Dare I say your struggle strikes a deep and familiar chord in my own quest for authenticity? I dare. The tingle, or itch, of a restless spirit. We long for more. Unchartered experiences in a world that is so common. The elusive explosion of bliss when we have arrived at that end of a piece. That flight you take requires so much courage. If only it were sold in vending machines.
Ah..... While reading, I immediately thought of being in PT this past Wednesday. The exercise has been to stand on the compromised leg and reach the other leg out toward a red cup placed on the floor....just out of reach. It has been one of the harder exercises to do, as all my body weight is on the recovering leg. I began and it felt every-so-slightly easier. The PT wizard came around and said "Hang on a minute, I wanted to change that up for you." Like he was doing me a favor! He put a 2" piece of firm foam (is foam every really firm?) under the recovering leg. A complete game changer!! I was so off center, wobbly and it suddenly became SO hard! I voiced my concerns and he said "Just because it's harder, doesn't mean you're not on track. It means you're challenging your leg to get stronger." I continued to wobble away! Parker J. Palmer wrote an entire book on "standing on the edge of the unknown" intitled "On The Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity And Getting Old." In it he explores the notion of 'not knowing' and what a beautiful thing that is. I say, "thank you" for sharing your journey with us in this all important and encompassing piece of your life; your art! Wobble away for awhile...you'll land on firm footing and be a stronger artist for it!!
"Just because it's harder, doesn't mean you're not on track. It means you're challenging (yourself") I love this quote and it really rings true. I ordered Parker Palmers book. I was unaware of and loved his book on teaching. Kepp up the good PT work.
Knocking on the door to our deeper authenticity is scary. As humans we crave repetition, yet we also crave the thrill of surprising ourselves, and taking those wobbly steps into the unknown. We usually, I usually, end of playing it safe and “doing what I know works”.
An amazing art teacher of mine, Connie Solara has shown me through her teaching system her own bravery and approach to this very exact question that you are posing. The richness, the passion, the excitement that can be uncovered from our artist soul is my bullseye. If we are willing to listen and trust our artist soul we can expose that deeper layer. Time draws shorter, I’m 75, if not now when??
I'll be 72 in 46 days, so yeah, it's now or never and I'm loving it. The trick is to just keep moving forward and follow the instincts we've already acquired. Thanks for your wisdom.
Life is good. Creating anything is good. It doesn't have to be original in the strictest use of that word. It's already original because it was created by you. The term "Inner artist" strongly suggests you make something out of nothing. Well, even if you are using someone else's pattern to make something, it becomes uniquely your creation., therefore your "art". I can't draw, but I can incorporate someone else's drawing into a quilt or a card that I make.
I hope there is a place for me in this community of ageing artists, because I am looking for a home where creators/artists of all kinds are welcome. Authenticity is something that comes from within. It is not "approved" by an outside influence. Say you are an artist, and you are an artist.
I will be 82 years old soon, and I am still singing the same wonderful tune of creativity in all it's many forms to all who will listen, making their world a better place which is my intention.
One thing that tells me I am stepping beyond my comfort zone is when I get rejected by a juror in a show, or post it only to hear crickets and then months later I realize as I look at the piece again that I was on to something. I too often produce and let the community tell me 👍or 👎. I am trying to make stuff, put it away, and take a look later. The gut tells me more than the audience
I've always been ahead of my time, a pioneer of sorts. I'd rather be there than at the back of the pack. We have the courage to be the ones blazing the way.
Well Lesley, once again your post hits home with me. I seem to jump from one art medium to another and endeavor to improve/use/try new techniques as I go along. I get the question from those around me.."what are you going to do with it?" and my response is always, "I like to make stuff". When making that bores me, I move on... At 72, I know time is limited but I've had some really great role models over the years who reached over 100 years young and never stopped growing and learning.
Authenticity is why we're here...like the saying, just be yourself cause everyone else is taken. Great post!
When I made the transition from traditional quilter to art quilting I read about other art quilters for probably a whole year, but never made anything. My husband was listening to me chatter about something I was learning or processing about art quilting and said “You just need to stop thinking about it and make something!” 😂 So when I transitioned from art quilter to mixed media a few years later I followed a similar path of reading and research first, but this time I told myself to get out of my head and just make something already. I’m still feeling my way forward for authenticity but I love what I’m making in the meantime.
I, too, am apt to do a lot of research. At my age, I figured I already had all the knowledge I needed so this time around I just started. Today the instructor said my pieces were really great. Following my heart, innate knowledge and intuition, plus trusting my eye was all I needed to do. Onward & upward.
What you want to do, is to sit quietly before your work. Do some deep breathing. Finally start when you feel fully relaxed. Paint a few strokes... feel confident that you are going to paint exactly how you feel, take each small step one at a time, then progress, knowing you will know exactly what is needed. You have intuition. Use it!!
