When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say,
"I used everything You gave me."
~Erma Bombeck

 photo 050-Black-EmailIcons-.png photo 050-Black-FacebookIcons-.png photo 050-Black-PinterestIcons-.png photo 050-Black-TwitterIcons-.png 050-Black-RssIcons-.png 050-Black-InstagramIcons-.png 050-Black-EtsyIcons-.png 050-Black-BloglovinIcons-.png

February 22, 2010

Monday Musings... Creativity


A recent email thread between myself and Gay at It's a Hodgepodge Life has had me thinking. You see, Gay posted this lovely project (featured as a Friday Favorite a couple of weeks back I might add) and it was a major hit. Gay was pleasantly surprised that something she thought was so simple would get such rave reviews. I had a little "conversation" if you will with Gay via email about why we make what we do. I have also had this conversation with my "little sister" in the past few weeks.

I have a deep desire to take my creativity to a higher level, I want to bring joy to others when they look at what I do. I'm guessing the joy is in the creating and the rest just falls into place. Either people feel that same joy when they see my creations, or they don't. What one person absolutely loves, someone else might not. And... that's okay, we all have a personal preference right? So what is holding me back.... FEAR! More than anything I want to overcome this and show my daughters the joy is in creating, not what others think of your creations.

My mother for many years lacked confidence in her artistic ability and worried constantly what others thought. Was it good enough? Was it good enough to sell in a gallery? Would someone want to buy it? I have followed in her footsteps in lacking that confidence to step out and let my creativity just flow, not comparing it to others or wondering if it will be welcomed and accepted. I want to break out of this shell and move forward. Mom did, but I think she realized it a little late. Thank goodness she fought it enough that she left many lovely paintings for us to remember her artistic spirit by.

Yes, I have rambled on. But this is "Monday Musings" right? These quotes come from the margins of the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I've just begun reading and am looking forward to doing some soul searching with the exercises she suggests.

We must accept that this creative pulse within us
is God's creative pulse itself. ~Joseph Chilton Pearce

It is the creative potential itself in human beings
 that is the image of God.~Mary Daly

Creativity is harnessing universality and making
it flow through your eyes. ~Peter Koestenbaum

Why should we all use our creative power?
Because there is nothing that makes people so
generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate,
so indifferent to fighting
and the accumulation of objects and money.
~Brenda Ueland

I think the last quote says it all. Please share in the comments why you create.

7 comments:

  1. I feel that same way too sometimes Lanie. Love your post today.
    I create because it makes me happy. I enjoy spending time with my friends creating something the most because we learn so much from each other. We get so excited when we learn something new, like a new technique.
    I heard a quote this weekend that I loved at out Ladies Conference, I will share it with you.
    While looking in the mirror at myself I say...
    "It's none of your buisness what anybody else thinks of you!" Love that.
    Hugs,
    Tara

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lanie, this is so sweet. After our "convo" I started thinking again about why I craft and what makes me happy. You said it so well here. When I teach my preschoolers, I am constantly reminding myself...it is the process, not the product, because I constantly want to "fix" things. But when we craft from the heart and enjoy the process, as you said...the rest falls into place. We need to enjoy our process more, simply because it makes us happy.
    ~Gay~

    ReplyDelete
  3. you have a blog award in my blog

    http://mrsbendersandhaileyandtylersmommy.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-won-my-1st-blogging-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. I create simply because I must! The years when I had toddlers and put all things artsy aside, were void of a richer experience. As a educated artist it has taken me years to overlook the faults and just go for it. I used to paint murals and could not believe that people would actually pay me for what I saw as so flawed. But then several years ago, a friend who founded a huge arts program for children sent out a blanket email asking for donations for a fund raising event. I truly felt like God told me to create an art piece and donate it. I fought it for days and finally made this unbelievable multimedia piece. I dropped it off and criticized it's flaws all the way home. At the auction it brought in more money than any other piece (hundreds of dollars). It was then that I realized I was limiting God in what he has given me.

    So... GO FOR IT!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. God moves me to create. It's my being, I like what Mary Daly says in your post
    "It is the creative potential itself in human beings
    that is the image of God.~Mary Daly"
    In my blog ...today's post, I say we are all artist in one form or another.
    Sure good to meet you, glad you stopped by.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much. This is exactly what I needed to read today!
    Best of luck!
    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know what you mean Lanie, why I put so much emphasis on what other people will think really bothers me. I guess it's just that "I want to make a little money for my family" or the "are you really good enough" that gets me thinking that way. Really, I just need to hand it over to God and create for Him because he is the ultimate creator and it's my simple way of thanking him for creating me!

    ReplyDelete