How yoga influenced my art: an artists’ contribution to yoga
After working in the grueling world of commercial art for nearly 15 years, in the 9-5 grind (or shall I say 9-?) I needed an out. Yoga became that release, and it was here that I escaped into a world all my own. My mind filled with ideas and creations that I could never realize because I was too busy fulfilling other artists’ creative passions.
It turns out, I could not create art that did not have a purpose – as much of the commercial and decorative art we spec’d was just beautiful – but purposely without meaning. To put art with meaning into a hospitality setting, in a hospital room where a cancer patient may be receiving treatment would likely conjure a negative thought and emotion. Our specific clientele required that we mostly deal in non-subjective imagery. Being who I am and the artist that I had become, I found it impossible to contribute a non-subjective piece of art.
My creations went unfinished, set aside, and ignored for over a decade. I turned my creative abilities toward installation and presentation, creating wall layouts and interesting 3-dimensional showcases for the art that was spec’d. I designed and installed elaborate layered wall compositions and company history walls, fine art arrangements and worked along with artists to create dramatized sculptural works. But they were never my own. I could not claim any part of the work as mine – since I worked for the company and artists providing the imagery and artwork.
I became frustrated with my life, resentful and most of all, overworked with no purpose.
As my yoga practice developed, and I became aware of the challenges in shopping for a yoga mat, my art found life again. As an artist I naturally wanted something unique, something that was inspiring and ME - and also non-toxic. I could not find anything like that on the market at that time. And so I set out to create it. I got some negative feedback from a colleague who suggested that the moment I got it off the ground, I’d be out-done by larger companies – boy was he right! But I have not given up – I know that my art, my philosophy and my ideas are unique and ahead of the curve.
As my research continued, and my practice progressed, so did my art. I became influenced by traditional yoga symbology, mindfulness studies, connections and important relationships to spirituality and non-duality, chakras/colors and color theory as well as energy influences on the mind/body/spirit.
I would begin to create art founded in inspiration – root word: inspire; from the latin: respirare – literal translation: “inhale”; “to breathe life into”. That is the life my work has found, breathing life into yoga flow.
Since I was young, I could copy and draw with uncanny accuracy – but I love the subjective nature of abstract and suggestive art. I love the movement of the lines and brush strokes across the plane that mimic the movements of life. My fine art has always encompassed this phenomenon – the evocative – the emotive – motion – e-motion; without it, it is not relatable it is not dramatic it is not evoking thought or feeling – in essence, it is dead. My work brings to yoga a mimicry of mind and body in flux.
In the commercial art world we would catch flak from people sometimes trying to make a point that art is not an important expenditure in creating a hospitable space –it is probably the single most important thing in a space for someone who is trying to heal - the right piece of art in the appropriate setting does not beg to be noticed – it’s mere presence (whether it is noticed or not) sets the tone of the room without the viewer even realizing it. Yoga is a form of healing. It is a repose for the mind to recognize and remember the body; the use of art supports the practice; If it’s personalized, all the better.
When I create art for ilāStrate yoga mats, the goal is to set the tone – to inspire, without the viewer even realizing it. We are affected by what we see, what we hear, what we touch, even what is inside/in contact with our energy field – our body responds – whether we pay mind to it or not. And THAT is why I create, that is why I keep going, that is why I keep moving and evolving and adapting my work, my business and my brand.
I believe in what ilāStrate is offering to yoga community and lifestyle. I think art is an important and a supportive component in our lives and in our individual yoga practice.
How does art affect your life? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
ilaStrate Founder, Lauren Vacey. Photo by Wild Ginger Images