Waiting for Inspiration
Yesterday I wrote:
Some weeks things just aren’t right for creative work and Ive learned not to push it. When I’m ready I know I’ll return, but right now I need some time to focus on other things.
Baloney.
I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that I need to wait to be inspired to work creatively. I believe I need to go and work in my studio everyday, no matter how I am feeling, and things will click and start to work. It’s rather lame to believe that some divine inspiration will come sweeping out of nowhere and I should sit and wait for it. That is just not what I think or believe. Art is a product of hard work, not divine intervention.
So why did I write that?
Because last week I did a lot of thinking about the things in my life and I decided that I needed to make some changes. Change is hard. Leaving the comfortable is hard. But it is no excuse to take a break from my art.
So as soon as I make some homemade whole wheat waffles and buy some apples for apple butter at the farmers market I’m headed to the studio to finish the binding on Structures #57 and start quilting Structures #58.
Posted by Lisa in: Inspiration
Schnoobie said,
October 1, 2006 @ 9:32 am
yep, you were right! That statement was total baloney. The proof is in your large body of work.The proof is in my very sporadic almost non-existant body of work.I admire your discipline and focus. Change is sometimes hard but usually good.You’ve got a great momentum going and I’m sure all the gears will fall into place!
Deanna said,
October 1, 2006 @ 9:55 am
I agree that it’s important to get into your studio and do some work, if you feel inspired or not - something will happen once you’re there… But I also try to give myself a break - if I’m not able to make the time to get to the studio, I don’t beat myself up about it. I know that if I’m not there, I’m still thinking. And for me, the time away from the work can be a bit of an “incubation period.” Looking at other artist’s work will give me ideas - “Hmmm… maybe I’ll try something like that on that large piece I’m working on…” So for me, it’s a balance of working and thinking about the work while I’m not working.
KJ said,
October 1, 2006 @ 9:58 am
Never-the-less, sometimes we have to leave the workplace to get our head on straight, to be less a machine and more in tune with the real world. I’ve been watching the turtles in the lake… their noses are little dark specks in the water while their bodies are floating just beneath the surface. We need to stick our noses out too… even leave the water from time to time… but not too far.
Lisa Call said,
October 1, 2006 @ 10:45 am
Thanks for the very supportive comments everyone. I’m in a funky mood these days.
KJ and Deanna I completely agree that we need to take a break and stay in touch with the real world outside our studios once in a while. One of the things I decided I needed to change last week was to make more time to get to the mountains. I used to go hiking or backpacking at least once a month but the last 2 summers I haven’t been even once. Other things were taking up my time and while those things were good they ended up not being what was right for me.
KJ - I love the turtle analogy.
But even still - I’ve been moping around feeling sad and that is not a good reason to quilt. In fact it is a great reason to go to the studio as I find much of my work (the hours and hours of machine quilting) to be a great place to meditate and think about my life. In times like this I usually return from my studio much happier than I approached it. I just need to kick myself in the butt and remember this everyone once in a while.
Schnoobie - thanks for the encouragement. And I know you are right - once I get used this things everything will fall in place. It’s just going to take some time to adjust. And the studio is a great place to do that.
Lori Witzel said,
October 1, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
All I can say is…
Know what that feeling is like, and greatly admire your pushing through it.
Have been in a worn-out place myself, and despite it went out today to look at things, camera in hand. Harsh bright mid-day light, hot, nothing engaging which could also be caught and shared. But (having downloaded pix caught on that wander) I found there are one or two worth the time.
Hang in there — sometimes the creative work is the best belay in times of flux and wear.
Omega said,
October 2, 2006 @ 1:20 am
I sometimes think that our progress through life is like negotiating a maze. We can take the right turn and move forward smoothly for a while, and then suddenly we encounter a barrier. Initially it’s difficult to turn and set off again without some feelings of frustration, anger, despair, whatever, but soon enough we go forward again with a new perspective.
Cynthia said,
October 2, 2006 @ 7:31 am
I too have been in a funk Lisa, I’m changing mediums and trying to find my way which is a difficult process. Interestingly, it’s you who is inspiring me to bring it all to the table so to speak, even though I’ve only “met” you a few weeks ago.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing to take breaks once in awhile. If I’m not in the mood to work in my studio, I sometimes will just go there and start straightening up. One thing often leads to another and I just might start something or sketch. What I am trying to do is to discipline myself to sketch everyday, even if it’s just doodles without the notion that these will become something.
I agree that balance is everything and sometimes it’s delicate.
shan said,
October 2, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
I have been in a funk as well–maybe it’s the time of year and all the bad news as of late. Sometimes getting in the studio is the best thing to do during times like this–for me anyhow. Thanks for sharing Lisa.
Felicity said,
October 3, 2006 @ 1:59 am
Well said Lisa. Sometimes inspiration fails and I need a break but that’s usually because I let things get to me. I found out when I was a teenager, after big long periods without inspiration, that if I just sat down and drew, the inspiration came - just like that! Big lightbulb moment for me!
Schnoobie said,
October 3, 2006 @ 9:24 pm
Hey Funky Bunch!!
Ain’t it grand that we can all share our thoughts about the strange and wonderful experience we call creativity? It’s such a huge comfort to be able to communicate about it . I love reading everyones input!
Lisa Call said,
October 4, 2006 @ 11:15 am
Thank you again everyone for the comments. Schnoobie I agree - it is really nice to have this type of forum to read each others thoughts.
This week has been crazy with after school kid things so there really hasn’t been much time to quilt, and then the paperwork for the shows I got into. So it has been a good natural break - busy with other things. Although I’m still managing an hour or so a day in the studio on top of everything else. I’m looking forward to getting back to the studio with full force this weekend,