inspiration
"Always carry a corkscrew and the wine will be provided", they say. But, the committed makers and craftspeople know better. They know that the bottle gets passed around too rarely. Too unpredictably.
Inspiration feels good when you can get it, almost magical. It's a weekend wine-tasing. A buzzed and giddy kind of feeling. A euphoria we wish could be everlasting. But it's always temporary. We always come down crashing.
“Inspiration”, Nick Cave says, “is the indolent indulgence of the dabbler.” It’s a fickle luxury. The glass, no matter how full it is, always winds up empty, eventually.
The diligent and devoted care too much and too deeply about the craft to give it over to the capriciousness of inspiration's whimsy.
We believe in bigger things.
We put our trust in the rhythmic sacredness of daily ritual. In the observances of consistency and routine.
We don't believe in carrying corkscrews. We believe in planting vineyards. And, we show up to water it everyday.
**special thanks to
and one of her newsletters for inspiring this one.P.S. ICAD Day 40-43 - most of teh collage in this newsletter are available for purchase here.
P.P.S. - I made a few more digital pieces inspired by music. Here they are, along with a playlist:
This lines strikes well, Duane: "rhythmic sacredness of daily ritual." I like that you use 'sacredness' to describe the daily ritual. Rather than simply being a routine task/ritual, there is a reverance and respect for it as part of the creative process. Well-said.
I know it’s somewhat cliche, but I always remember Chuck Close’s quote, “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” To me, that “and get to work” is the watering. My students often think inspiration is going to be shipped to them the next day air by the muse. Ha! I tell them inspiration takes work. Usually, it is the work. Input-output. It is the by-product of what we consume (music, books, movies, food, etc.) and the research we do if trying to solve a problem. It’s about knowing history and staying aware of what’s hip, now and wow.
Great post. I think I’ll get to work.