"There's always a blurry line between aptitude and gift", says Jeff Tweedy. Maybe that's more comforting if you know toward which end of the spectrum you're leaning. But what if you're pretty sure you don't have either? What if by the standard measurements of capableness and ability you come up empty? If the metrics of skill and virtuosity find you wanting?
This one resonates Duane: “What I am is curious.” I love what you wrote here. I still feel the hesitation to share, takes me a bit more time to get the courage. The second guessing gets in the way. Gives me the nudge to keep saying do it anyway.
Totally understandable. I started seeing the “sharing” as a form of letting go. Of releasing the work, and releasing myself from it. It’s a way to clear my desk and make room for the next idea to come through.
This is so inspiring and beautiful - the way the poet John O’Donohue speaks of beauty. I am also in the fuck it and do it group. My life creating has always been separate from what I did to make money. ‘art for arts sake’ - - sharing it is a pleasure but creating is a necessity - for my very survival.
“He who thinks he knows, doesn’t know. He who knows that he doesn’t know, knows. For in this context, to know is not to know. And not to know is to know.”
The idea of ‘conscious incompetence’ neatly summarised. A healthy position to create from I would argue (as is ‘conscious competence’) as it leads to constant self-reflection, the desire for new learning etc. However this is problematic if it tips over into the paralysis of ‘imposter syndrome’. At the other end of the scale Unconscious incompetence is concerning (worth checking out the concept of Dunning-Kroger syndrome if it’s a new idea to you). That way lies arrogance!
I don’t have any of those “qualifications” either. We’re both still artists!
Glad to be in good company my friend!
Love “an object outside itself” especially! And I think you’re right that curiosity and the drive to try are what makes most things.
Thanks so much! They’ve certainly been the driving forces for everything I do.
¿No es acaso la curiosidad el don más preciado de un artista?
¡Por supuesto! ¡Es el mayor atributo de un artista!
This one resonates Duane: “What I am is curious.” I love what you wrote here. I still feel the hesitation to share, takes me a bit more time to get the courage. The second guessing gets in the way. Gives me the nudge to keep saying do it anyway.
Totally understandable. I started seeing the “sharing” as a form of letting go. Of releasing the work, and releasing myself from it. It’s a way to clear my desk and make room for the next idea to come through.
This is so inspiring and beautiful - the way the poet John O’Donohue speaks of beauty. I am also in the fuck it and do it group. My life creating has always been separate from what I did to make money. ‘art for arts sake’ - - sharing it is a pleasure but creating is a necessity - for my very survival.
“creating is a necessity” - Exactly! It is not optional and it is nonnegotiable. Thanks Andrea!
Oh Duane that you for your. Positive comments they mean alot I am ill having a Grey day and wrestling. With the blue devils. Peace and joy
Thanks Duane
My pleasure!
Fantastic stuff. Thanks for inspiring the stuff out of me!
Thank you! So glad you like it!
I'm not a writer. Not an artist. Me thinks he doth protest too much. I know him as both. Looking at the art here, I may need to purchase again.
haha, too kind! i appreciate it!
I relate to this so hard. I am not a trained artist either. But I see creativity everywhere, and collage has helped me sort out the chaos in my brain.
I’m right there with you! I’d be lost without it! More lost than I’ve ever been.
“He who thinks he knows, doesn’t know. He who knows that he doesn’t know, knows. For in this context, to know is not to know. And not to know is to know.”
― Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth
A great line from a great book by a great thinker! thanks so much!
The idea of ‘conscious incompetence’ neatly summarised. A healthy position to create from I would argue (as is ‘conscious competence’) as it leads to constant self-reflection, the desire for new learning etc. However this is problematic if it tips over into the paralysis of ‘imposter syndrome’. At the other end of the scale Unconscious incompetence is concerning (worth checking out the concept of Dunning-Kroger syndrome if it’s a new idea to you). That way lies arrogance!
Thanks Richard! I’ll definitely have to look further into that! I’m always up for researching something!
If that’s bad judgment, I don’t want to be good!
Haha, Glad to hear it! don’t ever change!
Art is like - breath - necessary! 🎨 ✍️
utterly essential!