The Artist's Way
Pull Back to Block
Tuesday, January 14, 1997
I’ve just finished reading a bit of The Artist's Way. It stresses that a person’s life is all they have and what they do with it determines who they are and will be. It identifies that when I’m on the verge of artistic freedom and pull back to do something else, I am doing it to block my own artistic progress. Very well.
Motivation Within
Sunday, May 19, 1996
I rented a video and went to bed early last night. No carving. However, I thought a lot about carving.
I read a little from The Artist’s Way. It’s a comfort to know that others experience artist’s block too.
I thought about my lack of will, my escapist desire to be elsewhere, anywhere "the action is", and realized that this is the challenge I'll need to face next in life. I will need to find motivation, guidance and power within to live creatively.
I read a little from The Artist’s Way. It’s a comfort to know that others experience artist’s block too.
I thought about my lack of will, my escapist desire to be elsewhere, anywhere "the action is", and realized that this is the challenge I'll need to face next in life. I will need to find motivation, guidance and power within to live creatively.
Artist Anger
Wednesday, April 24, 1996
I’ve been miserable lately, I think because I haven’t done much in the way of art. I have had a craving to read the book The Artist’s Way again, and did so last night. The author explained that artists do become angry and destructive if they are not creating, because the artist’s child within is fighting for its life. The artist needs to create.
Perhaps my bitterness and cynicism and blaming of late is due more to my own lack of time spent on art, than on the things that others have done or not done. Those things that others have done or not done certainly seem to fade into the background when I am creating. I know that when I am involved in my art my happiness overflows and not much can get me down.
Perhaps my bitterness and cynicism and blaming of late is due more to my own lack of time spent on art, than on the things that others have done or not done. Those things that others have done or not done certainly seem to fade into the background when I am creating. I know that when I am involved in my art my happiness overflows and not much can get me down.
Treating Self As Precious Object
Thursday, February 22, 1996
"We only have a chance of accomplishing that which we actually do." Mike Mentzer
Though Mike advocates a punishing routine to accomplish his goals (he is a body builder), Julia Cameron speaks about treating ourselves as precious objects. She explains that "treating myself like a precious object will make me strong."
How do I treat myself as precious?
I value the time I have and don't waste it on junk activities that clutter and take away from what is important.
Though Mike advocates a punishing routine to accomplish his goals (he is a body builder), Julia Cameron speaks about treating ourselves as precious objects. She explains that "treating myself like a precious object will make me strong."
How do I treat myself as precious?
I value the time I have and don't waste it on junk activities that clutter and take away from what is important.
My Ideal Work-Live Environment
Friday, February 09, 1996
The latest exercise in The Artist's Way asks me to envision my ideal work-live environment.
My ideal environment is wilderness - in fact right where I am currently living in Faro, Yukon. My favourite season is Fall. There is a magic atmosphere in Fall when things are changing - smells, colours, anticipation of the first snow.
I love a warm, sunny, Fall day - remembering Johnson Lake, lying in the grass and leaves on the hill by the shore and watching Miranda and the kids sail and canoe on the lake. There is a stillness and beauty in such days, moments in eternity.
My ideal environment is wilderness - in fact right where I am currently living in Faro, Yukon. My favourite season is Fall. There is a magic atmosphere in Fall when things are changing - smells, colours, anticipation of the first snow.
I love a warm, sunny, Fall day - remembering Johnson Lake, lying in the grass and leaves on the hill by the shore and watching Miranda and the kids sail and canoe on the lake. There is a stillness and beauty in such days, moments in eternity.
At Eight and Eighty from Year Thirty Four
Monday, January 29, 1996
Time Travel Exercises from The Artist's Way: 'Describe Yourself at Eighty and also at Eight'
I think of myself at eight. The whole world was ahead of me, but rarely did I stop to think about where I wanted to be at thirty-four. To an eight year old, thirty-four is forever away. I remember wanting to be thirteen so I could drive! I remember playing with friends and trying to look older by wrinkling my eyes. Teenagers were impossibly sophisticated and way out of reach, and to be thirty-four? Unthinkable!
When I think of being eighty and looking back, I used to think I would say to myself, "Experience life. Live to the full." Partly because eighty is a lifetime away for me now, it is just as unthinkable. But thirty-four has come to this eight year old and so too will eighty. Now both ages say to me, "Make something of your life. Choose something and stick to it."
There are many great paths. Too many, perhaps? My parents encouraged me by saying that I could do anything. But not to choose something is to wander, to do nothing.
I choose sculpture.
I think of myself at eight. The whole world was ahead of me, but rarely did I stop to think about where I wanted to be at thirty-four. To an eight year old, thirty-four is forever away. I remember wanting to be thirteen so I could drive! I remember playing with friends and trying to look older by wrinkling my eyes. Teenagers were impossibly sophisticated and way out of reach, and to be thirty-four? Unthinkable!
When I think of being eighty and looking back, I used to think I would say to myself, "Experience life. Live to the full." Partly because eighty is a lifetime away for me now, it is just as unthinkable. But thirty-four has come to this eight year old and so too will eighty. Now both ages say to me, "Make something of your life. Choose something and stick to it."
There are many great paths. Too many, perhaps? My parents encouraged me by saying that I could do anything. But not to choose something is to wander, to do nothing.
I choose sculpture.
Artist's Date
Friday, January 19, 1996
The 'Artist's Date', as recommended in the book The Artist's Way, went well last night. I'm proud of my accomplishment: the work bench is now finished. I thought the idea of Artist Dates was a little hooky, but experience tells me that they are actually quite a pleasant experience. They also go a long way to solidifying my identity as an artist!
High School Art Lesson
Saturday, January 13, 1996
My high school art teacher, Mary Eaton, did me a great favour when she critiqued my clay pot which collapsed and became an abstract face. I scratched a hasty design on the back, which she explained was poor, not on its own merits, but because it was not consistent with the design of the piece as a whole. Years later I remember that lesson. She was absolutely correct.
An excerpt from The Artist's Way describes a central problem faced by artists when they are overly focused on outcome, they lose creativity. A corrective prayer or mantras might be "God, I'll take care of the quantity, if you'll take care of the quality."
An excerpt from The Artist's Way describes a central problem faced by artists when they are overly focused on outcome, they lose creativity. A corrective prayer or mantras might be "God, I'll take care of the quantity, if you'll take care of the quality."
Beginning of Morning Pages
Monday, January 08, 1996
Today is my first day of 'Morning Pages'. I have found the first chapter of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way quite freeing. Framing art as a positive alternative/choice with successful options is a giant mental leap and one well worth taking. I have decided to simplify my life and concentrate on art. I have told the Church Board that I will be resigning from the church this spring.
