Julia Cameron on Creativity and artists blocks
"People frequently believe the creative life is grounded in fantasy. The more difficult truth is creativity is grounded in reality, in particular the focused, the well observed, or the specifically imagined. Very often a creative block manifest itself as an addiction to fantasy or to "worry". Rather than working or living in the now, we spin our wheels and indulge of could have. One of the greatest misconceptions of the artist life is that involves great swathes of aimlessness of attention. Attention is a way to connect and heal. ...More than anything attention is an act of connection. Our focused attention is critical to filling the well. We need to encounter our life experience, not ignore them. "
I could quote her whole book on Inspirations from the Artists Way, but lets start with these thoughts.
I watched this little wren build her nest with such skill and determination I could not but help admire her work. This sign Scriptura is in a shopping strip mall in Metairie/New Orleans area this summer. She collected bits of brightly colored string and mardi gras beads and sticks and leaves....neatly tucking them around and into the giant advertising lettering above the store. She was relentless, trip after trip until she had a work of art. Her attention was direct and clear...she had a purpose to achieve with skill and love...simple, direct, and an act of complete attention to a simple act. I watched for a hour or so with great amazement. If we were to learn to do this in our lives and art...what peace, what love, what success we would have.
 |
| photo by elizabeth gordon |
 |
| photo by elizabeth gordon |
 |
| photo by elizabeth gordon |
 |
| photo by elizabeth gordon |
"People frequently believe the creative life is grounded in fantasy. The more difficult truth is creativity is grounded in reality, in particular the focused, the well observed, or the specifically imagined. Very often a creative block manifest itself as an addiction to fantasy or to "worry". Rather than working or living in the now, we spin our wheels and indulge of could have. One of the greatest misconceptions of the artist life is that involves great swathes of aimlessness of attention. Attention is a way to connect and heal. ...More than anything attention is an act of connection. Our focused attention is critical to filling the well. We need to encounter our life experience, not ignore them. "
I could quote her whole book on Inspirations from the Artists Way, but lets start with these thoughts.
I watched this little wren build her nest with such skill and determination I could not but help admire her work. This sign Scriptura is in a shopping strip mall in Metairie/New Orleans area this summer. She collected bits of brightly colored string and mardi gras beads and sticks and leaves....neatly tucking them around and into the giant advertising lettering above the store. She was relentless, trip after trip until she had a work of art. Her attention was direct and clear...she had a purpose to achieve with skill and love...simple, direct, and an act of complete attention to a simple act. I watched for a hour or so with great amazement. If we were to learn to do this in our lives and art...what peace, what love, what success we would have.
No comments:
Post a Comment