An introduction

Hello,

My name is Jo, I’m an artist. I will be sharing this Substack with B.S, a therapist.

I’ve been thinking about my focus for this research and I’ve settled on this as my central question.

If psilocybin makes you feel peaceful and connected to nature why is psychedelic art so ugly and stressful?

Of course I’m being glib; psychedelic art is only ugly and stressful in my opinion; for some people it is a joy to behold and enjoying/owning/displaying it makes them feel part of a group. This is not the case for me though and I feel people like me* deserve a new psychedelia.

Through this journey it’s my aim to create paintings and artworks relating to mushroom trips that align with my values and aesthetics. I want to communicate visually something of the feeling of peace and connectedness that mushrooms can bring.

*I consider myself a calm, cautious woman with an interest in the mental health benefits of psilocybin.