And by clearing your head and heart by letting go, you’re filling ours, your readers, with your works of art. We absorb them and in return, we give our joy to others. Like a stream, flowing endlessly.
yes! returning and returning. a river of art (this is what Gregorry Orr is talking about when he writes about "the book the body of the beloved" - he had a concept of a great book of art that contained all the art and was constantly providing meaning
Exactly, our only purpose is to keep feeding the river! I'm not familiar with Gregorry Orr, but I love that concept! I'd definitely like to read more! Any recommendations?
"They aren’t my babies. They’re not my children. Just some things I found. Just some things I was given. They were never meant to stay." I resonated with this so deeply - I've been finding so much greater purpose and fulfillment in trying to write in a way that gives meaning to others and then lets go. Thank you for helping me articulate this creative philosophy
Thank you so much Claire! I can't express how much it means to be that this meant something to you! I'm starting to find that it's the letting go that is the most pivotal and catalytic part of my whole creative process. Thanks so much for reading!
So true, Duane. I am with you on this one when it comes to collaging. It is liberating! Thats why I keep returning to it time and time again. Each session I challenge myself to push a little further. And like you said, if it doesn’t turn out ok, I let go and move on. I also love that it is a sustainable practice.
Yes! Sustainability! In so many ways. You can keep making and making and it never gets old because the source material is always different, your reponse to it is never the same. But its also sustainable in that the mishaps, the mistakes, the failures, and the fodder just becomes more source material to feed back into the process of making new work.
Absolutely. That is the difficulty! And oh has it taken me such a long time to start getting there! But that's the nature of the practice. The thing no one tells you is that the process of letting go isn't something you do only once. It's not a one time, life-altering, event. But something you have to do continually. With each new piece. With each new work. In some small way. It starts with recognizing what letting go might look like for you and the work you do, and asking what actions you can incrementally take to do it.
For me, its the culmination of two things; having a daily practice and sharing it. I committ to making something everyday. I start with a blank page and I fill it. I try to do it quickly and I try not to overthink it,. And then I show my work. If it sucks, if it's terrible, if I hate it, it doesn't matter, because tomorrow I'll do it all over again. Tomorrow I'll make soemthign new. Progression and improvement will start to happen naturally and you'll have a documented timeline to see it happening.
I’ve been learning this through the process of writing my newsletter. I held off on writing in a public manner for so long because I would fall in love with ideas and know I wasn’t good enough to execute them to my tastes.
My collage practice has been lacking though. I miss it. Thanks for the inspiration!
My pleasure! I couldn't be happier if any if this helps in any way. I find that the "publish" button can be one if the most helpful aids in this practice. You have literally let go of the work as soon as you press it.. It's out in the world. It's gone. Its no longer yours, and there's no point in worrying about it any more.
I really hope you start making more collages again! Can't wait to see them!
I also try to follow this path. I try not get caught up in my perfectionist tendency to conflate being done with creating something that ticks every box known and unknown. I’m almost never satisfied still but when things are released they can sometimes show themselves to me better than if I stare at them in isolation.
You nailed it Davin! When you release it, when you let it go, when you share it, and put it out there, you start to see the work Ina whole new way. You start to see everything differently! Thanks so much for sharing that!
And by clearing your head and heart by letting go, you’re filling ours, your readers, with your works of art. We absorb them and in return, we give our joy to others. Like a stream, flowing endlessly.
That's most beautiful thing I could ever ask for. That's everything! Thank you so much Joyce! That genuinely means so much to me!
yes! returning and returning. a river of art (this is what Gregorry Orr is talking about when he writes about "the book the body of the beloved" - he had a concept of a great book of art that contained all the art and was constantly providing meaning
Exactly, our only purpose is to keep feeding the river! I'm not familiar with Gregorry Orr, but I love that concept! I'd definitely like to read more! Any recommendations?
