A Way of Seeing

I love Rick Ruben and thoroughly enjoyed his book, “The Creative Act.”

I came across a quote from Rick that deeply resonated with me:

Art isn’t in the tools, material, equipment you use. It’s in the way you see the world.”

The past few years, I’ve shifted greatly into being more contemplative about art, and open to seeing art, inspiration, in the day-to-day to fuel my creative practice.

I’ve come to realize that the true gift is being an artist, not just the work that goes into it. But also, what one does, outside of the work.

Being an artist is a way of life, and I think, as succinctly put by Rick, “a way of seeing.”

The photos included in today’s Memoirs post, are my favorite photos taken recently and from over the years.

Yes, there’s a lot of work that goes into being an artist and taking one’s craft seriously.

But art is romanticized for a reason.

It’s more than crunching numbers, pushing papers, or grinding it out physically on any proverbial “court.”

Art is a way of being, a way of seeing, and a way of interacting with the world. And then creating something physical that reflects this essence.

My earlier days were primarily focused on duking it out in the studio.

Putting in the hours.

That was the one thing within my control— the time, energy and effort I place into things.

But motherhood has “helped” me (the better word is forced), to step back and question things.

Not to cast doubt on this previous mentality, but perhaps to anaylze it more .

Dive deeper.

And ask myself, can I create something better?

Can I do things differently?

Can I create a better, fulfilling, self-driven and self-defined version of success, that maximizes my presence and joy?

Work doesn’t always have to be hard.

However, the word work has a certain, strenuous connotation to do it.

And the word work fits adequately for art.

Just like art, work can be joyous and taxing to the mind, body and spirit.

The my work ethic—TEE: Time-Energy-Effort— will pipe back up for me soon.

I can sense it.

I can feel it in my veins.

But the process of sitting and seeing, and taking in the beauty around me, is also, “the work” as an artist.

And this work is just as important, sometimes even more important, because an artist must have something, within themselves— experience, perspective that is theirs alone to truly say something and share something of value with others.

I recently made a quick trip to The Menil Collection.

Seeing the works in that building were breathtaking, awe-inspiring.

The space is reverent.

I felt its power and importance, very similarly to when I walk into a Catholic Cathedral.

The art, craftsmanship, the spirit of the Divine is within in all these relics, and I could feel their presence, as the hairs on my arms stood erect.

“There is so much for me to do.” “I have so much more to make, so many things to try.”

That’s all I could think.

I felt changed.

And THAT is the energy, that’s required.

The connection with the human spirit, is required to tap into to making Great Work.