Lucid Waking - The Second Part of Tumultuous Art

Last year I wrote the following description for the concept of Tumultuism:

 Tumultuous Art (Tumultuism) - A theory of art which is disorderly, fractured and dreamlike in its presentation. It may exhibit a confused state, akin to looking through a piece of fractured glass at the subject of the art, similar to an acid trip or lucid dreaming. The subjects are often out of focus. It sometimes exhibits a similarity to cubist art, but is not always about strait lines to view and interpret the subject through. The form is determined by the Abstraction Point. This is the point where the subject goes from a recognizable state to a state of total anarchy and abstraction. This is also part of the attraction of Tumultuous art because viewing close up to the image it breaks apart into an abstraction. The further back you step the more the subject of the art jumps out. The concept also utilizes the artists theories in "harmonic Dissonance". Where many layers signifying different levels of color, texture and design are brought together in harmony. Tumultuism may also include strictly monochromatic art where color is totally removed from the equation. 

Since the creation of the art form I always felt like there was something missing. It was subtle, but I never felt like I thought I'd reached a complete definition. What was missing? Gustav gave me the original concept. Since then I've been like a kid learning how to ride a bicycle. The wheels have long since come off the bike, but I still left feeling I was missing something. Then I began to have an idea. What if the part that was missing was something totally different than technique.

I thought about countless sessions in the studio where I wasn't barely aware of what I was creating. It was like I was having a dream of creating, but the result was finished art that I barely remembered making. 

Then I thought further back to body painting sessions where I'd been almost in another dimension. I called it the Trance Dance of color. 

So what if this wasn't just my imagination, that I was able to disconnect from my consciousness while I created. This idea wasn't quite Lucid Dreaming. In fact it was exactly the opposite. Lucid Dreaming was the state of being aware that you are dreaming while in a dream, often allowing for conscious control over the dream's narrative, characters, and environment. But I am not aware. In fact I am often lost in the creative process that I barely remember it until I am done.

So what was this? I need a term that makes sense to me. Its not sleep walking. In fact there are times when I can completely communicate with others and explain what I am doing. I'm lucid, but a lot of times I don't remember specifics. But the art is a piece of Tumultuism. I am lucid. So is this a form of Lucid Waking? 

Lucid: Expressed clearly; easy to understand. Bright and Luminous

Waking: Self Explanatory

So is this something new? Or something overlooked by most? Jackson Pollock experienced the Trance Dance, even though he didn't acknowledge it as part of his process. It came naturally to him. I think other artists experience it, but like me, are not even aware its part of the process. Artists often speak of "losing time" when they work. This is a sign that they are trancing out a bit. Author Stephen King often cites authors as just being along for ride, while the story writes itself. 

So what does this new revelation indicate? What can we do with it?

I think it creates a subliminal direction that the art was meant to go in. Directions that when you are totally in control, probably wouldn't ever have been created. The rest, well...that's to be seen. Now that I am conscious of it, I'll either botch it totally or slip into the flow more easily. 

I'd like to find other artists who experience this. But for me personally, I think its the missing puzzle piece to Tumultuism. Perhaps the most important piece.

GUSTAV KLIMT THE PATRON SAINT

Paint Splatters - The Trance Dance of Color