Sunday, January 10, 2010

Learning More About My Process

I have not been able to get started on my BJP piece. I am learning to pay attention to what seems to stop my flow of creative energy, and what keeps it going. In the past, I've just tried to force myself to complete projects. Now I want to experience more flow.


Here is a part of my journal showing the images I have been playing around with for BJP. I watched youtube videos of polar bears, and read several articles on the net about polar bears and about the spiritual qualities of polar bear energy. Fierceness, strength, navigating magnetic lines, introspection, overcoming fears, navigating emotional waters. Powerful qualities.





I made this sketch, then realized that I don't want to work this way, filling in an image with beads. I've lost all energy for this type of beading. And most of my seed beads are in storage anyway. So I thought I could work with just the concept of polar bear and see what I'd create, but guess what? I could not make myself get started!





I am resisting even having an idea in mind. I began to panic, thinking I wouldn't be able to participate because I haven't been able to get started. Then tonight, I went downstairs and made this fabric piece. It's green cotton stitched with white silk thread. I ran it through the washer so the edges would fray.
I wonder what will happen next??

Friday, January 1, 2010

Diving Deeper - My Next Generation

I thought I knew what I would be working on, see my previous post, but Inner Artist has other plans! I know they're from her because I can feel the fire burning!

It all started this week with my every 6 month visit to my dental hygienist, who has become a friend. She was upset with the political decisions that she feels will destroy her childrens' future.

Since I don't have children, I don't have quite her same sense of urgency. But I began to think about what I do care about regarding the future. And I realize that My Next Generation is wild animals and plants.

This has been with my my entire life. As a child I made a vow that I didn't want to live in a world that had no more wild gorillas. (Yikes, my time is growing shorter!)

What did I 'know' when I was four or five - about the future of the world? about what was most important to me? What does it mean to care this much about wild animals? What actions does this call me to commit to?

These questions and others about My Next Generation will be in my mind as I work on my BJP for this year. I will blog about them and post pictures here.