From my Morning Pages
For me, the heart of experimentation is mystery. Beginning with a question and using it to guide an adventure of discovery — that is the work of an artist (from Rick Rubin – The Creative Act) Rubin speaks to this: when something interesting starts to come together, it arouses delight. An energizing feeling of wanting more, of leaning forward. The path ahead may be unclear, even confusing, given the many choices — yet underneath runs a current of excitement and connectedness. “At last I am on to something.” The outcome is still unknown, and at this point I am following my heart, not my head, making decisions based on internal feelings — being moved, excited, engaged. Flow into that. I think this is the centre of exploration, the “what if” phase.
And then it's the time to question, to push out, to follow ideas and nuggets into the unknown. The mystery of exploring — how does this lead me forward, lead to growth, lead to something new? I felt this most clearly in my recent work at the residency, where each piece led me deeper into new ideas and pushed me in unexpected directions. It was only when I allowed free rein that I found myself genuinely excited by what the work was becoming. When I constrained or limited myself, I lost interest and abandoned it — perhaps because it was too easy, the outcome too predictable.
When I give myself guidelines rather than barriers, I have a loose framework that stays flexible without being constraining. Those guidelines might be the size of the work, the colour palette, the theme — but working within them gives me more freedom than working without. The framework offers support, something to lean on, an underpinning.
Perhaps over time that foundation builds from experience and from confidence in what has come before — an understanding of myself and a knowledge of my voice. And that can only come from doing the work.
Susan,
I ordered ‘The Creative Act’ book to read and see how it may affect my art. I connected with what you are saying about being inspired by something and then take the fork in the road to discover something new. I really enjoy what you do in your art work. It makes me ask how did she do that? Is that something I could do in my art?
I appreciate what you post and what do you! Thanks