Brave New Worlds
October 12, 2009 by Janice
Discovery is an exciting thing. An artist’s best friend actually. There’s a moment in the process when something happens that you know changes your perspective maybe for all of the rest of your work. A surprise sometimes, planned for at other times. One of those bonuses that we set out looking for, but may not always find. But we do set out for them. Tools in hand. Concept, or the notion of a concept firmly in tow.
We provision, pack, set a course and hope.
Sure, experience tells us maybe where to look. But we don’t always know if we’ve found a tributary, or the source.
Maybe we all are looking for something ( thanks Annie Lenox) maybe spices, maybe for water on the moon, maybe a clue, but artist’s are usually looking for that something that brings them more into their artistic voice.
We strive to find our own way of saying what we are compelled to say. Visually, yes. We learn our visual language. We hone those skills. Always wanting the clearest flow we can get. It’s not a straight line on a map. Or a known river. A suspected one maybe. But we always want to find it. Like salmon maybe, looking for their home stream.
I have painter mentors. Have had some brilliant ones. Genius ones. Colorful ones. And enduring ones. Who push and pushed me further. Into brave new worlds in the studio.
It’s nice to have that kind of support. Believers. Cohorts, and colleagues that we trust. Yes, we rarely make anything of substance totally alone. Mentors, supportive friends. Ones who tell you true. Or erm, you might want to rethink that, or ooh, now we’re talking.
Pathfinders. For we who would be pathfinders too.
But I never had writing mentors. Reading mentors, sure. Writer friends, some really good ones. But I had not yet set my course in writing.
Until now.
I really did set out to write because it had always been a sore spot ( in my eyes) in my career. Ugh. A big old stone in the path. No make that a boulder. Being able to write and write well in an artist’s career can make a difference in getting the project and not. Making the cut and not. Sounding like an idiot and not. And don’t get me started on the dreaded artist’s statement. Grr. So I could write. But write well? Well, I survived, but it always made me a bit nuts when asked to write yet again. And still, I have been asked to write books. HAH.
I could speak well. Hah, again. Isn’t that supposed to be the other way around? I thought that’s probably what fooled them. I wrote only privately. In journals, in sketchbooks, notes, plans, thoughts. I make pictures, not words. I thought those publishers had the wrong person. Those writers were just being nice. Those interviewers just misplaced. And those dinner co-conversationalists courteously kind for the evening.
Until… a series of circumstances brought me here.
To this brave new world on line.
To this format.
To the necessity of finding my way, again.
To deciding enough of feeling so awkward in writing for public consumption. I am a private person. But I thought to myself, ” Just do it, improve it as you go. Be present, show up and give it your best shot in that moment.” Just like in the studio. It still gives me big butterflies in my stomach. But here’s the funny thing about practicing, about setting out on a course of practice.
It can lead to discovery.
Discovery of one’s voice.
Even in words.
Hah.
Who knew?
So right here, right now I have to say thank you to someone who pointed me in the right direction, who gave me me strong ships to sail on, and who continues to chart the unknown territory as smart as any smart person can.
And here is probably one of the smartest things he’s ever written. Thank you Brian for telling me to write about my process way back at the beginning in your forum. And for well, being Brian.
Next Organizing Monday? Some very smart and clever cohorts Brian lead me to.
To Brave New Worlds…and to those who continue to set out for them. It’s a very good crew.
Comments
12 Responses to “Brave New Worlds”
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Thank you Janice. I think you’re giving me way too much credit, but still … thank you very much.
Keep going!
Did I mention modest too?
Thanks Brian. Have a kick a** week. @ http://www.blogworldexpo.com/
Luckily for everyone, what happens in Vegas…
Janice, this one’s giving me goose bumps. Great lesson in how to find your own voice.
This is so true:
Be present, show up and give it your best shot in that moment.
You might just find this one being quoted in a blog near you soon
Joanna,
*Smiling* If you have goose bumps and I have butterflies…we must be doing something right. LOL
Janice, it’s funny, I always think of you as having total confidence, and I think one reason for that is that you step forward and talk about the steps that haven’t always been easy for you. You have that great quality of strength shown in your vulnerability.
Wishing you a very enjoyable and fruitful voyage of discovery.
Sonia,
Confidence has practice backing it up, yes?
Thank you. What can I say? I kind of chuckled when I read that. Wabi sabi? Honoring the imperfections as much as the whole? I dunno, but I really appreciate what you said. Means a lot to me.
Ahhhh…finding your own voice…
Well I’ve always thought you had one!
Here’s someone else on this subject I like a lot, Dianne Jacobs
http://diannej.com/blog/2009/09/the-writers-voice-what-is-it/
BRAVO!
[...] Brave New Worlds [...]
Hi PB!
Aughh, thanks Carol. And thank you for that link. Nice points about voice. Hope you are having a great time in Paris.
Oh…such a big smile I have here. SO far behind this week and coming to this treasure on a lazy saturday afternoon.
I think you may know by now that I have a surefooted belief in your writing ability.
I would tell you to never doubt your talent, but then alas…how could you really be one of us if that were true?
So yes…show up. AS you already do…
You have the most important part in place already and are light years ahead of many. You have persistence, habit and discipline.
The Trinity that will outshine any talent.- and yet you have talent too.
Show up and let the creation happen. It’s more than half the battle. It’s the key that opens the door.
I love watching it happen.
Wendi,
Huge big smile here. For the treasure of words that YOU wrote. Unfolding…kind of a nice ring to that, and an invitation to a voyage…yep. That’s what we are doing. Do you know how much I love having you along on the trip?
[...] Last Monday on this counting of Mondays, I promised you some of my very smart cohorts and colleagues. And I’m delivering. But I have to warn you, there’s a song stuck in my head. Yes. Happens doesn’t it? And luckily it’s not one of those creepy obnoxious ones that children sing. Uh oh…No no thank you, I ‘ll keep this one thanks. ( For a sec, I saw the spectre of a large purple “he who shall not be named”, phew, close call ) Just saying. But this one, it’s liable to spill over into what should be a serious tribute to two really exceptional and remarkable women I met through Brian Clark. [...]