Pigment to Paint | An introspection (+ Short Film) with Vyana Novus
Vyana Novus is a socially driven earth pigment artist, color strategist, & teacher (and a generally incredible human being) which David and I got to meet in early 2020.
Vyana identifies as a queer, non-binary person, which is why we will use “they/them” as pronouns within this post. Enjoy and may it inspire you!
At first, Vyana and I connected through a large string of interests we had in common, which led to some beautiful conversations on living in tune with our inner and outer worlds, cultivating reciprocity with nature, honouring and learning about the paths of our ancestors, as well as our mutual appreciation for the colours of the Earth. Soon after that, we were spending a lot of time together, visiting their house, studio and sharing space in the nature of Ojai, where they live. Some beautiful moments which I reminisce about very often and that I miss dearly now that we are back in Europe.
What struck a cord for me when meeting Vyana and still does when following their work is their connection of creativity and vulnerability. Their work and journey is very much influenced by their experience of living with Complex PTSD fuelled by the trauma and darkness they had experienced in childhood. They share openly about that inner experience (something many of us unfortunately keep buried within and pretend is not a thing) which feels truly cathartic and healing in an era of toxic positivity.
Their drive is to inspire others to cultivate a connection to creativity that fuels emotional intelligence, healthy productivity, presence and self-exploration through the whole spectrum of our experience. Their connection to color is equally profound, as they believe that with awareness and intention, color can create a feedback loop reminding us of our values, needs, and desires. Understanding how to use color & creativity in this manner is where Vyana focuses their energy when teaching & creating.
This felt particularly inspiring and gave us an incentive to explore that topic further, by diving into one of their favourite practices: foraging pigment from nature. Vyana agreed, and so we got to observe the intimacy of that process and asked them to share about that particular journey, how it fuels their relationship to the land, and how they connect to it emotionally and with their senses. This experience led us to create a video together, which we invite you to discover below…
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE OF FORAGING PIGMENT? WHAT IS IT ABOUT, AND WHAT DOES IT BRING UP FOR YOU?
“This practice for me represents the complexity of life.”
“It’s about receptivity, reciprocity, and respect. It’s about remembering how to live in harmony with the land, with my body, with my emotions, and with the community around me. Some days this practice feels euphoric. It brings me to a level of joy that I haven’t touched since childhood.”
“When I’m out hiking, playing with the rocks, listening to the water or singing to the plants I get these moments where I’m allowed to be a child again.”
“But also, when I’m foraging for pigment I meet so many shadows. I feel the grief of the land, of my body. I feel the greed of this culture and I feel the immense loss of the wisdom and knowledge of the planet. Sometimes I’m so overcome with the heartbreak of grief during this process that there’s no room for my story to exist.”
“All I can do is feel the weight of this grief in my body and in that depth of feeling there’s a freedom. It rides the line between pain and pleasure and it reminds me that the beauty of this life lives equally in both together.”
“On days when I feel stuck and lost in the pain of life, I come to the studio. I put earth into my mortar and pestle and I grind it. I watch hard rock transform from something seemingly immoveable and solid into a soft and silky powder.”
“It’s a simple process. But it reminds me how insignificant the individuality of who I am is. It shows me over and over that it’s the impact of my actions that matters most. As I mix pigment with medium I am reminded that my joy and my pleasure are valuable. And more importantly accessible. I hear the echo of my ancestors, of their pain and their hope and I breathe it into my hands as I make paint.”
If this article and video inspired you, we invite you to discover more about Vyana’s work and connect with them on their instagram and on their website.
Vyana also offers an incredible free magazine (called Ferru, which we love!) to all subscribers of her newsletter and also has a Patreon channel where she shares inspiring resources for creative expression.
Featured: Vyana Novus
Photography & Video by Art of Euphoria | Article Written by Linda Pappa
Quoted Words & Video Narration by Vyana Novus
