the War of Art

Wild brumbies, photo taken east of Wiluna, Western Australia

"Look in your own heart.  Unless I'm crazy, right now a still small voice is piping up, telling you as it has ten thousand times, the calling that is yours and yours alone.  You know it.  No one has to tell you.  And unless I'm crazy, you're no closer to taking action on it than you were yesterday or will be tomorrow.  You think resistance isn't real?  Resistance will bury you.

You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist.  At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study.  He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts and later to the school of Architecture.  Ever see one of his paintings?  Neither have I.  Resistance beat him.  Call it overstatement but I'll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start WWII than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas."

excerpt from the war of art by steven pressfield

Pretty confronting stuff eh?  But haven't you felt it too?  I have tuned in to the whisperings of my heart, the still small voice that prompted me to take up my brush boldly and look fear in the face and start painting.  I have stepped through some fairly flaming hoops when it comes to acting on my dreams (starting my own business 5 months ago, launching my brand...).  But regardless, I am still faced with resistance every day, every time I so much as think about my next project or creation.    Most of the time it is a constant battle. There is this split between wanting to use my time for mothering, and also for creating and building my buiseness - (but that is for another blog post to come!) Occassionally the planets align, my muse is firing, the ideas are clear, the kids are... (I have children?!)  and there is a space in time that exists for me which is longer than a stolen minute here and a thieved minute there.  Time that stretches out quietly and empty waiting for me to be in it.  Long amounts of time bulging with possibility.  Occassionally... 

But most of the time it is a balancing act (or war?) between motherhood, excitement of a new idea birthed, fear of not being 'good enough' and resistance to begin the thing I desperately desire to do!   So I do acknowledge that resistance is a true enemy, but!  (and here's the saving grace) persistance is an ally that can stare resistance down and make it cringe and crawl back to the  dark place where it belongs.  Persistence is something I am trying to befriend and walk daily with.  Persistance is a very dear friend.  She is strong and wont take abuse from resistance at all.  She muscles her way in to the creative space and plonks herself in front of the blank square canvas.  Squares up to it and says "let me at it - I love a new beginning!"

So even though I'm at war with resistance, I am desperately trying to sow into my relationship with persistance.  I have always loved this poem and have recalled it to mind many times whilst studying, or in the middle of a course, or in disciplining my children for the tenth consecutive time in the same day over the same issue...  So I will leave you with the very wise words of Calvin Coolidge, he sums it all up so perfectly and profoundly...

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education alone will not; the word is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent

Paying it Forward...

A heartfelt thankyou goes out to the lovely Oonagh from CeltoiCroi who nominated me for this blog award.  There's my blue again!)  Go and check out her blog - she has the most beautiful, intricately burnt designs onto wood.   I would so love to have one of them in my house, especially the tree of life! 

And so now it is my turn to pay it forward to three lovely bloggers, so here goes...

Tracey of  'i close my eyes in order to see' is an absolute powerhouse.  If she's not sewing then she's scrapping, or teaching, or helpin gout down at the kids' school or fundraising or something.  The girl is a super-mum!  So check out her lovely things for sale here - especially those wrist bags, love 'em!

Jo Luscombe, of HOTSILVER is sooo HOT!  Yes, I am proud to say that this hottie is a friend of mine and an awesome silversmith artist to boot (amongst other talents as well - music, painting, house building, stained glass, murals... rennaisance woman i tell ya)  But if you'd like an original gift for a friend or a treat for yourself, go and have a look-see at her beautiful creations here on her site  

Last but certainly not least, I'd like to do a shout-out to the queen of clusters (the scrapbooking kind that is!) Poppysmum...  What can I say - every time i look at her scrapping, I just want to scraplift them all.  She has a great eye for design, colour and layout, and although she reckons it's all just pushin' paper around, she does it oh so very well!  Thanks Mel!  So go over to Blooming Poppy for a look and a scrap lift or two :)

Well folks, that's it for now.  I've just finished reading the War of Art by Steven Pressfield ( the Legend of Bagger Vance) and for any artists out there I thoroughly recommend it - absolutely!  As a matter of fact, I think I'll add a few more quotes to some up and coming posts.  I've said it before, but I have to say it again, he's really very kick-ass.  If you are resisting doing the very thing you want to do, the thing that your heart is aching to do but for some reason you are putting it off, then read his book.  It's for you !

