Creativity Is a Genie
Happy St. Patty's Day to all the Irish and non-Irish alike. After all, it turns out Saint Patrick was originally Welsh. Remember to pinch someone if they aren't wearing anything green today. (Can someone explain why that is?)
Since it's a religious holiday, I thought we should talk or at least listen to something spiritual. Sundays are days of painting for me. I try not to do any Internet stuff and I just stay in my studio holed up with my paints and brushes and I listen to TED talks. TED is an annual conference of scientists, artists, engineers and thinkers who meet and exchange ideas. The conference posts all of the speakers' talks online throughout the year. Long story short, on Sunday I came across writer Elizabeth Gilbert talking about nurturing creativity. It was so inspiring that I needed to share it with you.
Gilbert is the now-famous writer of the runaway best seller Eat, Pray, Love. In her presentation at TED, Gilbert talks about the pressure of having to live up to her last book. She describes having gone from being a no-name writer to having success beyond belief and the accompanying doubt of ever matching that success again. She talks about the pressure that artists of all genres face in dealing with their craft and, in effect, how to nurture creativity. Gilbert describes the pressures to create driving many writers to the bottle or being complete nervous wrecks. She blames this on the fact that our society doesn't have the proper relationship to our genius. The word "genius" is derived from the Roman word genii. A genii was an autonomous spirit that an artist cultivated a relationship with. Well, I'll let Elizabeth explain to you the nature and nurture of genius. I can't think of a more religious relationship to oneself.
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Comments [16]
as long as your painting
as long as your painting don't drop pubic hair on the coffee...
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-
i'm all about what Gilbert
i'm all about what Gilbert said in her talk, "show up" and i'll add, and just do it and do it and do it and do it...
tweet tweet @gracemoon
Gracias Grace for this gift
Gracias Grace for this gift from Gilbert. When I first ran across her, on Oprah I believe, I thought she was just another self-help maven plugging a book. But as I listened I found her to be unassumingly wise and humane in her approach to life's struggles. So it doesn't surprise me that she's now bringing that humanity to bear on the artistic process, and I'm grateful for it.
All artistic ventures involve a striving for an elusive perfection, yet perfectionism has been called 'the highest form of self-abuse.' So no wonder, then, the body count of tortured souls strewn along the path of creative endeavor.
Gilbert's willingness to speak about process, to de-mystify it, follows a general pattern I've noticed that women artists would rather 'have' a genius whilst men would rather 'be' one--perhaps to their detriment.
Thank you. I've been a mess
Thank you. I've been a mess these past few days because I entered a writing contest online and I was totally up when I was in 2nd place but I've dropped down to 6th (I just checked I'm in 5th now) and was really bummed. But now I'm over it. Seriously I'm so glad you posted that.
Ole!
-Delayne
Okay, i go first if you'r too
Okay, i go first if you'r too shy.
Once, i was meditating on myself, wandering whats bring me joy and happiness. and i figure out that whats make me feel full fill fit in two categories.
the learning and understanding, the way to get new skills, and to grow, upgrade hold ones. every time i can do something i wasn't able to do just the day before, every time i remind of a book i'v read years before and i think: OMG thats what he/she means. i feel with grace.
The second is the out going of this learning. To use those skills in work, the transmission of that knowledge to the world.
When i look back of what i'v done after a day at work and see its good, well done. When i can give a different point of view on a problem, i feel good.
And i'v start to feel a detachment for the whole thing. The skills and knowledge shows up without me asking for them. The work i'v done aren't me anymore as soon as it get into the world. As if it was something else that i work on to make it grow, that i feed, watered, remove the bugs. and sometime, it gives you a fruit.
Then, i keep going my reflection.
whats those thing that i can learn from, work on, that i can put my feet on without falling into quik sands. whats that space that i can evolute on?
there i find 4 dimension who are all interlinked.
1- body wisdom, using tools, experiences equilibrium, inertia, rhythms.
2- science, matter of being intellectually honest with the facts. To search proof, to experiment on reality.
3- art, playing with the affects, the perception, challenge the facts, mixed everything.
4-Philosophy, growing concept, questioning, how to put together whats you'v learn
Creativity is like a breath who bring those thing to life. but its not happen as often than i wish.
Well its my meditation, it help me to feel alive and to feel that i'm a part of the world.
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-
I don't think of an idea in
I don't think of an idea in term of is it true or false, right or wrong, truth is an unfaithful lover, as soon as you think you get in touch with her, you find her in bed with your worth enemy!!!
i take it as is it useful or not? If the thinking of something else take the responsibility can help peoples to be more humble for the genius or to avoid depression for a failure, then, go for it.
If the idea of realizing your full potential as human being help you to feel complete and be in joy... then it work for you.
Personally, i'm more on a mixed up... when i fail, its somebody else fault, when i succeed, its all my realization.
Duh, i'm such a skunk
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-
Thanks for your encouragement
Thanks for your encouragement Yonks. I do have a show coming up in April--landscapes. My favorites are the figures, but this is a coffee house/bakery/cafe and they don't want naked women hanging on their walls where people are eating. Go figure.
thats so renaissance of you.
thats so renaissance of you.
tweet tweet @gracemoon
you are modest on your work
you are modest on your work lezbeth.
Wen i go trough discouragement, i try to remember that Cervantes start writing around 50 years hold. Kant around 40 but his major piece start around 60.
We often focusing on early genius but we have to remember that its never too late for doing good
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-
As one who does not believe
As one who does not believe in the divine I believe my creativity comes from inside me but is influenced by things in my environment. In other words, that what I see and experience inspires me. Sometimes it's some beautiful scenery, sometimes it's an overheard comment, sometimes it's an event in my own life, but it sure doesn't have anything to do with any higher power.
Thanks for this Grace. It's
Thanks for this Grace. It's good to know you give yourself a day each week for your genii.
It's one thing to be Elizabeth Gilbert and have a work to "live up to." For me, it's just about getting a rhythm going...then tend to work somewhat obsessively. My work is mostly for myself, to explore personal themes, push beyond what I've tried before. The good thing is I don't have any reason to believe my best work is behind me. :roll: or in front of me. I'm just grateful for any inspiration that comes.
That was fascinating. But I
That was fascinating. But I wonder, why can't we in the creative process simply be realizing our full potential as human beings? Does creativity need to be linked to the divine? I wonder this because there are those who don't believe in the divine. What then is their relationship to creativity?
In other words, I believe it is time for me to toddle off and find some green beer.
Still searching for the right brainy quote.
Hi CMW, thanks for giving t
Hi CMW, thanks for giving t he answer to that. how curious I was about this green factum.
love is a pebble laughing in the sun
Both Kelly and my best friend
Both Kelly and my best friend have sent this to me, but I didn't actually watch it until today when, as it turns out, I really needed to hear it.
Having lived in and around
Having lived in and around the Boston area, and having at least one Irish stepfather, here is the answer I grew up with:
Back in the early 1700's, when St. Patrick's Day began to become popular in Colonial Boston, people believed that the color green made you invisible to Leprechauns. Leprechauns, it was believed, would pinch humans they could see on St. Patrick's Day. Humans pinching one another was supposed to remind you of that.
It is one of those, um, uniquely American "traditions" that has absolutely nothing to do with being Irish, Ireland, or St. Patrick.
Grace, sweet art, we want to
Grace, sweet art, we want to know everything about your creativity process
-Do not follow me, I'M LOST-