Jump Into the Zero Degree Water

The problem with taking a vacation is that it automatically sets into motion Newton’s First Law of Motion—you know the one…a body at rest stays at rest.  It seems that most of October flew by in the blink of an eye.  And while I was on a roll before the vacation, I’ve struggled to get back into the swing of things and get the blog written.  Of course, I haven’t just been sitting around eating bon-bons (what IS a real bon bon anyway?)  I prepared for and participated in a large craft show.  I worked on a large supply of inventory for the trunk show this past weekend which was a good success. And I’ve unpacked the last of the items from our household move.

Sir Issac Newton

Still, I’ve really missed the discipline and habit I’d been developing to get the blog written.  So, today I decided to build up my courage and jump into the zero degree water.  That’s what it reminds me of…having to psych myself back up to push my body out of rest and back to blogging.  I had originally set a goal of 3 times a week.  I was doing pretty well with this schedule but once I set a goal of 5 times a week, it suddenly became much more difficult.  So, I’m going back to 3 times a week.  It’s a goal and a habit that I can achieve and do well in that process. 

Perhaps the fact that five became a challenge means that my brain needs a day or two to ‘stew’ in order to stir up the ideas for the next blog and get my creativity flowing.  Or maybe its just that I have many activities and obligations that all require attention.

My main point today is that with our creative endeavors and artworks, sometimes we have to screw up our courage and take the plunge.  Creativity and doing art does take a certain amount of courage.  I watched the movie "We Bought a Zoo" this weekend and love the idea that we only need 20 seconds of courage or bravery to do something.  Once the scary something is begun, it's so very much easier to continue the activity and this is true with art and writing.  Also housework. Even if the artwork is only for yourself, your friends or your family and never is seen in a public forum, the courage that is required is to allow whatever creative urge you have to get into the artwork (painting, glass, assemblage, poem,…whatever medium you use).  To take a page from Nike, to just do it.  The other point where courage comes into play is to show up every day.  Or at least, every other day…

A Ripe Moment

Okay, this might seem a little awkward at first.  Just…relax.  It doesn’t mean you are “crazy,” or “off your nut,” or need psychiatric care (of course, I’m not saying that you aren’t or don’t either!)…

Picture this.  You are zooming along in the art studio.  Making great strides toward completion.  Picking the right colors, the right brushes, making the right marks, adding the right touches, combining the right materials…whatever the case may be, you’re on a roll.

And then, just like a water well gone dry…your energy on the project disappears.  You get bored.  Maybe you stop to take a coffee break or even a nap.  Maybe your eyes glaze over when you think about working on the project and your brain gets fuzzy.  All of these are the perfect symptoms indicative of “A Ripe Moment.”

A Ripe Moment is that place in time and space where a convergence occurs and there is an opportunity to proceed and complete the project.  A Ripe Moment, despite its name, can last for as long as it takes for you to get it that it is A Ripe Moment. 

What do you do when you realize it is A Ripe Moment?

Ask questions.  This is where the partly bonkers stuff comes into play, because you are going to either be talking to yourself, or to your artwork, and no other.



Ask yourself questions about the work.  For the sake of this blog entry, we’ll refer to painting—with the understanding that this could apply to every medium and technique. 

Such questions might be:  what color would I like to use now?  What brush feels good in my hand?  If I could paint (or put) any subject matter into this, what would I add?  Was there anything that I thought about doing to it but didn’t?  Continue to ask questions that require something more than a yes/no answer until you find your energy for the project restored and can again work on it.



If, as once in a while may happen, you cannot either think of any questions to ask yourself or you aren’t getting any answers that move you to that place where you can work again, begin asking the work questions.  Okay…you’re going to have to use your artist’s imagination here and pretend that the artwork is actually answering you. 

Questions to ask the artwork might be:  What color would you like to have next?  What color would you like more of?  Is there something I need to add that I haven’t?  Is it okay if you turn out “ugly”?  If you were going to hang at any gallery or museum, where would you want to be?  What would get you there?

In the long run, A Ripe Moment is a turning point.  It can be ignored, procrastinated or stopped in its tracks.  Sooner or later, if you wish to return to creating, A Ripe Moment must be embraced. 

May you receive happy answers and stay out of the Looney bin.