“There is no short-cut to art, one has to work hard, be open and flexible in your mind, keep the child alive inside you, and through a whole lifetime be ready to learn new things and – of course – be mentally prepared for a hard punch on your nose – especially when you think you are doing well.”
-Bente Borsum
"Small Work Series #1205" 12" x 12" work on panel
Things are settling down a bit. The flow of external stuff seems to have lightened up for the moment. My college boys are both working hard at their respective summer jobs and the household routines have re-established themselves.
This week I really enjoyed reading Diane McGregors post addressing “Creative Space”. She brings up a great point about our internal space when she said; “This is where we make our art, in our minds and in our hearts, this sacred space that can give us all we need to create if we just keep it nurtured and free.” Thank you Diane for continuing the conversation! Internal or external, making the time and space to work is important – nurturing our creativity is essential.
I am back in the studio and starting new paintings. I have set a few goals for myself and I have been enjoying the results. Baby steps right now and that is ok. Working on being flexible, keeping the child alive, and being open to the results. Pushing, painting, trying new things; it is all part of my job to discover new work and then give my heart to it. I am recovering from that punch in the nose Bente Borsum speaks of in her quote above. I was not prepared and I admit it hit harder than I thought. I have been repeating this line from Danielle Shelley’s award winning essay We do Art to be Human ; “Art is a perpetually self-renewing source of energy” Agreed! The power of the creative process is self-renewing, perhaps this punch in the nose was exactly what I needed! I need to continue to work hard, no matter what punches are thrown my way.
“Your work is to discover your work – and then with all your heart
to give yourself to it.”
-Buddha
“Out of the work comes the work.”
-John Cage
Painting is available.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting the link to and quote from this essay:
We do Art to be Human ; “Art is a perpetually self-renewing source of energy”
This is my feeling and experience too. After reading the essay, I realized this understanding and belief in art is my foundation. Many newer artists working today don’t understand why selling my work isn’t my FIRST priority. I try to explain to them, selling your work is wonderful. However, it is far down my list of reasons I need and want to make art. I see my work as an artist in a far deeper way. Like the essay suggests, I see my art as the generator of my life energy and reminds me of my own human nature.
Thank you for the excellent blog entry and for posting the link to Danielle Shelley’s essay. It is the perfect way to end my computer session for the morning and start my day in the studio – with a punch! Danielle Shelley has written the clearest, most succinct answer to the question “What is Art?” that I have yet to see. In addition, for years I have been trying to come up with a definition that can be written so concisely, but to no avail. Maybe that’s because I really don’t know what I truly think, and Ms. Shelley does. What a wake-up call and what a great start to my day. Thank you again!