True and beautifully stated. I find that the resilience you mention is somehow also related to the freedom to error that art-making provides. We grow by mistakes, the way a child learns to walk. In our other life activities, there is pressure to do "it right." Often, that is because if we fuck up someone can get hurt. But with art, I can take risks, explore, challenge myself beyond my abilities--and there is no risk of someone getting hurt. That freedom gives me room to grow, not just as an artist, but as a human. It gives me room to heal my soul, pick myself up, and put one foot in front of the other in the march of life. My bucket full of mistakes make me a better and more fulfilled person. Art gives me that opportunity.
That is so true! I am never as bold or embracing of risk than when I'm in the studio! Comparing it to a child learning to walk is the perfect analogy. Try to toddle up too big a hill and fall down? No bid deal. Pick yourself up and try again.
Over the last week of December I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my aunt. It was (and is) completely devastating. This is the first time I have lost someone this close to me, so the grieving process was unexpected and confusing, and I found myself at a total loss for a while. I have an upcoming First Thursday show in Feb and I hadn't started on it, and almost didn't want to. But once I got started with the work, the pain was a little easier to carry, and as I spend more time with it, I'm able to understand it a little better. It's still horrible and weird and amorphous, but its becoming something less powerful and overwhelming, which I largely attribute to my creative outlets. I think I really needed this article, thank you for your words.
Linneah, I'm so sorry that you're going through such a devastating loss right now.
I hope that your creative practice continues to act like a gentle anchor during the unmooring caused by grief. Your paintings are beautiful (https://www.linneah.art/ for anyone reading this). Diana's Room speaks to me on so many levels.
Thank you so much. Unmoored is a really good way to describe the feeling. I also really appreciate you taking the time to look at my paintings, I'm very touched. Take care 🧡
“Once I got started with the work, the pain was a little easier to carry.” Such a beautiful and deceptively simple description of an experience I recognize so well. Thank you for this. I looked at your work too, and I’m grateful to have been introduced to it. And I’m glad you have such beautiful work to help carry you through.
Thank you, Ross. I appreciate your words more than you know. Coping mechanisms look different for everyone, and I'm so beyond grateful to have found one that helps add beauty and color to this life.
What beautiful writing about a vital part of life and a deeply meaningful way to see it made real. Thank you for reminding us, yet again, that art and creative practices impact our lives in more ways than we can count. And that they do so at a visceral level. Just what my heart needed today. 💜
I had never thought of resilience being connected to my over 40 years of art making in this way. What a great narrative change! Thank you! 🙏🏼
What kind of art making to you do?
True and beautifully stated. I find that the resilience you mention is somehow also related to the freedom to error that art-making provides. We grow by mistakes, the way a child learns to walk. In our other life activities, there is pressure to do "it right." Often, that is because if we fuck up someone can get hurt. But with art, I can take risks, explore, challenge myself beyond my abilities--and there is no risk of someone getting hurt. That freedom gives me room to grow, not just as an artist, but as a human. It gives me room to heal my soul, pick myself up, and put one foot in front of the other in the march of life. My bucket full of mistakes make me a better and more fulfilled person. Art gives me that opportunity.
That is so true! I am never as bold or embracing of risk than when I'm in the studio! Comparing it to a child learning to walk is the perfect analogy. Try to toddle up too big a hill and fall down? No bid deal. Pick yourself up and try again.
Over the last week of December I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my aunt. It was (and is) completely devastating. This is the first time I have lost someone this close to me, so the grieving process was unexpected and confusing, and I found myself at a total loss for a while. I have an upcoming First Thursday show in Feb and I hadn't started on it, and almost didn't want to. But once I got started with the work, the pain was a little easier to carry, and as I spend more time with it, I'm able to understand it a little better. It's still horrible and weird and amorphous, but its becoming something less powerful and overwhelming, which I largely attribute to my creative outlets. I think I really needed this article, thank you for your words.
Linneah, I'm so sorry that you're going through such a devastating loss right now.
I hope that your creative practice continues to act like a gentle anchor during the unmooring caused by grief. Your paintings are beautiful (https://www.linneah.art/ for anyone reading this). Diana's Room speaks to me on so many levels.
Thank you so much. Unmoored is a really good way to describe the feeling. I also really appreciate you taking the time to look at my paintings, I'm very touched. Take care 🧡
“Once I got started with the work, the pain was a little easier to carry.” Such a beautiful and deceptively simple description of an experience I recognize so well. Thank you for this. I looked at your work too, and I’m grateful to have been introduced to it. And I’m glad you have such beautiful work to help carry you through.
Thank you, Ross. I appreciate your words more than you know. Coping mechanisms look different for everyone, and I'm so beyond grateful to have found one that helps add beauty and color to this life.
I'm a painter, and a designer, retired performance artist, currently working on a graphic memoir using paintings...
I love the idea of a graphic memoir filled with paintings.
I'll keep you posted! charbreshgold.com
What beautiful writing about a vital part of life and a deeply meaningful way to see it made real. Thank you for reminding us, yet again, that art and creative practices impact our lives in more ways than we can count. And that they do so at a visceral level. Just what my heart needed today. 💜