girl, how are you going to go and tell someone what an art piece means? How are you going to go ahead and define it for someone? That's more than audacious; it’s sort of reprehensible.


Such a serious accusation, but when you explain the meaning of a piece, in ways, you ruin it forever.


How dare you, madam. How dare you steal the joy of discovery from the viewer. It’s like opening someone’s Christmas gift for them. It’s the magician that steals the wonderment from a spectator when she reveals the simple secret to the complex trick.



Hijacking Your Art Experience


"Discovering" art is part of the game.


Art is a puzzle. It’s a mystery that waits for you to solve it. A viewer of a piece will examine the colors, the style, the movement, and the composition; it’s like pieces of the puzzle that you get to put together to define what a painting means to you.

Art is deeply personal.


Art is deeply personal, not just for the artist, but for the viewer as well. Everyone gets a choice. But when you’re an artist like me who shares the thought process and intent behind each painting… you’re forcing that viewer to see a story that cannot be unseen.


You’re making the choice for someone else.


It all sounds so pretentious and neurotic. Let’s bring it down to a fundamental concept we can all understand very clearly. Show and tell.



A Sentimental Art Exercise

How an artist’s statement can change everything.


This painting is currently on my easel. Consider it for a moment. Don’t cheat and read on. Just take a glance at it.


What feeling does it give you? What’s your reaction to it?



Adding a Musical Element.

Let's layer another element highlighting the power of influence. Now watch this ten-second video and consider how it changes your perspective.



Scroll down and you will find my personal intentions for this painting and translation of what it means to me.



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This painting is a reflection of toxic relationships that push you forward to discover the real relationship that is most important… the relationship you have with yourself.


Post-Reveal Thoughts

Now, how do you feel after our little exercise?


Maybe you felt understood and excited that you, “got it right.” Maybe you felt enlightened and grateful to suddenly see the secret clues after I put a magnifying glass up to the painting’s meaning.


But perhaps you felt confused after reading my interpretation. You saw something entirely different. You saw the innocence of childhood and now, all you see is your exes’ faces and it completely ruins the initial joy you took from the painting.


I did that. I ruined it for you by replacing your story with my own.


A Painting Should Speak for Itself

They say a good painting should say all of its intentions within the canvas upon which it is built.


What can I say, I'm a rebel.


Listen, me and they, we don’t always get on. In fact, since childhood, me and they have had friction. I can’t help it. For reasons I cannot spend time on right now –not the time or place– but I have a rebellious itch inside of me. When they say, “left,” I say, “right.”


When they say, “Take these specific college courses in order to earn a degree;” I say, “No, thank you. I’m going to take these courses and define a custom educational path to my own societal detriment. Thanks for the input though.”


While some believe a painting should convey all its intentions within the canvas, I have a rebellious inclination to share my artwork in intricate detail, disregarding a conventional approach that is veiled with symbolism that only the scholastically inclined could decipher on their own.


Developing a Multi-Sensory Experience

After a lot of deep talking and soul-searching, I now know why I need to build a sensory experience around my art.


My Introduction to Painting


The idea of sharing my paintings with anyone started haunting me when I first picked up the paintbrush at age 19.


I initially used painting as an outlet; a tool to force out the depressive and lingering feelings inside of me. I thought if I could just translate these negative feelings and bring them from the inside to the outside I could make them tangible.


And once in the real world, I could toss the unwanted emotional items into a suffocating bag and allow the garbage truck to come by, crush it all up and take the pain away.


A Gnawing Need to be Understood


I never shared these paintings because I never dreamed anyone would understand why I created the paintings in the first place.


For me, for some reason, that was always important. Being and feeling like I was understood. I even wrote poetry to decipher my paintings’ intentions, but alas, I never showed those either.


Close the book, that’s the end of the story. Yeah, right. Thankfully, that is merely the beginning of the beginning of my art journey.


I am accepting of the fact that when I share my paintings, a portion of the art lies in the multi-sensory experience I build. If I can’t share it all, I am unlikely to share any of it.


This is my own personal idiosyncrasy and I accept it.

Diving Deeper Into Sensory Experiences


Can Posterity Be for Your Future Self?


I went deep into myself when trying to get to the core of why I create these immersive art experiences with my paintings; with my stories. My findings shocked me while at the same time, didn’t surprise me at all.


I am recording and sharing the entire process for posterity. Most artists hope that future generations could relate to our stories and our times, but bringing it even closer to home… can posterity be for your future self as well?


Alzheimer’s Will Steal My Memory, Eventually


Memories in my family fade. They fade because I am genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's; it seems like all the women in my family unwillingly succumb to it eventually.


I am going to forget one day. Forget all of the thoughts, memories, and experiences I hold so dear to my heart. It’s all going to fade.


I don’t want to fade. I love my existence and I'm trying to preserve it. And that’s the truth.


I’m recreating the epic moments and feelings in my life. Maybe because film has been such an integral part of my life, I am attempting to edit my own life story complete with a life soundtrack.


One Day, My Art Will Save Me.


And one day, when I do go through life and reach that point where you're on the path and you look forward and you can see and then you look behind and it's all blurry. You can't remember. You can't remember. You look left and you look right and it's fuzzy. And then it'll turn to a time where you look around you and you don't recognize anything.


