Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

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I’m reading Creating A Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd. I picked this book because I’m trying to figure out the place I want painting to play in my life.

This week…Chapter 10, “Magic at Work,” reinvents your workday. You’ll be asked to analyze your current lifestyle and build a new model for your everyday creative process.

Here’s how the author begins:

“Up until this point we have been basking in the expansive views of “eagle vision”: identifying dreams, setting long-term goals, and making plans. Now it’s time to return to the world of the squirrel, where all the real work gets done, step by step, day by day. You have created a goal and developed an action plan, now how will you bring the project to fruition?”

This chapter deals predominantly with establishing a daily creative process.

The author states that your creative process is a mixture of four elements:

1. Your Routine

2. Your Attitude

3. Your Motivation

4. Your Emergency Plan

Here’s my creative process:

Routine: 

I’m very flexible when it comes to painting. I don’t have an “ideal” time. For me, the key is sitting down every week and planning my week. Without a plan, my default is to spend more time than I should watching television or playing on the computer. I like a balance of routine and variety, so a weekly plan works best for me.

Attitude:

Here is what I believe…

I’m not responsible for my work’s meaning or whether anyone likes my work; I’m only responsible for making the work and putting it out there.

The people who respond to and want to own my art will find it, if I do my best to be accessible.

It is my responsibility to do my work with honesty and heart.

Motivation:

Here is what motivates me…

My work comes from a desire to express myself and to honor the gifts I’ve been given.

My painting springs from the sheer joy of painting and creating something that evolves and surprises me.

My work comes from the desire to see what comes next…the joy of my journey through life.

My work is there to help others see their strength and to help them discover their art. It offers kindness and friendship.

Emergency Plan:

Here’s what I do when things aren’t working…

Make sure I have balance in my life.

Spend time with family & friends.

Pray.

Help someone.

Two of the most important things the author reminded me of are…”your creative process is never ‘finished,’ it is in constant flux,” and “processes evolve slowly.” These are things I have come to know as I’ve gotten older, but reminders never hurt because we can be terribly hard on ourselves.