OK, so I had a really good day the other day! And yes, it carried me for a while. But how do you create when you aren't having a good day? Well, I guess for me it used to be I just didn't! I always had to be in "the mood" to paint. I had to have "inspiration" to start. The planets had to be aligned and the god's in their good mood's!
As you can imagine, I didn't get a lot done. I think that was creative immaturity. Sure we all have times when you get in a zone and can do no wrong. But that's the exception to the rule. Waiting for those times is like waiting for lightening to strike!
When I began to take my art seriously, I really struggled with how to make art and create when I didn't "feel" like it. The model then would be the dinner dishes. Who ever wants to do the dishes after a long day and a good meal. Wouldn't we all like to just sit down with a glass of wine and the TV or good book and that full stomach? But the dishes don't take care of themselves, just like a painting won't paint itself. So if your waiting for the dish fairy, good luck with that! (and send her/him my way!!)
So then, my art becomes work? Well, in a way, but not the way you think. And if it does, don't you loose the magic and "therapy" that art brings to your life? Not at all. Beginning is just that. When I start washing dishes, I may hate the idea, but there is a certain meditative thing that happens while I mindlessly clean up my mess. I forget while in the process how I might hate this job, and my mind drifts to other things. I've solved problems, righted relationships and sung show tunes! And it's funny how when it's over and done with and I feel so much better and have a nice clean kitchen to wake up to!
I think the same holds true of the creative process. I might just dread starting a painting. But once started, the creative juice kicks in and I begin to feel the source and find my strength. I get a charge, so to speak, and if I do this routinely, I am less likely to loose the charge and let my batteries drain completely. (another problem-another blog)
Does this mean I have a masterpiece each day? Heck no! I'm talking process, not results. I still fight the thought that results are from the gods! But the more I use the process, the more often the chance for a great result!
That's just doing the math baby!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
A Good Day
Yesterday was 78 degrees. The sun shone bright and it warmed the last of the cold dark Midwest winter away for good. I was thankful for it's warmth and light.
I'm also thankful for a big dog who needs a daily walk to burn off excess energy, which means I get a daily walk. I'm thankful I can walk! My mom had both knee's replaced and I have friends who have issues that hinder walking. So every step I take I am grateful.
I walk along a forested path that skirts my "hood". On warm days-like yesterday-there are people walking, biking, skating and kids playing. As I walked a young boy headed down the path toward me carrying a squirt gun. He was preoccupied looking for his prey. As he got closer I said "don't shoot!", which brought and impish grin from the young warrior. The hunt and the grin were universal. As I walked on I was reminded of my own early hunting days.
The late afternoon sun and air was full of gifts for my inner artist. Colorful birds darted among the canopy of trees, singing at the top of their lungs. The forest floor was covered in patches of nodding light pink flowers, singularly nondescript, but en mass a pink carpet. Among so many bare or barely budding trees appeared the occasional apple tree blooming away. How did they get in the forest, I wondered. The air was fragrant with the lilac trees that lined the street off the path. Further down a gust of wind sent the petals from a flowering pear like a blizzard through the air to dust the ground like warm snow. My senses were on overload, as were my allergies!
Almost home, I stopped to let a small toddler and his mother pet the dogs. He was afraid of big dog, so I made him sit away from the child. As he reached down to pet small dog, she reached up and licked his little hand. He burst into wonderful two year old squeals and giggles!
Yes, yesterday was a good day. I painted outdoors in the morning. I taught a class in the afternoon full of women who teach me as much as I teach them. And I took a walk. What more could one ask for? Legs to walk, nature in bloom, doing what you love, and the delight of children. Yes, it was a good day!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Creative Olympics
OK. I know I said blogs were narcissistic. That I did not want to write about me and my life. All because I saw the movie Julie and Julia! But heck, what else do I have to share from but my personal experience? So, here's your chance to change channels!
I've been having creative issues. I've been blocked! This is nothing new for me, or you I suspect. I heard the same from a few of you. I think that as creative people we need to realize that our creativity is something to be nurtured. Like a muscle that does not get used, your creativity can atrophy!
Do you ever try to create something and it doesn't come out as you had planned? Does that lead to frustration or can you just shake it off? And what if it happens more than once? I happen to be very sensitive to what I consider failure! There are times when I ask myself "and who told you that you were an artist?" I frequently consider myself a hack! Because I frequently "feel" that I have failed! That leads to a kind of creative inactivity, which has at times gone on for years! All because of self doubt and "feelings" of inadequacy I spiral into this place where I will do anything but art. A kind of fear sets in. I know, who thinks about this stuff this much??
Friends say, "do the art for the sake of it! Have fun with it!" And while there is truth to that, if you don't try to improve or move toward where you want to go, you stay in the same place! I know that's comfortable, but I'm not sure it's a good thing. I think we should grow. Try new things. Improve our skills. But with that comes the disappointment of not getting there as fast as you thought you should. Or fighting to get something right-which can be exhausting.
