Painting, Mindfulness and Crowther's Aesthetics

Authors

Colleen Fitzpatrick, The National University of Ireland, GalwayFollow

Abstract

This paper addresses the notion of painting as a mindfulness-based intervention. This premise is justified as it relates to Crowther’s phenomenological aesthetics. Crowther’s theory of painting makes use of a number of features that characterize mindfulness practice and reflect the mindful attitude. These include attention, self-consciousness, universality, otherness, empathy and temporality. Painting and mindfulness practice are seen as interventions upon experience that expand being through greater engagement. Heightened perceptual awareness and embodiment are central to this discussion as they are at the root of aesthetic experience and mindfulness practice. The development of self-consciousness is a key consideration in this context. By way of specific examples, I will show how this theory works in practice. Although mindfulness-based interventions and painting do not correlate directly, awareness of the many parallels and distinctions serve to illuminate the intrinsic significance of painting and the particular aspect of mindfulness that relate to aesthetics.