July 25
Creative Is a Verb…Final Thoughts
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Lori, Now
What a wonderful book! I just finished reading and working through Patti Digh’s book, Creative Is a Verb. The final part closes out the theme of the book…our life as creative expression and art.
Patti presents two ideas that are really making me think. The first is, “Life is yearning meeting obstacle.” What do I truly yearn for? How does that yearning manifest itself in my life, my work, my actions, my attitude? We’re familar with setting goals, doing what we’re taught is right, fulfilling obligations; but how often do we truly contemplate what we yearn for our lives to reflect and represent? If we don’t identify that yearning, do we miss the whole point of our lives? Is that particular yearning the reason why we’re here and why we’ve been given the specific gifts that God endowed us with? How would we overcome obstacles better or differently if we knew what we were yearning for? “…when we live our story we also need to make sure that something is at stake, something with inner magnitude.”
The second idea that intrigued me was “Uncover Your Own Pentimento.” A pentimento is “an underlying image in a painting, as an earlier painting, part of a painting or original draft that is revealed usually when the top layer of paint becomes transparent with age.” When all becomes transparent in my life, what will be evident? As I add new layers to my life, are they wise and do they support the beauty and relevance of the total picture?
What a lovely, thought-provoking ending…or beginning.
What’s next?…the exploring continues. I want to do an e-course. Here are the two I’m considering:
make art a part (of your life)
 
What do you think? Which one should I take?
I think both classes look like fun! I am not sure which one seems more like you. Honestly, I don’t think you can make a bad choice!
You know, I like the idea of leaving hidden, and not so hidden, messages behind in what I do. It’s one aspect of art that has always intrigued me a great deal! Why would someone paint a beautiful portrait and then hide it beneath a landscape or something? I know often it was done because canvases were expensive and such, but I wonder what made artists decide something was worth painting over or preserving.
I’m glad you were happy about winning the contest! I think Freedom and Casper will love the toys. If you get a minute, would you e-mail me your mailing address. Then we can get it on its way to you! 🙂
Oooo! I got my thirty one bag with Tales & Tails on it today, and I love it! I highly recommend them!
well…i know which one you should pick…but i’m slightly biased so i’ll let you decide *wink!