And last, the idea that it should always be FUN and JOY! Well, heck, if that were really true, how many of us would ever accomplish anything? I mean really, if it were only that easy! Nothing worthwhile is ever easy!! How different the world would look if some were not striving for excellence. I think excellence is seldom a waste of one's time.
But when it works-it is FUN and JOY! And that's the payoff! Like the Olympics-we train and practice and sometimes we get a medal. Most of the time we don't even place. That's the reality. But, cliche as it may sound, its about the journey. Beating our personal best. Striving to be the best we can be! And sometimes...the only payoff is just knowing you didn't give up!
So if your not, get back in the game! Back in the saddle, back to the easel! If your already in the game, set a few goals and as one of my students said, work to beat your personal best. And remember, you cant get where you want to go if you don't know where that is!
I've been having creative issues. I've been blocked! This is nothing new for me, or you I suspect. I heard the same from a few of you. I think that as creative people we need to realize that our creativity is something to be nurtured. Like a muscle that does not get used, your creativity can atrophy!
Do you ever try to create something and it doesn't come out as you had planned? Does that lead to frustration or can you just shake it off? And what if it happens more than once? I happen to be very sensitive to what I consider failure! There are times when I ask myself "and who told you that you were an artist?" I frequently consider myself a hack! Because I frequently "feel" that I have failed! That leads to a kind of creative inactivity, which has at times gone on for years! All because of self doubt and "feelings" of inadequacy I spiral into this place where I will do anything but art. A kind of fear sets in. I know, who thinks about this stuff this much??
Friends say, "do the art for the sake of it! Have fun with it!" And while there is truth to that, if you don't try to improve or move toward where you want to go, you stay in the same place! I know that's comfortable, but I'm not sure it's a good thing. I think we should grow. Try new things. Improve our skills. But with that comes the disappointment of not getting there as fast as you thought you should. Or fighting to get something right-which can be exhausting.
And last, the idea that it should always be FUN and JOY! Well, heck, if that were really true, how many of us would ever accomplish anything? I mean really, if it were only that easy! Nothing worthwhile is ever easy!! How different the world would look if some were not striving for excellence. I think excellence is seldom a waste of one's time.
But when it works-it is FUN and JOY! And that's the payoff! Like the Olympics-we train and practice and sometimes we get a medal. Most of the time we don't even place. That's the reality. But, cliche as it may sound, its about the journey. Beating our personal best. Striving to be the best we can be! And sometimes...the only payoff is just knowing you didn't give up!
So if your not, get back in the game! Back in the saddle, back to the easel! If your already in the game, set a few goals and as one of my students said, work to beat your personal best. And remember, you cant get where you want to go if you don't know where that is!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Artist's Way
The blog for this month should most certainly be about new years resolutions. Creative ones. The problem is, you've heard it all before. So how to put a new spin on an old idea was just too taxing for my 2010 brain.
Usually there is something that sparks an idea for a blog and I just run with it. This month that has not been the case. I have played with several ideas and they tanked. This blog is supposed to inspire and encourage you the reader to find the joy in your creativity. To get you out of your chair and into your studio, kitchen, sewing/craft room, or writing desk. (I'm sure I missed an outlet or two) But I'm at a loss. And because I'm at a loss creatively myself, I cannot write about it. Blogs can be very narcissistic as well. And I don't want this blog to be about me or about just my thoughts on creativity. While my experiences may be helpful to motivate others, I don't want to just put my crazy musings online to hear myself write! And are there really that many things to say about getting creative? Well, yes, since creativity is limitless, talking about it is as well! So why cant I blog?
Well, it's called the "block". You've heard of writers "block"? I'm calling it a "creative block". It happens to all of us. The reasons vary and don't really matter. Most people just wait for it to end. And hope it ends soon. But what if it's a long term block? And it's stopping a flow of joy that we get when we find fulfillment in our creative selves and work. So we should take it seriously and get back our joy!
It happens to me more often than I'd like. A long time ago I found a book called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. She wrote the book after helping countless high profile artists get past their "block". The book is filled with helpful insights and ways to move past whats stopping you and give you a jump start to get back in the game. I highly recommend it, even if your not blocked.
On her website http://www.theartistsway.com/, there is a tool tab that outlines her "basic tools" to start you on you journey. Those would be the Morning Pages and The Artist's Date. I recommend that you go there and read about it. It's for every Artist and is helpful at all times. Give it a look and let me know what you think. I know from personal experience that these tools are helpful, as are the many other exercises she writes about.
So in this new year, lets shake things up a bit. Lets find our creative self and just ooze joy! Welcome 2010!
