Work in Progress

Last week I talked about how taking photographs to remember certain things which are interesting and maybe one day be able to use that for an inspiration. I posted the photograph of the apple tree on my parents farm. It is an old tree which really has two messages...one of giving up and one of being ready to go!

Today, I am going to share with you what I have been working this week. It is not complete, but I thought you would be interested in the direction the photograph took me! Very different, but also very much inspired by that particular photograph.

Do you have these kinds of inspirations?

Part of the Beginning

A few afternoons this week, I was able to get into my studio and work on a couple of projects there. In the last post, I talked a little bit about what is inspirational. I use my digital SLR a lot to capture bits and pieces of what calls out to me. I do not tend to be a people photographer, but sometimes parts of people hold an interest for me...my people photos are really snap and shoots. Anyway, back to the inspiration...with the canvas I am currently working on, this image of an old apple tree on my parents' Virginia farm prodded me along. While the final result will not look anything like the photograph (thank goodness), it is what inspired what I am currently working on. So stay tuned to the end result.

Do you ever find a photograph and being to wonder about the parts and what they really have to say? I think this old tree has a story to tell. Do you?

Do you find inspiration in all kinds of places? I know I am so very inspired by natural things and many people are. I am also find inspiration in other places as well. I carry my camera around a lot and take photos that many people would not take. For example, food photos can show some of the most amazing textures. Are you inspired by retail? I know I often get bursts of inspiration when I spend a bit of time exploring art supply shops or farmer's markets. Beautiful shop displays can tons of fun and very inspirational. I also find that store fronts and street scenes can get me going.

This is a photo of The Tea House in London. It is the greatest little shop on the inside. You can probably imagine all of the tea leaves, the tea pots and cups, the tea tins and all of the tea making necessities you might find inside this shop. But the exterior is tremendous fun and draws you in to enjoy the inside. In this photograph, take a close look at the light, the textures, the shapes, the lines and the colors of this photo. Do you feel inspired to create? I know I have a few things cooking in my head.

She's Back

Finally after months of trying to get settled after this move, I am working towards some reasonable form of life. I have found this transition from Europe to the US a difficult one. I never thought returning to my home country would be so difficult, but I am missing the people of England so much. I am slowly settling into our home here and very slowly getting the house into a place we can call home. Surprise of surprises, I was even able to make it into the studio recently. True enough, I only prepared some canvases, but I was in there enjoying myself.

During this transition, I have been thinking about how I am going to have to go back to some of my previous techniques for keeping my life sane and for keeping my creativity flowing. For me, that is a balance of things. I know my yoga is an important part and I have been doing that several times a week for a while now. I also find interacting with my young adult children keeps me fresh and ready to go. But one of the old techniques that worked so well for me before that I have just re-discovered is journaling.

Now journaling means a lot of things to a lot of people. I think it means what helps you process your ideas and thoughts. It helps with organization of perceptions and feelings. This happens in different ways for different people. Some people like to just write, some like to doodle, some use photography and others use a variety of techniques. Like me, there are people who do or have kept multiple journals at the same time. I know this will be effective for me again as I try to keep up with this new life.

I had let some of my coping techniques go when we were in England, because my day to day life there was like a journal. I wanted to soak it all up in a different way. It was great for me then, but now I do have to get back to what worked for me before. I think it will work again to keep me clear and open to all the possibilities my life has to offer.

What keeps you going? What is a part of your life that remains important to keep your creativity alive and processing? There are many factors which need to come together for me, is this true for you, too?

Listening to Myself

It seems as though I am always needing to learn lessons. With this move (about a 6 month process) I have had to learn how important it is for me to maintain my health and keep in front of me what that means and how I need to do that. I need to be able to successfully handle the issues which arise and keep myself healthy no matter what pressures are placed on my shoulders.

Yes, I have gotten ill after a week of trying to help my family settled into our new home and move forward with their lives, as well. In doing that, I totally forgot to take care of myself. As with my old habit, I put myself at the end of the 'to-do-list'. Everyone seems to need things from me, moving back near family also requires me to focus more on other people than I have had to do, having young adult children who are venturing out in the world and a husband who travels requires me to be the terra-firma for many. I am sure the issues of me needing to meet the needs of others as well as being very sensitive has made my body scream...."for god's sake, you are going to have to stop". And since I didn't listen, my body made sure it happened by saying "take this". That put me back and I have been ill all this week.

I am still looking forward to getting my studio set up, but it will happen as soon as I can do it with focus. I know now I need to take care of my whole self and that means evaluating and refocusing. Then, I can move forward with my art and creative endeavours. I am so excited and eager to get back to that part of my life.

It is time I need to allow myself...and patience!

Getting To The Work

Do you ever mean to get to things, but continue to do other things trying to make room to do them? It seems as though this is happening to me a lot these days. I don't like it, but that is what is happening.

I think sometimes I try to create the right conditions or make the room in my head to get to the things I want. For example, there are a few friends I need to email or phone, but I want to be able to make plenty of time to connect with them. While they would probably like to hear from me briefly, I find I want to have lots of time to talk with them. Because of this, I do not connect with them at all! Or I would love to be able to have a day to spend creating, but because I do not have a full day (or days) to give to this, I do not do that, either.

I think I really get into the flow of some things and just do not want to break that experience. Most people, trying to be helpful, would say I should schedule the time to have for myself. For most people, this would be a good suggestion. But for me, scheduling creative time means closing me down.

Ah, but is this just my way of procrastinating? I do not think so, but maybe I am convincing myself. Is it really fair of me to expect myself to be able to have the time I need (and I really do need it), when we are in such a period of transition? I do not even have a studio or a corner with materials, at present. But I honestly think it might be an excuse about making connections with my friends.

The good news about the blog is it makes me face and evaluate those issues. I learn more about myself by reading and writing rather than talking. What helps you? Are you finding ways and time to be creative? Do you ever find yourself putting off what you really want or need to do?

I continue to make changes and continue to learn...

Have a very creative day.



I

Being Authentic

Moving around helps me to take stock much of the time. I rarely get a chance to settle into any place, so I have found it is important to be settled and true to myself. Just maybe the moving helps me face that reality with greater clarity. I suppose that depends on each person's personality.

One of the items I picked up recently was the current O Magazine. This issue is all about being authentic. While I suspect many artists do not have problems with being authentic, I wonder if we are really authentic to our art. What does being authentic in art mean? Are we sometimes forced to tweak our authentic-ness to pay the bills?

Authenticity in my art is creating what I need to create when I need to produce it. For me, this means not working in a series the way critics often want to see us work. It means using materials in various ways and listening to my instincts about inspirations. It means allowing myself time to develop what needs to be developed in my work. What does being authentic to your art mean?

Does this compromise my ability to sell my works? I don't think that is so much the case (the moving around doesn't allow me a stable base from which to sell a great deal, however that is a different issue). Being authentic, itself, is a way of working in a series. Additionally, creativeness and authenticity allows me the ability to make connections in my work which may not be obvious to others.

In the O Magazine, several people talk about what it means to be authentic. A fashion designer discusses how her professional life has developed since she made the decision to not follow the trends. A musician discusses how staying true to herself has made the difference in her life. And there are other wonderful examples of how people have stayed true to theirselves and how it has made the difference in their lives.

Consider what it means to be authentic in your art. How do you remain true to yourself? For me, I understand no other way, but my way is mine.