Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Flow

Julie Holmes
I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about creativity and how it arises.  I said that for me, my best work isn't created by me so much as "through" me.  I trust the wire to know where to bend, I trust the scissors to know where to cut, I trust the enamels to go where they need to go, and I get to watch in amazement as something beautiful emerges into the world through my hands.  He said that he had long believed that great work is created when the ego is let go....when we get "out of our own way".

"Exactly" I said.  So then, he asked me; if I was teaching others...how would I teach that concept to them?

It's a tough question.  The best I could do was this:

"I would tell them to follow the path of least resistance, whatever that meant for them"

I tried at first to emulate my cloisonné "idols" by using a prepared design and carefully bending my wires to match it.  I've felt guilty that I've never made a test sample...not one....  It's just not me.  I'm impatient, spontaneous, impulsive.  Drawing a design, for me, is getting in my own way.  What aspect of your art do you resist, postpone, hurry through?  I suggest you try just letting it go.

6 comments:

In the Light of the Moon said...

Stunning...and I love the "get out of our own way"....phew..I find that hard to do,but I agree it is the best way to create.
Cat

Unknown said...

I never thought of it that way!

mairedodd said...

getting out of your own way is critical... i find that when i am feeling a lot of resistance, it's like labor pains - you have to take the step to making it happen... your work is beautiful - how talented you are to do what you do without preliminary work!

Mystic Indigo said...

I am getting caught up on posts here...I took a bit of an online break...what a wonderful post about trusting our source to come up with something spectacular! One of the people in the workshop I just had used the words, "Let Go" on her bracelet...perfection.

Artisan Beads Plus said...

That is gorgeous! Also, your advice is something I've been working at working at (yes, I meant to repeat ;o) while creating for the past year. I like the part about letting your ego go.... That is another phrase I will remind myself of when I'm trying to over think.
MaryAnn

stacilouise said...

Spontaneous works for you! I am like that too. Thanks for the wise words (and the eye candy- your work is awesome!)

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