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.
