Dreams
I sometimes have a hard time falling asleep at night. I’m sure some of you can relate. It’s not insomnia or an uncomfortable bed. No, it’s my own fault. I can’t shut my brain down, sometimes. I found myself, again, last night thinking about my current painting. Even when I’m not in front of the easel my brain keeps working out solutions, or dreaming of results, maybe giving the work that something special that will make the next person to see it say, “WOW!”. Sometimes its trying to remember what that great idea I had over coffee was, that I forgot throughout the course of the day. That thought that was going to be the perfect answer to the trouble you’ve been having in one corner of the canvas. And because life happens sometimes, it got in the way and I’ve forgotten how brilliant I was in the morning. So, now I’m lying in bed trying desperately to remember what it was that I forgot and not getting a wink of sleep.
Love
I guess that’s what happens when you fall in love. And I think I have. I “Love” to paint. So it’s some sleepless nights for me. I’ll get some rest between this painting and the next. In the mean time, how wonderful it is to pour your heart into something you love. I, like many painters, sometimes have dry spells, where I, for one reason or another, am not able to work on my paintings. (Usually very legitimate reasons) During those times it’s like being seperated from someone you love. The consolation is my brain can keep working. I can keep dreaming. I can keep looking. I can paint and learn in my head.
To Paint Or Not To Paint?
I had an interesting conversation, once, with a mentor and teacher. The question posed was, can you improve your skills by only thinking about them? This came after a particularly dry period for me and, though I had not put pencil to paper for awhile, appeared to be doing quite well, perhaps ever much better that when I had stopped. It was a very interesting conversation, to say the least. As a teacher, he was fair and reasonably said that he thought it was possible, but that nothing took the place of good hard work. I had to agreed with him then, and I still do now. But isn’t it wonderful that no matter what the circumstance we as a race of human beings can still dream, and in our dreams improve ourselves.
Creators
In our dreams (waking or sleeping) we become creators. It is my personal belief that when we create we are reflecting The Creator. Some people call it the “Muse”, the “Inspiration”, or the “Natural Talent”. I think that when we dream, or when we stop and take time to create, whether it is music, or a story, or a piece of visual art, we are reflecting that part of us that is made in “His” image. God created us, and instilled in us a desire to be like Him, to be close to Him, to create and to dream like Him. The ultimate artist you could say. I recently was reading a book by Madeleine L’Engle called “Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art”, and would like to quote her here. She says…”All of us who have given birth to a baby, to a story, know that it is utimately mystery, closely knit to God’s own creative activities, which did not stop at the beginning of the universe. God is constantly creating, in us, through us, with us, and to co-create with God is our human calling.” Hear, hear!
Still Awake
Well, I’m still awake, but thats ok. I’ll get more coffee in the morning. On reflection, I think I would rather be called to be awake and to dream, than to walk through life asleep. Creativity is a gift. A treasured gift to me. I’m not claiming to be the world’s greatest artist, but I do strive to answer the call that has been shouted out to me. It is a treasure to me, despite how others receive my work. Though I will take this moment to thank my friends who support me and who hunger for more. Thank you wolf girl, you know who you are. It means a lot to me that you can connect with my work. And my other friends, too. You are, all of you, incredibly important to me. And after all, what is a painting, a drawing, or any work of art, visual, performing, or otherwise, without an audience.
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