New Things Emerge ... and I Ask for Help

Recently, I interviewed an author for the Art Juice podcast (coming soon). We found many similarities in our creative processes but also one major difference. As a writer, he has input from others, He had an editor for his novel and when he writes plays and radio scripts, he has producers, or he has actors who suggest changes. He works as part of a team even though his initial work is done alone - and he values the contributions made by others. He is very open about the fact that his work is better because of other people.

And it made me think - musicians have this same collaboration. They write a song but then their bandmates add their parts and suggest tweaks and then perhaps a producer comes along and refines the sound.

But as visual artists, we work entirely alone. We don't have others to bounce ideas off, and sometimes I think this means we can get stuck, or at least slow to a crawl.

If you've been reading these newsletters, you know that I have been feeling a shift in my work lately - I am less interested in landscape and more interested in expressing my own experiences and emotions and life history.

These shifts feel so strange. We are unmoored in a way. We had a way of working that worked for us and got results. But with the new idea, our old tricks don't work. We need to find new ways of communicating. We need a whole new toolbox.

My bathroom is being renovated at the moment. I've told the builder what the final result will look like, so he knows exactly which tools to bring with him and which materials to buy. He will have to get creative to solve problems that arise along the way, but basically, he knows where he's going.

New art ideas are not like that - we have no idea where we're going and no idea which tools or materials to bring along for the ride. Usually, I work through this on my own, but recently, I reached out for some help.

I'm now working in a small group with other artists where 6 of us help each other along with our work. We share what we're doing, we answer questions about our work, and we listen to the thoughts of others. We had our first session this week and I came away with lots of notes and ideas. The shift was amazing.

This isn't a group for critiques (change that, move that shape, add more blue etc) - this is a much deeper conversation where we are prompted to think about our own work and where we might take it next.

If you are part of a group like this, you know just what I mean. If not, you might want to consider it.

You might be trepidatious at first - it can be nerve-racking to discuss our work in front of other people, but artists are an understanding and supportive bunch and you'll probable find that you come away inspired and excited.

Or you might be like me - bad at asking for help in general! Trust me, I will battle through anything alone as a rule. I find it extremely hard to ask for support. But I find it's like anything in life - the more you do it, the easier it gets. This year I have asked for support in other areas of my life too and it's made an amazing difference.

So I don't have an especially profound message today, except to say that humans need other humans. If there is something you're struggling with, why not reach out to one of the humans you know and see if they can offer a little support? You might be surprised at what come out of it.

Work in Progress ....

This is one of the new paintings that's emerging from the combination of personal collage and paint. It's not finished, but I like the loose, fresh feeling and I would like to keep that while also adding some more considered and careful areas. It's a push and pull between loose and considered, but that's the challenge I really enjoy. This one already has a name (which tells me it's more than halfway done). The name is "Surfacing."