Following the written generative process Create a pencil (black) drawing of the image for the verse. Treat the written generative image as a seed, allow the drawing to unfold on its own path. If necessary do more doodling. As a graphic image emerges, so does a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://iamronen.com/blog/2018/01/23/drawing-centers/" target="_blank">step-by-step unfolding sequence</a> of how to recreate it. This sequence resides in my mind and the draft papers, I do not create a written version of it.<br><br>If the graphic image that forms does not resonate with the feeling of the image in my mind, go back to step 3: re-read and possibly revise the generative summary and make space for more doodling. If the graphic image that forms does resonate with the feeling of the image in my mind, continue on to color exploration.

Creative Process - Seeing Sāṃkhya

The creative process is made up of three parallel and interwoven generative sequences: study, paint, share.

studying

COMPLETED
October 6th, 2021

painting

Verse

sharing

Verse

October 30th

At any given time I can choose to relate to one of three verses: the one I am studying, the one I am painting or the one I am sharing. For clarity, peace and focus I am actively engaged with only one verse at a time. If I feel stuck in a relationship with one verse I may move to one of the others. So if, for example, I am having difficulty undersanding a verse I am studying I may shift to the verse that is next up for painting. I typically engage with the next verse to be shared in the two week period prior to its publication.

By following this process I engage with each verse three times over a period of (at least) a few months. This give me plenty of time for each verse to sink in and find its place comfortably in my understanding and my experience of the wholeness of the text. There have been quite a few verse where I felt confused, stuck and challenged while studying a verse. Now, having followed this process, they all feel like the fit naturally together.

The core process is, by now, fairly stable and established. However it and each of the sub-processes are alive. They have changed since this journey began and may continue to change over time.

Below are the generative processes that have evolved for each of these activities:

Study

1: Read Sources

Read the sources at least once, usually numerous times until either a notion of understanding emerges or a stable confusion is established.

2: Read Previous Verses

Read the generative summaries of previous verses. If I encounter any questions or doubts stop and revisit a study (brief or lengthy, as necessary) of a previous verse. Do this until the context of the current verse and its place in the overall unfolding of the text feels clear.

3: Select Key Sanskrit Words

Select a minimal number of Sanskrit words that capture, in my mind, the essence of the verse.

4: Write Q&A

Write a brief question that is being addressed in the verse. Then write a brief answer that is being given in it.

5: Write Generative Summary

Create a generative (step-by-step) written summary of the verse. The nature of this step depends on the outcome of the reading. If I come to this step with a notion of understanding, then the writing can be fluent and relatively quick. If I am confused about the verse, then the writing will become a lengthier study process. Eventually, a generative sequence that summarizes the verse appears.

6: Integrate Commentaries

When a core generative summary appears I start to refine it by revisiting the commentaries. I feel like I am brushing the commentaries over the generative summary so that additional parts can fall into place. Sometimes this “brushing” leads to adding initial steps that refine the context of the verse. Sometimes additional steps are added that better connect existing steps into the summary, giving it a better flow. Sometimes, though this is less common, the order of the sequence of steps in the summary is changed.

7: Revise Q&A

In light of the generative summary, revisit the question that is being asked in the verse and the brief answer that is offered.

8: Revisit Sanskrit Key Words

Review the selected Sanskrit keywords and consider modifying them in response to my understanding of the verse.

Paint

1: Read Generative Verse Summary

Revisit the text by reading the generative summary. If the summary raises questions or does not feel whole or clear revisit verse study.

2: Doodle

Explore shapes, patterns, and other graphic ideas that emerge from the generative summary of the verse. Do this until a sense of an image begins to shimmer.

3: Write Image Generative Process

Create a written generative process that describes the formation of the image for the verse.

4: Draft Drawing

Following the written generative process Create a pencil (black) drawing of the image for the verse. Treat the written generative image as a seed, allow the drawing to unfold on its own path. If necessary do more doodling. As a graphic image emerges, so does a step-by-step unfolding sequence of how to recreate it. This sequence resides in my mind and the draft papers, I do not create a written version of it.

If the graphic image that forms does not resonate with the feeling of the image in my mind, go back to step 3: re-read and possibly revise the generative summary and make space for more doodling. If the graphic image that forms does resonate with the feeling of the image in my mind, continue on to color exploration.

5: Explore Colors

Using color pencils explore a color palette in parts of the image or in the entire image. If the colors invite a change in the drawing return to step 3 and allow the drawing to continue to unfold. Continue until a sense of luminosity for the image is present in my mind.

6: Draw

Take out a crisp new sheet of paper suitable for gouache painting. Using the step-by-step unfolding drawing process recreate the pencil drawing on this sheet.

7: Paint

Paint over the drawing. With every step of painting take time to look and feel if the painting is moving closer to the feeling of luminosity that arose from the color exploration. If the painting diverges from the aspired luminosity take a step back. What is causing this divergence? Have I moved away from the feeling I am seeking or has my feeling evolved in response to the actual colors? If I have moved away from the desired luminosity is there anything I can do to heal? If not, abort the painting and start over by going back to step 3 with a new sheet.

8 Read Verse Generative Summary

With a completed painting at hand, read the generative verse summary once again.

1: Prepare Painting Scan for Website

Scan the painting, crop, and create a resized version for the website.

2: Revisit the Generative Summary

Read the generative summary of the current verse one more time. Read the generative summary of the previous verse. If it exists, also read the generative summary for the next verse. If necessary, edit the current verse summary to make sure it is all written in the first person and that it does feel like a flowing unfolding wholeness. If I encounter any questions or doubts stop and revisit a study of the verse.

3: Revisit the Q&A

Read the Q&A of the previous verses that are already published on the website. Then read the brief question and answer that capture the essence of the current verse. Make sure that there is a sense of continuity and sensibility. If necessary, consider editing the Q&A.

4: Revisit the Keywords

This step manifested when a gap (many months) opened between the time at which I studies a verse and the time I shared it. Something about the nature of keyword selection has changed as I’ve delved deeper into the text. So, when I revisit a verse and preparing it for sharing I experienced a need to review and often modify the selected keywords.

5: Create Verse on Website

Create a verse entry on the site including: Q&A, Sanskrit text linked to YogaStudies, Sanskrit keywords also linked to YogaStudies, generative summary, painting, image generative process, link to the journal entry. Preview the verse as it will look on the site.

6: Create Journal Entry on Website

Reflect on the verse being published and write a personal journal entry that speaks to what is alive in me in relation to the verse, now as I come to publish it. Add a link to the verse itself. Preview the journal entry as it will look on the website.

7: Publish

On the scheduled date publish the verse and the journal entry.

8: Link Verse and Journal Entry

Link the Journal Entry to the verse and the verse to the Journal Entry.

9: Reflect on Site Wholeness

Step back and look at the website as a whole and ask: is the site asking to be modified in any way? Does the addition of this verse invite any changes? Do the responses to the website invite any changes? After considering the website as a whole and possibly making changes, publicize the.

Study

Paint

Share