Sep.19.2007
11:46 am
by Libby
Car Wonderings
I’ve been driving around a fair amount already today (two trips to the middles school before 10:30 a.m.!), thinking about artistic “choices”. There’s the choice to be an artist. Okay, some would argue that really isn’t a choice, more of a drive or passion, but I do think somewhere along the line there was a moment of choosing to let the creative side of yourself have more room to grow.
Anyway, the specific choice, if you can call it that, I was thinking of, was the choice of medium. Again, I’m not really sure “choice” is the right term. But it fascinates me how one medium can draw you in and another can be so ho-hum. This was clearly illustrated to me this summer when my sister sat in my studio lovingly sorting out her pastels, and positively crooning to the various colors. While I was enthralled by the array of colors on the table, I wasn’t moved by their pastely-ness. (so I made up a word, it seemed appropriate) Heck, I didn’t even want to touch them. But beads and polymer clay and metals, I just want to get my hands on them. Fibers and papers and paints have a really seductive pull for me too, although I don’t generally work with them.
From thinking about my choice of medium, I started wondering about my choice of “canvas”, why I feel drawn to making art jewelry. I just know that making jewelry jazzes me. It’s the format my creative brain thinks in. The process connects my brain to my fingers to my soul in a way that nothing else does. Maybe it’s the size of the project or the allure of being able to wear my work. Maybe it’s the materials. Or maybe it’s all of that and something more that I can’t quite put my finger on.
What do you wonder about while you drive around lately?
Filed in creativity |
Hi Libby, Like you, I wonder what it is that draws me in to beads and polymer clay over any other medium. I know that more times than not when I see an art piece it is the color in the piece that speaks directly to my soul. So, maybe it is the array of bead colors and finishes and the ability to create new colors by mixing with polymer clay that lights me up. The other thing I wonder about are the cycles and rhythms of my creativity. Being vs. doing. My life coach has asked me to write a post about that so I have been thinking about it a lot lately. When is it time to “express” from the well and when is it time to “fill” the well? Driving is a good time for thinking. I really like reading your posts. They make me think deep thoughts. -Karen
Thanks for sharing that Karen! As artists I think it’s so important to fill the well in addition to sharing from it. It’s a deep thought kind of day today!
I do a lot of planning and ,sometimes, writing in my head. I wish I could make some of my finished projects look like they did in my head! LOL