That will be the day my art comes to save me.


I Dream of My Future Self.


Old and grey, sitting on a collection of rugs in the desert and listening to these sentimental stories of a woman who once burned bright with philosophical thoughts, trailblazed life’s trivial adventures, and painted her profound visions on a canvas.


That beautiful premonition makes me cry just thinking about it and reaching that true intention inside of me.


The Answer Lies in the Journey Not the Destination

My paintings don’t have a secret sauce to life. They’re meant to guide you to the secret sauce.


My Paintings Aren’t the Secret Sauce


I don’t share the stories behind my original paintings to confine or limit anyone's interpretation. Nor do I aim to simplify the essence of my art.


I’ve reached the sound conclusion that I’m not betraying the secret sauce of my creations by sharing my thought process.


In truth, the secret sauce does not reside within the strokes and colors of the painting itself; it is beyond, waiting to be discovered. The painting serves as a gateway, leading you to answers hidden within yourself.


Diving Deeper, Embracing Life's Complexity


For me, the journey encompasses a profound exploration—a conscious, continued commitment to delve into the elusive meaning(s) of life. It is an ardent endeavor to scrutinize, question, and examine the human condition in search of singular and collective enlightenment.


Motives Behind Sharing My Creative Process


All of this creates a longing that compels me to lay my cards on the table. In the midst of our shared game of life, I shed my outer layers, not to disenchant or preach, but to create an environment where you too can feel at ease to shed your own inhibitions.


Therefore, when I define a painting for you, it is not to declare it as an unequivocal statement. It is an attempt to start the spark of shared human experiences that when harnessed, can connect us on levels yet to be fully understood.


I don't know. I guess that's also an answer I am in search of. Do others feel like this?


The Yearning for Connection and Vulnerability


Does this Cheese Stand Alone?


Amidst the thoughts that weave through my mind, there is a reoccurring question: Do others share this deep contemplation? Do others share this insatiable thirst to dig deeper, below the surface, to uncover hidden secrets to the purpose of existence? Is there a profound connection that we have yet to fully comprehend that’ll unite us all?


Exposing the True Depths of Our Fears


I envision us sitting at the table, engrossed in a game of cards. With unwavering trust, I reveal my hand, baring my soul and exposing my authentic self. This reveal evokes trepidation, but my intuition says it’s an integral part of human existence. By exposing myself, I hope to demonstrate that the depths of our fears are not too shallow for us to jump in head first.


So why not venture deeper, beyond the surface level of understanding; towards an artistic voyage that leads to a thorough investigation of our singular and collective existence? I double-dog dare you to join the journey.


Are you brave enough to go deeper and discover what lies beneath your own surface?


And in Conclusion…


Why do you share the entire thought process behind your paintings?

My artwork transcends visual perception; it engages multiple senses. By presenting my paintings in an unfiltered package, I’m creating a deeper, intimate connection with my patrons. I’m inviting you to join a journey of thought to discover what lies beneath the surface of the canvas, our sentimental story.


A sentimental story that waits to inspire you to escape societal noises in an effort to reach an emotionally satisfied existence.


Sharing all of myself allows me to be a truly authentic guide as we explore the depths of all things art, travel, music, and philosophy together.


You here for it? You ready to go deeper, Alice? Let's go. I'm ready; I'm packed. Let's go!



P.S. I assure you that what you’ve experienced so far is merely the tip of the iceberg. We can dive much deeper, for I yearn to find you and immerse ourselves in the boundless depths of artistic expression.


P.S.S. If you were all like, "I don't have time to read this article, Nat. Let me cheat on the test, will ya?" I have asked my new intern, #ChatGPT, to summarize the top questions that I answer in this deep dive article. And being an intern, I had to edit and even rewrite lots of her answers in order to fully benefit from the assistance. But totally worth it for the structure alone.


So here you go, Les Anderson. Let's just say the computers crashed and we'll assume you know how to drive but just need a reminder of key points.



Les Anderson's

Computer Crash

Cheat Sheet



1. Why do you share the entire thought process behind your paintings?

I share the thought process behind my paintings because it allows me to create a deeper, multi-layered, immersive connection with my paintings and my patrons.


I record, edit, and write about my creative process so that you can get to know me personally outside of my artwork. I am on a global game of hide-and-seek with my future collectors and patrons and this is the way I know how to do the work to reach my people. People that need an outlet for their curiosity and love of art, travel, music, and philosophy. People like you.


I'm Your Travel Artist ... for a very specific reason. All of this, everything has been designed for you... for me... for us and our connection; a connection that we don't even know how to explain yet


So...


"Oly Oly Oxen Free!"

2. How does sharing your artwork affect the viewer's experience?

3. Why do you believe an artist's statement can change everything?

4. Should a painting speak for itself

5. Why do you build a multi-sensory experience around your art?

6. Can posterity be for your future self?

7. How will your art save you in the future?

8. What is the secret sauce of your paintings?

9. What is the motive behind sharing your creative process?

10. Is there a profound connection that we have yet to fully comprehend?

Want to dissect a question with me that isn't listed here?





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