I’m impatiently waiting to finish a class I want to write about here. Finishing that class involves much more than just checking it off my list like hundreds of others. Something is happening. It has to do with witnessing in myself things I refused to see before, hiding behind the “practicing more until I’m ready”.… Continue reading None of “practicing more”
Journal
Types of creatives
As I was avoiding large chunks of ice on my way home last night, I thought of a classification for creatives. So far I’ve come with four: Creatives that have been practicing their art, discipline or craft since they were very young. Creatives that experienced a difficult episode in their life and used art or craft to… Continue reading Types of creatives
Transitions
I’m in transition. It’s a softer way to say I’m in between jobs. I’ve never been unemployed in my life. This new status is bizarre and at the same time full of opportunity but my darky brain doesn’t want to see it that way. Thus I don’t sleep. I wait to hear back, I wait… Continue reading Transitions
Did you stop reading?
I’ve been reading the same book for the last 7 weeks. That’s a new record for not finishing a book. In my defense, it’s a difficult book to read, a little scattered, a lot of personal experiences, a lot of filler text, but among all that, there are incredible pieces of wisdom and advice,… Continue reading Did you stop reading?
Mon carnet de poche
In the age of digital I still love notebooks too much. Like books, it’s difficult to not be attracted to the beauty of a bound paper object. The problem is when I buy notebook after notebook and they just linger in a box. I’m always saving them for the “big idea”. And when big ideas… Continue reading Mon carnet de poche
Virginia was right
How many of us have read A room of one’s own? Or maybe not read it but quoted it? After nearly 8 years, today I have a room of my own. The funny thing is I don’t really know what to do with it. I’ve wanted it for so long. In fact I thought I… Continue reading Virginia was right
Copying, Comparing, belonging and other worries.
It’s very hard to not look at what others are doing. It’s very hard not to start comparing ouselves. Wondering if we are original or just copying. It’s very hard to stop thinking: I should have started earlier, it will take me forever to get to where I want to be… I am improving. I… Continue reading Copying, Comparing, belonging and other worries.
Artists and Self-Compassion
Impatience, scatterdness, information overload, learning, learning, learning.Who has time for creativity or even a little self-compassion when you can’t do it all? One day off, but we need to do errands, clean house, eat, clean kitchen, eat again, clean kitchen again. Load the washer, fold the clothes, put them away. You see a spider in… Continue reading Artists and Self-Compassion
“I can do that” syndrome
When you look at art, do you have the “I can do that” syndrome? But can you really, at this point in your artistic path? Let’s find out. Clearly, you won’t get anywhere by thinking you can’t do something, but between “can’t and can” there is a world of work. I have been following my… Continue reading “I can do that” syndrome
This isn’t Creativity Advice
Somewhere in the last couple of years, I decided I wouldn’t wait anymore for the “time to be right”. And it wasn’t some sort of creativity advice that along the lines of “just do it”. We all know the deepest desires are sprinkled all over our history. If you go into your journals, your blogs,… Continue reading This isn’t Creativity Advice
Fear of the new sketchbook
Yesterday I went to Montpellier with a very specific mission: to buy a wonderful sketchbook for my visit to Florence at the end of August. Getting to Montpellier isn’t very adventurous but it is a bit of a long ride. I wanted to visit Le Géant des Beaux Arts, a fabulous Fine Arts chain store… Continue reading Fear of the new sketchbook
Showing Your Art
“I’m afraid you have talent” said my shrink. As she let out an uncomfortable little laugh. I’d shown her a photo my second-ever painting. The painting depicted a young woman holding back her head as she’s tying a headscarf. She’s in NY City walking down a graffiti splattered street. The woman looks like she’s holding… Continue reading Showing Your Art