Recently I have committed to the 12 step program "The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron.. Now I had read this book through at least 3 times but never followed the program chapter by chapter. If you have never read "The Artist's Way" I highly recommend it. This book can be used by artists or anyone that is attempting to find more creativity within.
" One of the great misconceptions about the artistic life is that it entails great swathes of aimlessness. The truth is that a creative life involves great swathes of attention. Attention is a way to connect and survive" Julia Cameron-The Artist's Way"
She is talking about paying attention to details of everyday life. Your life right now. Finding delight and wonder in the little things even when your life is falling apart. As you do this you realize that every moment is "not without its beauty".
Paying attention, seeing the details is a way to connect with life around you and in turn it helps "fill the well" of your artistic creativity.
I don't know about you but after 4 or 5 shows I feel completely drained. I find myself devoid of new ideas. To help refill my well I start to flood myself with images, sights, sounds, smells. I give myself permission for artistic play dates or mini vacations: read a book, take walks, take photos, go shopping, catch up with friends, burn a fragrant candle while I'm working, listen to some music I haven't heard for awhile, go bird watching, walk on the beach, go to the vintage paper fair, go to the thrift store or flea market, go to lunch and people watch while I'm eating...anything I can do to flood myself with sensory input. Most importantly while on my artistic play dates I try to pay attention to detail.
To this end I have also designed a project for myself. Every week I will take images of details around me.. These images will be printed out and placed in a journal that I can reference when I need to. They might even end up in new collages or assemblages. I will also put these images up on my blog weekly so that anyone reading this blog may see them as well.
For anyone that is blocked artistically or just looking for more creativity in your life I invite you to "see the details" and start your own detail journal. And just like Julia Cameron states in The Artist's Way " The reward for attention is always healing".
Image above: I found this great vine curl this week. Symmetry of life.
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