On creativity and patience

 Some thoughts on creativity...from a Journalist Artist, "Heron Dance Journal," by Rod...(he doesn't publish his name).

"... your area of focus, what you persist at, needs to be based on a realistic assessment of your skills, and on how you can make a unique contribution to other people in a quality way."

Well, duh. But I have such a love of creating "X" that I never thought about if it contributed anything to others. Well, I hoped it did.

Someone asked me the other day what I loved most of my pottery creativity. I said immediately, the sculptures. And then I realized how the were all flawed in some way or another. But I do keep them around. They were made for me by me.

Heron Dance said: "I learned that sticking with the work is made easier when I’ve said to myself, “It isn’t the market’s or subscribers’ job to be consistent. It’s mine. Control what you can — your own output. From there, let the chips fall where they may.” Your faith in yourself, your work, especially initially, needs to be greater than the inertia, the indifference, of the world."

Wise words there. My 12 years of creating pottery, sculptures etc...I sold in about 3 main places, plus a couple of extra shows which meant lugging a whole lot of pots in tubs, and usually tables and a pop-up-tent. But I did sell quite a bit so would consider doing it again - for a few years...when I look back at my initial photos of my pottery creations, most of it's gone. I do destroy the items which I feel would never be salable.

I never felt that successful however! I am glad I had some retirement funds to support me as well as the pottery making! I always considered it a hobby for IRS categorization.

I did pay sales taxes to the State of North Carolina for a few years, and then didn't make enough to bother with it. I just said I'd gone out of business.

"Discovering your destiny is not about going to therapy and finding out what I really want to do with my life, but rather finding out what is wanted of me. What's the gift I have that others need? The gift the world needs?"
      -   James Hillman, as interviewed by Wes Nisker, Inquiring Mind, Summer Issue.

I still am not sure of the answer to that question. But I still surround myself with creative ideas, inspiration, art, etc. I love that. My life would be very boring if I just had shelter, clothing, entertainment, transportation, health, and food. I need the creative happening, one way or another, for me to have joy in life.

Heron Dance Here is the article on having patience with creativity.

And if you were young when the Beatles were playing tunes everywhere you went...or maybe just have found what really great musicians they were, here's the new song which had to wait for current levels of technology to let Peter Jackson merge John Lennon's old tape of his voice with the two (or was it three) remaining Beatles, in an amusing video of all of them.