This essay really hit me and helped to clarify some changes I’m experiencing in my own artistic process. Currently I’m adding watercolor to my mixed media pieces. There are such beautiful colors being produced by individual artists. Fun to explore. I’m also taking an online course through Fiber Arts Take Two, Process and Possibilities, Discovering Your Visual Language with Lorna Crane. Wonderful. And I’ve recently started coming to terms with the idea that my work often lacks authenticity. Difficult to accept that. But I’m looking more deeply inside. It’s both frightening and exhilarating. Thanks Lesley for opening the door.
Yes, frightening and exhilarating. I also felt both while working on these large pieces (42x60" and 40x40". So much space to fill, but I brought them to completion, one step at a time.
You'll get to the authenticity part. Just keep following the what ifs, who cares, I like it attitude.
Lesley today I had lunch with a very good friend. We’ve known each other since we were three. She’s also an artist and when I told her about my feelings about authenticity and my work, she responded that my layering process felt very authentic to her. I was grateful for her response. But inside, I know I can get deeper, and really produce art that is more meaningful to me.
Your article comes at a time when I too am reinventing myself creatively. I tend to go through these cycles of 7-10 years and at the end of each cycle I feel bored and burnt out. So, I take huge leaps of faith and just do what my heart or authentic self is nudging me to do.
I absolutely recognise this, Lesley. At the moment it has me moving between media in a most unsettling way. And I hope we never lose the urge to find the new.
Moving between the media does feel unsettling at first, but then it becomes the norm as we sift through to find the gold. I doubt people like us will ever lose the urge. We can have a lull but we will always rise again.
This post, like so many of your others, is sooo inspiring for me, Lesley. I'm also heading toward 72, also a lifelong artist with lots of questions and insights that you touch upon in your meaningful writing. I too need to get ready to spread my wings in 2025. Get back to my visual art in a totally new way while still focusing on writing. After moving out of my big studio a year ago (wrote a post about that on my stack) I stopped making art and buckled down on my writing, Truth be told, I became tired of the large scale landscape work I'd been doing. So something new is bubbling ups I just don't know what...
I'll be popping in from time to time.. thank you Lesley.! P.S> I just bought your book "Inspirational Quotes Illustrated." Inspirational is right... it is so beautiful!
Dare I say your struggle strikes a deep and familiar chord in my own quest for authenticity? I dare. The tingle, or itch, of a restless spirit. We long for more. Unchartered experiences in a world that is so common. The elusive explosion of bliss when we have arrived at that end of a piece. That flight you take requires so much courage. If only it were sold in vending machines.
Yes, you wise woman. It's both scary and exhilarating. 12 days in and I'm hooked on the process.
Ah..... While reading, I immediately thought of being in PT this past Wednesday. The exercise has been to stand on the compromised leg and reach the other leg out toward a red cup placed on the floor....just out of reach. It has been one of the harder exercises to do, as all my body weight is on the recovering leg. I began and it felt every-so-slightly easier. The PT wizard came around and said "Hang on a minute, I wanted to change that up for you." Like he was doing me a favor! He put a 2" piece of firm foam (is foam every really firm?) under the recovering leg. A complete game changer!! I was so off center, wobbly and it suddenly became SO hard! I voiced my concerns and he said "Just because it's harder, doesn't mean you're not on track. It means you're challenging your leg to get stronger." I continued to wobble away! Parker J. Palmer wrote an entire book on "standing on the edge of the unknown" intitled "On The Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity And Getting Old." In it he explores the notion of 'not knowing' and what a beautiful thing that is. I say, "thank you" for sharing your journey with us in this all important and encompassing piece of your life; your art! Wobble away for awhile...you'll land on firm footing and be a stronger artist for it!!
"Just because it's harder, doesn't mean you're not on track. It means you're challenging (yourself") I love this quote and it really rings true. I ordered Parker Palmers book. I was unaware of and loved his book on teaching. Kepp up the good PT work.
Knocking on the door to our deeper authenticity is scary. As humans we crave repetition, yet we also crave the thrill of surprising ourselves, and taking those wobbly steps into the unknown. We usually, I usually, end of playing it safe and “doing what I know works”.
An amazing art teacher of mine, Connie Solara has shown me through her teaching system her own bravery and approach to this very exact question that you are posing. The richness, the passion, the excitement that can be uncovered from our artist soul is my bullseye. If we are willing to listen and trust our artist soul we can expose that deeper layer. Time draws shorter, I’m 75, if not now when??
I'll be 72 in 46 days, so yeah, it's now or never and I'm loving it. The trick is to just keep moving forward and follow the instincts we've already acquired. Thanks for your wisdom.
Life is good. Creating anything is good. It doesn't have to be original in the strictest use of that word. It's already original because it was created by you. The term "Inner artist" strongly suggests you make something out of nothing. Well, even if you are using someone else's pattern to make something, it becomes uniquely your creation., therefore your "art". I can't draw, but I can incorporate someone else's drawing into a quilt or a card that I make.
