Best known for his colorful images of pies, ice cream cones, and other confections, Wayne Thiebaud is both a skilled draftsman and what he unpretentiously calls "just an old-fashioned painter." His careful depictions of diner food, household items, and other objects celebrates the commonplace unlike some of his contemporaries more aligned with the pop art movement who viewed these items cynically and critically.
You might be asking yourself what any of this has to do with mindfulness. Simply put, mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment, exactly as it is. There are innumerable ways to practice mindfulness from yoga and meditation to walking a labyrinth or even noticing how it feels to brush your teeth. To make mindfulness habitual requires two things, repetition and focused attention. This brings us back to the process of drawing or painting, especially still life, as it requires both practice and attention to detail. Sound familiar?
Several quotes from Thiebaud discussing his artwork and process seem to directly apply here:
1. “If you stare at an object, as you do when you paint, there is no point at which you stop learning things from it."
In other words, there is always something to be learned from slowing down and paying attention. From the subtle, shifting highlights on a glass surface in the sunlight to feelings of tension in the body, there is a wealth of information to be learned right now. It can be easily overlooked if we’re not paying attention.
2. “Common objects become strangely uncommon when removed from their context and ordinary ways of being seen."
This too parallels some of the shifts that occur in mindfulness. When we can observe our thoughts as they are without pushing them away, ignoring them, or trying to change them, paradoxically we are freed from thinking of things the way we always have and repeating old patterns. Old thoughts removed from old contexts can be examined anew.
3. “I think of myself as a beginner. Sometimes that's the whole joy. If you could just do it, there'd be no point in doing it."
This speaks again to the importance of focused attention and repetition. While benefit can certainly be gained from a single meditation or exercise, it takes time and practice to change old patterns. Additionally, since our minds are constantly active we will always have challenges to face. Accepting and even reveling in this makes the practice a journey to be enjoyed rather than an exercise in futility.
To view a retrospective of Thiebaud’s work visit the Morgan Library, now until September 23, 2018: https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/wayne-thiebaud
To learn more about Thiebaud check out the links below:
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.3185.html#works
https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/wayne-thiebaud-papers-6343
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/arts-culture/thiebaud-on-being-a-pop-artist/