Between my canvas and paintbrush is a magical space. I don’t experience time; I’m not ‘in’ my mind or ‘in’ my body; I’m in another realm. I would liken this space to Winnicott’s transitional space.

Donald Winnicott introduced the concept of ‘transitional space’ in his broader theory of child development. The transitional space is a psychological area where a child can experiment with reality and fantasy. This space exists between the internal, subjective world of the child and the outer, objective world. Within this space, the child can play, create, and test out new ideas without the constraints of reality.

This is the space where I am teleported to another dimension, a fantasy. I think this can be seen in my paintings; they’re quite dreamy (see bottom of page). Painting without intention has (cliché) changed my life. Having no subject, no confines, and no expectations of what the end result will be has made painting about the journey. It encouraged me to be present.

Anyway, I’m sure you can sense the inevitable link to a life philosophy, but my painting practice has been both a result of and a guiding force in how I want to live- hovering in that transient space between reality and fantasy, dipping into each as it suits me best.

In what medium do you find your own transitional space?

Further Reading

 Winnicott, D. W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena—A study of the first not-me possession. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 34(2), 89-97.

Abram, J. (2007). The language of Winnicott: A dictionary and guide to understanding his work (2nd ed.). Karnac Books.

Grolnick, S. A., & Barkin, L. (2009). Winnicott’s objects and object relations theory: A contemporary reassessment. Jason Aronson.

Phillips, A. (1988). Winnicott. Harvard University Press.

Watch: Barbie as Rapunzel, its life changing, I promise.

And.. last but not least, some of my Artwork !