Sometimes we get out of the habit of making stuff, and it's easy to think the well has gone dry - I have nothing more to offer creatively - who do I think I am anyway, an artist? Hah!
The Creative Well is a very special place. It never runs dry. Every time we look at something or smell something or touch something or hear something we are adding to the Creative Well. It's usually not something monumental and it's frequently without deliberate intent, but just as drops of water can erode rock, so drops of observations can fill that well. We just need to dip in.
So, when the blank page or canvas stares back, mockingly, haul out your "stuff". Go outside your comfort zone, grab a surface you don't usually work on, do something to it - anything - hammer nails into it, throw (carefully) bleach at it, use a tool you've tucked in a forgotten corner of your stowage, and, once you've done something, scatter your "stuff" around on the surface. Before long your right brain wants to play on the new, unfamiliar surface with old, familiar "stuff" and it starts arranging, manipulating, CREATING.
Yeah, it's the going out of your comfort zone that scares the crap out of me! Looks awesome though!
ReplyDeleteLillegul, remember the pesto sauce? You had the courage to go outside your comfort zone and risk disaster and the result? You are today an awesome chef!!! It's not fear you feel when you go outside your comfort zone - it's growth! You are forging new neural pathways and you feel discomfort just as when training new muscles. The rewards are awesome! Go forge!
DeleteLove you always,
Mom
Yeah, if only the dang learning curve wasn't so stinking high! lol
DeleteYou are such an interesting lady. You have great creativity, a huge imagination, a compassion that shows in your ability and willingness to share, backed up with an intellect that supports you, whereas it could easily inhibit. I feel privileged to be able to see your thoughts, your experiments and the wonderful artefacts you produce.
ReplyDeleteHi David, it's very kind of you to leave such an encouraging comment. It makes me very happy to be able to encourage or help anyone in a creative endeavor. I do feel that when one has lived long enough to acquire a measure of expertise, or even just passion, it should be shared to encourage others. I will always be grateful to those upon whose shoulders I now stand. I apologize for the delay in getting back to the blog. Life does sometimes divert us from our passions. I'm back and looking forward to picking up the threads. Hope to "see" you again.
DeleteYou are a girl of many talents. Your use of polymer clay has inspired me.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, so nice to see you here. If you ever have any questions about polymer clay, please don't hesitate to ask. I would be happy to do a post addressing anyone's interest.
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