A few years ago, I worked my way through the Artist's Way. I found the process to be extremely helpful in getting me past my writer's block and I followed the program dilligently - except for one component. In all twelve weeks, I did the Artist's Date exactly once.
I know in my head that play time fills the soul. And I know that the repetitive motions of knitting can spark creativity and be enormously soothing. Yet I seldom set aside time just to knit unless I'm watching a movie with my kids,out on a knit date or on a road trip. And I know, too that I chose knitting as my play because I usually have a product at the end that someone can use. This makes the time easier to justify.
But human beings need to play in order to be happy. And the benefits of creative time spill over in to so many other aspects of our lives. Blondie, one of my favourite bloggers wrote in a recent post she wrote after a night of insomnia:
...I got up and went to the couch. Sitting on the footrest was the latest cross stitch project I've been working on. It hadn't been touched since sometime last week. I can't even remember when I started it? I picked it up and worked on a little flower. In no time at all, I felt my body and spirit relaxing. I realized I was holding my entire body slightly UP and in a very unusual and stiff way. I was wound up TIGHT. If you touched me, I probably would have zapped you with a long, blue, electric arc. But after a half hour of stitching, I was much more calm. Even the kittehs seemed more relaxed. Collectively, we were detoxing. And after I made some good stitching progress, I made myself go lie back down and try to sleep. Eventually, I did.
Blondie called her post "Prescription for Art." I think this is perfect. Indulging our creative needs should not be an afterthought but a prescription for mental health and happiness. As Blondie points out in her post, art is good for our bodies and our spirits. We should all make time for it. The product need not be perfect. It's the process that matters.
We can't all make great, or even good art. But perhaps this prescription applies most of all to those of us who would never call ourselves "artists." We can all seek inspiration in the world (and from art of all kinds) to make stuff and make ourselves a little happier.
11 comments:
Amen!! I am so glad you are also benefiting from the prescription. My art is FAR from perfect, but it does help my spirit--and body. I love you, my dear!
back at you, Blondie! xo
My mother just discovered the same thing when dealing with my father's final illness and death. She realized that the days she found time to work on her latest cross stitch project were the days she then felt able to deal with the piles of paperwork and decisions that needed to be made.
Love this insightful posting. I love Julia Cameron, and I must admit, I don't go on artist's dates enough. I like the prescription reference.
I love the Artist's date, though I will admit that it's one of the first things to go when life gets hectic. Though it's probably when I need it most... but I'm getting better. (I'm home in jeans at the moment, because I needed that.)
What defines art? What defines an artist? Good, bad... or otherwise? Is it simply like running, where the simple act of defining yourself as a runner makes you one?
I decided that indeed I am an artist, I am a poet and a writer... (and a runner too for that matter.) Then maybe the label doesn't matter. But as you say, the importance is in process. But if the "hobby" label is holding you back, then perhaps it's time to let it go too...
No clue what the point of this was... probably that I need to start blogging again.
thanks to each of you for sharing your wisdom. it makes me feel that i'm on the right track.
After watching Blondie benefit so much from it, I started needlepointing again. I am now making her a large rooster doorstop, because she totally needs one.
everyone needs a rooster doorstop.
Loss of identity through loss of work. It’s interesting because we were having a conversation at our page about identity loss through the physical changes, you know hair gone, weight change, energy evaporation, so your mentioning your journey after leaving full-time work is a fresh take on the conversation.
I love your idea of not reinventing the wheel. And hey, maybe the more ‘Things’ you have, the more rich you become? Good luck in finding what makes you happy.
I can relate to what each of you is saying here. It's reassuring to no that post resonates with so many of you.
process is all the matter, I like that words :)
a perfect product without process is no higher in value than ordinary product from complicate process. people who hard work are usually do these...
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