Taken at Saint Louis Cemetery near the French Quarter in New Orleans.
I am rusty in blogging. I have been out of pocket of all things creative for most of the last several years. I was remarking to my friend John (a artist) that perhaps creativity is somewhat cyclic. Perhaps what I meant to say is that the need to create is somewhat cyclic. I am finding that I have gotten more than a wee bit lazy on the creative front. I like to tell myself that is predominantly because I have been busy and focusing on other aspects of my life. This is both truth and lie. I have been focusing on work and family; savoring time with my daughter and husband. I am learning how to middle age nest and preparing for the next phase of my life (truth). I have had no time to focus on the creative (lie). I have had time here and there to create, to feed the creative, to photograph, draw, write and scrapbook and instead of doing so, I have settled in to an old movie, every episode of Law and Order (cool sound effect) and vegetated or as my daughter would say, became one with the couch. I am highly proficient at being over-busy. I fill my day completely that at the end, all that is left of the cognitive and creative is little more than grey matter detritus.
I keep the spark alive by random acts of creativity and chance encounters of the poetic kind (a photographic book for my father, photos such as the one above, creating a news letter, a week or two of daily poeming, dropping into workshop, attending a class). Truth of the matter is that creativity takes work. Writing a poem that is publishable requires revising, submitting and facing rejection. Producing images that evoke emotion, that bring a moment to life and evoke thought take opportunity, insight and training.
The need to create in me is cyclic. The process of creating is hard work. I can't speak for anyone else. And so the cycle begins.
2 comments:
well the thing is nix, creative flow does come in cycles ,normally triggered by a momentary state of inspiration
its learning to eke that inspiration out over a period of work , for that something else is required -and that is discipline -thats hard for us all but no other way- often made more difficult for having to earn a livening by other means -but over the years you have done a good balancing act ,between work and creativity -love and sunshine - o i forgot you are in texas -ok love and a cool breeze
Jack,
Love and sunshine to you. Often when one thinks of discipline it is with displeasure; I like the thought that discipline is the ability to stretch inspiration through time. We are good in Texas this week, yesterday both a cool breeze and fall like weather. September is often a fickle month, 100 degrees one week, and 70's the next. Take care of you, Alek and Alex. much love :) nix
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