Sadly Orr doesn’t seem to have written much about the concept, but he has talked about it quite a bit in interviews and here’s a great short summary! https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/poet-gregory-orr-poetry-is-concentrated-testimony-of-being-a-human-being
Nice! Thanks so much! Looking forward to diving in!
Great read and interesting pieces, thanks
Thank you! I really apprecie it!
"They aren’t my babies. They’re not my children. Just some things I found. Just some things I was given. They were never meant to stay." I resonated with this so deeply - I've been finding so much greater purpose and fulfillment in trying to write in a way that gives meaning to others and then lets go. Thank you for helping me articulate this creative philosophy
Thank you so much Claire! I can't express how much it means to be that this meant something to you! I'm starting to find that it's the letting go that is the most pivotal and catalytic part of my whole creative process. Thanks so much for reading!
Thank you for the reminder not to be too precious about it! Let it flow. Gorgeous art and wonderful message, thank you.
Thanks Jenn! It's definitely something I have to remind myself of everyday. Every time I step to my work bench to start a new piece.
I needed that reminder too! so much of the art world encourages us to take ourselves too seriously and this was lovely
Thanks again Claire! My mantra these days is "always take the work seriously, but never yourself" lol
🙏 Thanks so much for post!
My pleasure! Thank you for reading, and for taking the time to comment!
Good stuff
Thanks Kevin! I appreciate it!
So true, Duane. I am with you on this one when it comes to collaging. It is liberating! Thats why I keep returning to it time and time again. Each session I challenge myself to push a little further. And like you said, if it doesn’t turn out ok, I let go and move on. I also love that it is a sustainable practice.
Yes! Sustainability! In so many ways. You can keep making and making and it never gets old because the source material is always different, your reponse to it is never the same. But its also sustainable in that the mishaps, the mistakes, the failures, and the fodder just becomes more source material to feed back into the process of making new work.
Absolutely!
I agree. If only I could internalize it 😁
Absolutely. That is the difficulty! And oh has it taken me such a long time to start getting there! But that's the nature of the practice. The thing no one tells you is that the process of letting go isn't something you do only once. It's not a one time, life-altering, event. But something you have to do continually. With each new piece. With each new work. In some small way. It starts with recognizing what letting go might look like for you and the work you do, and asking what actions you can incrementally take to do it.
For me, its the culmination of two things; having a daily practice and sharing it. I committ to making something everyday. I start with a blank page and I fill it. I try to do it quickly and I try not to overthink it,. And then I show my work. If it sucks, if it's terrible, if I hate it, it doesn't matter, because tomorrow I'll do it all over again. Tomorrow I'll make soemthign new. Progression and improvement will start to happen naturally and you'll have a documented timeline to see it happening.
🙌 I need to print this out!
I’ve been learning this through the process of writing my newsletter. I held off on writing in a public manner for so long because I would fall in love with ideas and know I wasn’t good enough to execute them to my tastes.
My collage practice has been lacking though. I miss it. Thanks for the inspiration!
My pleasure! I couldn't be happier if any if this helps in any way. I find that the "publish" button can be one if the most helpful aids in this practice. You have literally let go of the work as soon as you press it.. It's out in the world. It's gone. Its no longer yours, and there's no point in worrying about it any more.
I really hope you start making more collages again! Can't wait to see them!
'They were never meant to stay! - Needed to hear this!
So glad to hear that Richard! It's something I have to remind myself of constantly!
I also try to follow this path. I try not get caught up in my perfectionist tendency to conflate being done with creating something that ticks every box known and unknown. I’m almost never satisfied still but when things are released they can sometimes show themselves to me better than if I stare at them in isolation.
You nailed it Davin! When you release it, when you let it go, when you share it, and put it out there, you start to see the work Ina whole new way. You start to see everything differently! Thanks so much for sharing that!
Yes! “Permanent impermanence” - love that! The acceptance of the perpetual wrestling with paradox.