On that note, I'll go and get stuck into my new book...  The Divided Heart by Rachel Power, which is already shapin gup to be a fabulous book.  More on that later too...

Good night all, x me

Hot on the heels of mother's day...

this looks interesting!  I am fascinated by mothering styles across our global village and different childrearing practices...  How beautiful is this!

Thoughts on Contributing in The Big Pond...

As some of you may know from this post, I was accepted a few weeks ago by the royal art collection to submit a piece for an exhibition in Dubai...  Having come through the process whereby I have been required to create a piece of work within a set theme and size dimensions, I now remember all too well why I made a decision at the start of the year not to do any commissions at all in 2010!

Something changes when I have parameters.  I think it has something to do with my sense of freedom, my 'painters self asteem' and the boundaries I place on myself to create something more awesome and new and wonderful than ever before.    Although I did have a theme and set size to work with, it was always my right to interpret that theme anyway I see fit, so technically I should have felt free to create away to my hearts content, but for some reason, I felt as though i was waaaay back at the beginning again.  All the old fears and worries raised their ugly heads.  The voice inside that says things like " who do you think you are being a part of this - have you seen the other entrants' work?"  "you've got to be kidding - who are you trying to fool"  and on and on, was very hard at work trying to distract me from my task at every turn. 

This is the very same voice that up until now I have dealt very harshly with and for the most part sent packing.  I recognise this 'voice' as part of my ego.  That part of me that actually wants to protect me from harm.  To protect me from failure and embarrassment and  critique.  And that's all well and good (thanks for looking out for me Ego) but I for one do not want to be kept captive to such limiting views.  I have always loved a good challenge.  Actually, in the past I think I have actually thrived on them ( which is why I accepted in the first place I suppose...).  So why is this work any different?  I'm not sure.  I think perhaps it's because a very personal and intimate part of ourselves is put 'out there' for all to see and critique and love or hate when we hang our art in an exhibition (and I've never exhibited before).  But my intuition, which has served me well thus far says to have a bit of faith in myself, that nothing is achieved by sitting back on my haunches.  That I have to get 'out there' where it's uncomfortable, in order to grow.  I do know I have a burning desire to 'sit' under another painter and be mentored and taught  I have SO much to learn, and I would just love to see how others apply paint and achieve their imaginings on canvas, so there's definitely a part of me that says "oh you're not ready for this - you're just so new, give it a while"  And so the battle goes!

 Yes, I still do feel like a very small fish in a very big pond when it comes to things like the Dubai Exhibition (I've seen the other artists - man are they good!) , but the practical side of me says that they didn't have to choose me if they didn't like my art.  "Yeah but they were probably short on artists and were just taking what they could get" (Mr Ego) Well, my answer to that?  Who cares!  For whatever reason, I was chosen, and that is a blessing and I'm thankful.  It's nice to have things swing my way once in a while ;)

The War of Art

"Why have i stressed professionalism so heavily in the preceding chapters?  Because the most important thing about art is to work.  Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.

Why is this so important?

Because when we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to happen.  A process is set into motion by which, inevitably and infallibly, heaven comes to our aid.  Unseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces our purpose.

This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers (insert 'artists' here if you like, or painter, or designer etc) don't.  When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us.  The Muse takes note of our dedication.  She approves.  We have earned favour in her sight.  When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetised rod that attracts iron filings.  Ideas come.  insights accrete.  Just as resistance has its seat in hell, so Creation has its home in heaven.  And it's not just a witness, but an eager and active ally."

Taken  from The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Steven Pressfield

I love this book - it is so kick - ass!!!

x me

For the Fallen

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day.  A day when Aussies and Kiwis remember the brave men and women who fought and served to protect our country, our way of life and our freedoms.   May we never forget their selfless acts of service and courage. 

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

 

New Zealand and Australian soldiers landing at Anzac Cove, 25 April 1915.

The Road to Dubai!

Hey folks - got some exciting news to share!  Last night I received an email to say that i'd been accepted to show a piece of art in an exhibition in Dubai through the Royal Art Collection!!!  To say I'm excited about this one is an understatement indeed.  Nervous as hell - absolutely.  I've got to make a May 12 deadline now for this painting, so the heat is ON!  Watch this space over the next few weeks as I tackle the challenge of painting to a theme and size restrictions.  But how cool to have a piece of my art on display in Dubai with others from around the globe! BIG Yay!!!  So I htink I'll have to start taking heed of my own words and trust in the direction that my dreams are leading me...

x me