Hi Friends,
I was looking through my books the other day, and I came across one that I don’t remember reading. But clearly I did read it, because it has my underlining and notes in it.
The book is The Artist’s Journey: Bold Strokes to Spark Creativity by Nancy Hillis, M.D. There’s so much good information in this book, and it’s difficult to choose just a couple of quotes to share with you. Here are a few paragraphs from her chapter titled “The Essential Mystery of Creation.”
Our concerns are existential: Does my art matter? Will I ever gain traction? Does my work have meaning, or am I deluding myself?
Our answers to questions like these interweave with interior issues of self-doubt, confusion, and disappointment.
And this:
Fear causes you to paint in predictable and stale ways that ultimately undermine your art because it stifles investigation and inquiry. Art is not about finding a replicable system to produce perfect paintings. It’s about not knowing. Continually evolving. Seeking your truth and expressing it.
The challenge is that fear causes you to engage your strategic mind, which angles for approval and recognition from others. It’s the part of your mind that thinks there’s a secret code that if cracked would make you a successful artist.
The answer is inside you, and always has been.
The most amazing work comes from a place of not knowing, from exploration and experimentation. It’s raw, immediate, and unselfconscious. It’s unplanned. it’s an expression of your search for truth.
Thought-provoking words, for sure. I highly recommend this book for those of you who are interested in deepening your work.
I’ve been on a journey myself, working on the black paintings that I showed you in my last newsletter. You won’t recognize them from where they were before.
Side note: These paintings are hard to photograph, and they look a lot better in person. That said, here’s my best photographic rendition of the three pieces that I completed last week.
Click on the images to see them in a browser.
“Everybody’s Talking, No One Is Listening,” 36 x 48 inches, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
“No Man Is an Island,” 36 x 48 inches, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
“Can’t Find My Way Home,” 36 x 48 inches, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
They’re interesting, but I’m not sure how many more black paintings I want to do. I think I may be moving on to something else, and I might revisit this idea again later.
What’s your journey? I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts. You can share them with us in the comments section below.
With love and appreciation,
Cassandra