Muses Dancing

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11126231_10150557249669956_2207303122166726283_nThere comes a moment when you know that inspiration is about to hit. A drawing is finished as part of the daily practice and it is often forgotten a few minutes later. Other times a drawing becomes inspiration for something else, for something bigger. I draw everyday as part of a discipline not thinking too much about it specially now that I don’t have studio space. I am trying to remain calm and don’t try to start a new piece either painting or sculpture, but this sketch I just finished is inspiring me to put it up on a large canvas that is still sealed waiting for me. I can feel the muses dancing around. I was so close to unwrap the canvas and begin drawing. I had to stop myself. I’ve been worked too many hours in front of the computer and my eyes are getting tired. However, tomorrow is another day. I wonder how graphite pencil looks on canvas. Maybe I could add some splashes of color here and there. I’ll think about it tonight. Better yet, I’ll dream about it.

Tomorrow I’ll know if inspiration was strong enough. Maybe I can wait a little longer before I commit to it. There is no rush and it is possible that this hint of inspiration is just preparation for something else. Perhaps I should wait until the time is right to start a new ‘serious’ art piece. I have limited space and too many pieces to get rid of before I create anything else. I can keep enjoying the muses dancing for a little longer. Let’s see what the day brings tomorrow, or the next day. I’ll keep drawing in my little sketchbook.

Videos

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This week has been a very blessed one. Many good things happening, which also add a little stress to prepare for changes and what comes next. It is the good kind of stress. Last night after sharing a great time with friends I was so tired that I didn’t write today’s post. I don’t who is reading this but today I want to share my videos with you. Sometimes no words are necessary. Enjoy!

Pursuing Inspiration

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The ancient Greeks saw inspiration as goddesses that visited humans and moved them to create based on the specific muse. It was not only about art but as a form to express human experience and knowledge including science. There was no differentiation in terms of intellectual value between art and science. Science is and art, and art is a science. For both a constant exploration is necessary to discover new things, to enter into a new revelation that can change preconceived ideas. Interestingly in art, as it happens with science people don’t necessarily agree on the results. That is a subject worthy of exploration in the near future. For now I want to focus on the visitation of the muses and those mental blocks we artists experience.

It is not a rare that artists sometime experience a lack of inspiration. Feels like ideas don’t come or simply can’t find how to get in ‘the zone’. I believe that’s the best time for pursuing inspiration instead of just waiting for it to come. It is the best time to study your craft, understand and evaluate your technique, experiment with materials, plan for the future, and prepare yourself. That is part of developing discipline. We should work at our craft even when we are not working at it.

Read previous posts about these subjects:

The Discipline in The Discipline
Studio Time: Work on Something or Nothing
Experimentation and Discovery

I get a brain cramps when an artist says that there is no technique to work on or that ‘studying’ what they do is not necessary. What chef doesn’t want to try new spices? What dancer doesn’t want to learn new moves? Your passion guides your efforts to become better at what you do. Your passion also guides your interest in learning more about what you do. As I said several times before it has nothing to do with ‘formal institutional education’. There are libraries and there is the internet. Leonardo da Vinci was autodidact. No excuses are valid.

One way to begin is to look at previous work and compare to more recent ones. This comparison allows to evaluate your progress, what changed, and what needs change or improvement. Looking at your own work is a platform for inspiration. Bring back those old sketchbooks. Experiment with old and new materials or simply play with them. Plan and prepare yourself for the future. Visualize how would you like your next exhibit to look. Walk around the exhibit in your mind and look at the pieces you would include in it. That could ignite new ideas. Draft your ideas. Doodle what could become your next masterpiece. Don’t wait for inspiration to get to you. Pursue it!

Inspiration’s Wake Up Call

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In the middle of the night an idea begins crawling from the subconscious and sings its silent song in your ears. It is so quiet it stands out over the noise of the night. It makes you wonder the reality between a dream or being awake. No matter the hour it is almost irresistible to ignore. Maybe it was the food you had last night. Maybe is inspiration’s wake up call. You want to turn and keep sleeping but the tender touch makes you open your eyes. You could keep sleeping but that is not an option when a muse turns the switch on. The muse decides to do it the day you could sleep in. Surprisingly you feel woke awake and not tired at all. At least until that idea is out of your head. I bet you are already thinking about when during the day you are taking a nap.

A good idea should not be wasted or left alone until later in the morning. You might forget it. It might not be as exciting as it looked when it came to you. If you don’t want to leave your bed write it down. Having a notebook or sketchbook next to the bed could help. Do you have one? If you don’t, you should. Maybe that idea is the one that could change your life. Keep a nightlight too. Smartphones have applications for notes and sketching, and you don’t need the nightlight. You can also record make a voice memo. Whatever necessary to articulate the idea and keep it fresh. Although sometimes all that is not enough. Sometimes you have to get out of bed and make it happen.

Feel it!

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Bliss by Ivan Tirado

Take a moment to breathe in. Consider where you started and where you are now. Breathe out! Think of the moments when your heart was immerse in that piece you were creating. Time seemed to stop and you were in a different dimension of inspiration. Wouldn’t be great to experience that with each piece you create?

Sometimes it seems that artists are creating racing against time trying to compete with self-imposed demands. We are trying to produce and in the process we detach from the blessing that is creating. We used to dance with muses. Now we are rushing them. We put ourselves at risk of burning out our inspiration in the race. Yes, we can work fast and produce many pieces, but there is no need to deprive our spirits from the pleasure and satisfaction of art making. We should not run when we can soar.

Feel it! Let the result takes a second place. Allow inspiration guide you. Let yourself go. Don’t race time. Time will stand still while the muses dance to a rhythm of their own carrying you to that place. Feel the bliss of the process of creation.