Usually there is something that sparks an idea for a blog and I just run with it. This month that has not been the case. I have played with several ideas and they tanked. This blog is supposed to inspire and encourage you the reader to find the joy in your creativity. To get you out of your chair and into your studio, kitchen, sewing/craft room, or writing desk. (I'm sure I missed an outlet or two) But I'm at a loss. And because I'm at a loss creatively myself, I cannot write about it. Blogs can be very narcissistic as well. And I don't want this blog to be about me or about just my thoughts on creativity. While my experiences may be helpful to motivate others, I don't want to just put my crazy musings online to hear myself write! And are there really that many things to say about getting creative? Well, yes, since creativity is limitless, talking about it is as well! So why cant I blog?
Well, it's called the "block". You've heard of writers "block"? I'm calling it a "creative block". It happens to all of us. The reasons vary and don't really matter. Most people just wait for it to end. And hope it ends soon. But what if it's a long term block? And it's stopping a flow of joy that we get when we find fulfillment in our creative selves and work. So we should take it seriously and get back our joy!
It happens to me more often than I'd like. A long time ago I found a book called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. She wrote the book after helping countless high profile artists get past their "block". The book is filled with helpful insights and ways to move past whats stopping you and give you a jump start to get back in the game. I highly recommend it, even if your not blocked.
On her website http://www.theartistsway.com/, there is a tool tab that outlines her "basic tools" to start you on you journey. Those would be the Morning Pages and The Artist's Date. I recommend that you go there and read about it. It's for every Artist and is helpful at all times. Give it a look and let me know what you think. I know from personal experience that these tools are helpful, as are the many other exercises she writes about.
So in this new year, lets shake things up a bit. Lets find our creative self and just ooze joy! Welcome 2010!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Passion
My dad served in the Air Force twenty six years. He retired when I was in sixth grade. But by then he had a bug. The travel bug. Wander lust. A passion.
My life has been full of travel. There was a week long vacation every year. We usually drove, which I have good/bad memories of! But dad always managed to get away as often as was possible. Although we were comfortable, we were not rolling in the money. But there was always an allocation for travel. We stayed in motel 6 a lot. We found way's to cut back "here" to enjoy more "there".
My mother always wanted to go to Oberammergau in Bavaria to see the "passion play" about the last day's of Jesus. It is performed only every ten years and has been for almost 400 years. The villager's have done this since praying for deliverance from the black plague and war in 1633. Dad took her on a river cruise on the Rhine in 2000 and to see the play. When she returned, she told me that although wonderful, it never occurred to her it would all be in German! But it was an experience of a lifetime, set in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world! And it combined his love of travel and her love of religious history.
I think when you have a passion, it's a force to be reckoned with. It's a drive that has it's own momentum. I think passion is the creative force in all of us. What's your passion? And how, like my dad, do you find a way to make it a part of your life-even when it isn't easy?
Don't let your passion go by the wayside because of any of the many reasons that rival it! You don't need to be rich, thin, happy, talented, retired or anything else to at least find a small space to feed your passion.
Make a pledge, promise or new years resolution to put some "passion" in your life in 2010! Plan for it. Fail to plan, plan to fail. Make it a priority and find a space, some extra $$, a bit of time to feed your passion. This will pay off in way's that cannot be measured.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy New year. But one filled with, wait-did you get it? PASSION!
My life has been full of travel. There was a week long vacation every year. We usually drove, which I have good/bad memories of! But dad always managed to get away as often as was possible. Although we were comfortable, we were not rolling in the money. But there was always an allocation for travel. We stayed in motel 6 a lot. We found way's to cut back "here" to enjoy more "there".
My mother always wanted to go to Oberammergau in Bavaria to see the "passion play" about the last day's of Jesus. It is performed only every ten years and has been for almost 400 years. The villager's have done this since praying for deliverance from the black plague and war in 1633. Dad took her on a river cruise on the Rhine in 2000 and to see the play. When she returned, she told me that although wonderful, it never occurred to her it would all be in German! But it was an experience of a lifetime, set in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world! And it combined his love of travel and her love of religious history.
I think when you have a passion, it's a force to be reckoned with. It's a drive that has it's own momentum. I think passion is the creative force in all of us. What's your passion? And how, like my dad, do you find a way to make it a part of your life-even when it isn't easy?
Don't let your passion go by the wayside because of any of the many reasons that rival it! You don't need to be rich, thin, happy, talented, retired or anything else to at least find a small space to feed your passion.
Make a pledge, promise or new years resolution to put some "passion" in your life in 2010! Plan for it. Fail to plan, plan to fail. Make it a priority and find a space, some extra $$, a bit of time to feed your passion. This will pay off in way's that cannot be measured.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy New year. But one filled with, wait-did you get it? PASSION!
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