7.12.2011

the alchemy of art

while sipping coffee in my studio this morning, i read taking refuge in your art by bindu wiles. it instantly inspired me to contemplate the transformative nature of creativity in my life.

bindu's words caused me to consider that turning toward my art has guided me through the darkest of times...



creativity has walked me through difficult chapters of death, illness, sorrow, existential angst, despair, ennui, and frustration.

making art is an essential human experience. it allows us to express how it feels to be inside this human body.

i think that creating when you are in a painful place is a catharsis similar to crying: letting it out is healing relief.

when we channel our internal conflict into something creative it allows us to know deeply that we are not alone...



when i am feeling emotionally wrecked, my instinct is to crawl into my snail shell, retreat, hide, consume, unplug, deny.

but if i remember to turn to my art in these moments, i feel infinitely better. and amazing stuff is created in this space.

i believe that art is alchemy for the soul and that if we are brave enough to share this art, it's healing for the world...



beautiful guests, do you turn to your art in life's difficult moments?

8 comments:

BEESTLYproducts said...

beautifully put. art seems to be about control for me, when things get out of hand ultimate power over the result of creating sort of "centers" me.

pigwidget said...

...totally! art/creativity is my escape, though I don't tend to depict whatever it is I am escaping from. occasionally I am moved to write my 'over-boil' feelings about a matter to get it out of my system...

...beautiful images, by the way: especially that breath-taking first image...

ALFIE said...

i love working through the myriad of life's emotions-- with creativity. music. and words.

Yogi on a Wire said...

Thank you for this. I am currently going through sorrow and although not an artist, I do write (different kind of art, I guess). And unlike, you, I connect... although maybe I shouldn't at times:)...I choose to write to resolve things in my mind and heart and then share what I have learned to others, in hopes that it helps them. We are never alone.

diane said...

robbie...ah yes, a grounding experience amidst the sometimes chaos of life. very wise, good sir.

beka...thank you! your response encouraged me to think about what it is that i actually make in those moments. like you, i often work out the actual 'stuff' through writing, specifically in my morning pages. but the escape is necessary and delicious as well, and i love to lose myself in making something beautiful.

alfie...i love reading the words with which you choose to work through life. exquisite.

sonia...with pleasure, friend. i have been sending you lots of good thoughts from the inn. i used art as a broad term referring to an act of creation (writing, baking, gardening, painting, building, teaching, photographing, etc.) so you are indeed an artist, and your art is healing to yourself and others. namaste. xo

k said...

this was really interesting to read about you - thanks for sharing it. i've done art things before but i'm def not brave enough to be sharing it :)

Unknown said...

poetry used to play that role for me... totally angst ridden. lol

i would say that art no longer does that for me... i tend to go too inward during those times. it seems to more be an outlet for fire - for enthusiasm and hopes and dreams and inspirations and love of life.

ultimately, art is an expression... so i guess it depends what we most need to express, at the time.

diane said...

krystal...your gorgeous blog is a perpetually beautiful work of art!!!

monica...ah, the angst ridden poetry of my youth. :D