Letting Go Leads to Greater Clarity About Your Work

This month has been about knowing when something is complete, when to let go of things once held preciously and the expectations we place on ourselves about what is necessary for creating art. As a sensitive person it is easy for me to get overwhelmed and then feel paralyzed by To Do lists. I’ve had to watch very closely how certain environments, people and tasks drain my energy to the point of exhaustion and frustration.

Having spaces in the day when ‘nothing’ is happening is essential to creative practice but often dismissed in favor of activities that may bring a tangible reward. While it’s a good idea to finish what you started, the incubation period is vital. This is the stretch of time when you mull over an idea, let it sink in and take shape without trying too hard to push it into any specific form. This is the time when you go for long walks or read or daydream while laying on the sofa. This is when you remove yourself from your work and allow yourself to just be instead of trying to become anything. In these moments we realign with our values and gain greater clarity about what is and isn’t working in our lives, why we haven’t finished that project – maybe it was something we thought we should be doing instead of what we truly felt called to do. Sometimes we just have to surrender to the moment, whether we think what we’re creating is a piece of crap or a masterpiece and then with absolute honesty accept that it is done and move on.

In the News

Ocala Arts and Entertainment Podcast Interview

Recently I was interviewed on the Ocala Arts and Entertainment podcast. It was a three part series filmed in the beautiful Shalom Park in Ocala. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it here. It really got me thinking about my artistic journey so far and how we may go down paths we are certain will lead us to a specific destination but often end up somewhere totally unexpected. Is this because we haven’t worked hard enough on our goals, planned effectively or has destiny steered us in a direction to put us on course to serve our highest purpose? Despite our meandering, all the tracks and detours we found ourselves on have led us to where we are right now with all the skills and experiences we have acquired on the way.

Inspirational Notebooks by Blue Horn Publishing

Blue Horn Publishing is an independent publishing company I founded in order to create books without the creative limitations of traditional publishing.

Popular advice about journaling in notebooks is to use one you don’t care for so that you won’t feel anxious about ‘ruining’ such a beautiful book. But if you’re anxious about writing in the first place does it really matter if the book is beautifully decorated or a basic composition journal? At least a bit of beauty can inspire and lift your spirits.

I created these journals with inspirational quotes by famous writers, innovators and artists peppered throughout for the anxious artist or writer who needs encouragement to create freely and continue to do so no matter what. You can purchase a copy on Amazon.

Spoken Word Ocala and the Marion Cultural Alliance partner for ‘No-One Likes Art Event

On September 17th I will be performing at the Brick City Center for the Arts in Ocala alongside other talented poets and spoken word artists under the theme ‘No-one Likes Art.’

Sparks of Inspiration Worth Sharing

Film/TV

• Ripley. Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr Ripley is reimagined in noir by Stephen Zailllian. Andrew Scott delivers a mesmerizing performance as Ripley. Beautiful cinematography of Italy, captivating lead and gripping suspense.

• Supacell. Written and directed by British rapper and producer Rapman, this TV series set in South London blends sci-fi, drama and suspense with deftness and charm. Memorable characters, exciting storylines and explosive action.

Books

• Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens. This was an eBook I found on Hoopla that gives encouraging tips and stories about making your art (whatever the medium) a way of life and not something you do in addition to living. Humorous and relatable, there are some good takeaways on how to manage your art practice.
• Positive Energy Practices by Judith Orloff. Another Hoopla borrow, I listened to this on audiobook. Judith Orloff is well known for her books on Empaths and Sensitivity. Here she offers practical guidance and meditations on how to manage and preserve your energy as a sensitive person in a world full of chaos and energy vampires. Practical advice and simple exercises make this a useful companion to introverts and those who consider themselves highly sensitive.