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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Solitude and Art

"Solitude is not something you must hope for in the future. Rather, it is a deepening of the present, and unless you look for it in the present you will never find it."
Thomas Merton

Solitude could be a another word for creativity. It certainly is a requisite for getting any work done in this studio. There is so much anxiety about carving. Worrying about how long and slow the process is grinds up against the fear of removing too much too soon. It isn't until I relax into the process and just enjoy making a mess that the art can begin.

3 comments:

Susan Gallacher-Turner said...

So true..so true.

Getting in there and just doing it and letting the mistakes reveal their magic. Even if the magic isn't visible at the time, it usually reveals itself later.

Susan

patrickgracewood said...

Thanks Susan. It's about showing up. The muse doesn't strike if you're not already there working.

Bob Tinsley said...

Patrick, I couldn't have put it better. Anxiety and worry over moving too slowly measured against the fear of taking too much off too fast. A delicate balancing act. The hard part is overcoming those fears and just getting started. Once you've begun cutting the fears decrease to the point of disappearing. At least until you stop and have to get started again.

Bob