I hope there is a place for me in this community of ageing artists, because I am looking for a home where creators/artists of all kinds are welcome. Authenticity is something that comes from within. It is not "approved" by an outside influence. Say you are an artist, and you are an artist.
I will be 82 years old soon, and I am still singing the same wonderful tune of creativity in all it's many forms to all who will listen, making their world a better place which is my intention.
Live long and live well, make your mark!
Congratulations on 82 and still singing that tune. Is there any other way to embrace aging? We are definitely on the right track.
One thing that tells me I am stepping beyond my comfort zone is when I get rejected by a juror in a show, or post it only to hear crickets and then months later I realize as I look at the piece again that I was on to something. I too often produce and let the community tell me 👍or 👎. I am trying to make stuff, put it away, and take a look later. The gut tells me more than the audience
I've always been ahead of my time, a pioneer of sorts. I'd rather be there than at the back of the pack. We have the courage to be the ones blazing the way.
Well Lesley, once again your post hits home with me. I seem to jump from one art medium to another and endeavor to improve/use/try new techniques as I go along. I get the question from those around me.."what are you going to do with it?" and my response is always, "I like to make stuff". When making that bores me, I move on... At 72, I know time is limited but I've had some really great role models over the years who reached over 100 years young and never stopped growing and learning.
Authenticity is why we're here...like the saying, just be yourself cause everyone else is taken. Great post!
We are still young and in our prime creativity-wise. What's it for? To keep us happy and healthy. Thanks for your wise words.
When I made the transition from traditional quilter to art quilting I read about other art quilters for probably a whole year, but never made anything. My husband was listening to me chatter about something I was learning or processing about art quilting and said “You just need to stop thinking about it and make something!” 😂 So when I transitioned from art quilter to mixed media a few years later I followed a similar path of reading and research first, but this time I told myself to get out of my head and just make something already. I’m still feeling my way forward for authenticity but I love what I’m making in the meantime.
I, too, am apt to do a lot of research. At my age, I figured I already had all the knowledge I needed so this time around I just started. Today the instructor said my pieces were really great. Following my heart, innate knowledge and intuition, plus trusting my eye was all I needed to do. Onward & upward.
What you want to do, is to sit quietly before your work. Do some deep breathing. Finally start when you feel fully relaxed. Paint a few strokes... feel confident that you are going to paint exactly how you feel, take each small step one at a time, then progress, knowing you will know exactly what is needed. You have intuition. Use it!!
Exactly! THat's how I roll. The hardest part is remembering to begin by slowing down. Thank you.
This essay really hit me and helped to clarify some changes I’m experiencing in my own artistic process. Currently I’m adding watercolor to my mixed media pieces. There are such beautiful colors being produced by individual artists. Fun to explore. I’m also taking an online course through Fiber Arts Take Two, Process and Possibilities, Discovering Your Visual Language with Lorna Crane. Wonderful. And I’ve recently started coming to terms with the idea that my work often lacks authenticity. Difficult to accept that. But I’m looking more deeply inside. It’s both frightening and exhilarating. Thanks Lesley for opening the door.
Yes, frightening and exhilarating. I also felt both while working on these large pieces (42x60" and 40x40". So much space to fill, but I brought them to completion, one step at a time.
You'll get to the authenticity part. Just keep following the what ifs, who cares, I like it attitude.
Lesley today I had lunch with a very good friend. We’ve known each other since we were three. She’s also an artist and when I told her about my feelings about authenticity and my work, she responded that my layering process felt very authentic to her. I was grateful for her response. But inside, I know I can get deeper, and really produce art that is more meaningful to me.
Your article comes at a time when I too am reinventing myself creatively. I tend to go through these cycles of 7-10 years and at the end of each cycle I feel bored and burnt out. So, I take huge leaps of faith and just do what my heart or authentic self is nudging me to do.
I agree with the cycles that appear. Huge leaps are wonderful. Follow your heart wherever it leads.
I absolutely recognise this, Lesley. At the moment it has me moving between media in a most unsettling way. And I hope we never lose the urge to find the new.
Moving between the media does feel unsettling at first, but then it becomes the norm as we sift through to find the gold. I doubt people like us will ever lose the urge. We can have a lull but we will always rise again.
I sincerely hope so!
This post, like so many of your others, is sooo inspiring for me, Lesley. I'm also heading toward 72, also a lifelong artist with lots of questions and insights that you touch upon in your meaningful writing. I too need to get ready to spread my wings in 2025. Get back to my visual art in a totally new way while still focusing on writing. After moving out of my big studio a year ago (wrote a post about that on my stack) I stopped making art and buckled down on my writing, Truth be told, I became tired of the large scale landscape work I'd been doing. So something new is bubbling ups I just don't know what...
You are an inspiration to me-- many thanks.
Thank you, Karen. Keeps us posted on how 2025 unfolds.
I'll be popping in from time to time.. thank you Lesley.! P.S> I just bought your book "Inspirational Quotes Illustrated." Inspirational is right... it is so beautiful!