Friday, February 13, 2009

Creative konk on the head

If you saw Wednesday's posted video on Elizabeth Gilbert's new way of thinking of creativity, you'll know what I'm talking about when she described how different people get their creative ideas. I especially love the description of the poet who felt the poem come at her like a thundering train and she would run to get paper and pencil before the poem barreled through her and left her forever.

Gilbert also told us not to be so hard on ourselves. That not every creative idea is going to be great. So I decided to embrace that philosophy.

My ideas come to me in dreams or as if an apple fell from a tree and konks me on the head. Depending on what I'm doing, I'll either look at it briefly while I continue to do what I need to do or I'll pick it up and examine it to see what I can do with it. Do I take the time to peel, season and bake it in a pie or do I just go ahead and take a big bite of it.

My elephant ballerina painting was one idea. Here's one that came to me last night. I have no clue what it means but it is what I saw in my mind's eye.

Maybe Erika can help me decipher it again.

12 comments:

Stephen Dell'Aria said...

Very nice. Looks like seeds bursting forth from a plant floating in a pot. Hmmmm....let's see...the dream must be indicating a regenerative process coming forth from the unconscious mind!!! Always fun to try interpreting.

Chris Beck said...

I think it's a new leaf, but there's a bit of a cloud around it so we can't see all the details yet.

BTW, you're the Sheila I mentioned in my post today and I added a link to you in my blogroll too. I would have tagged you, but you just got tagged a very short time ago by somebody else, so I figured I'd give you a break!!

Dewberry Fine Art said...

You are very creative my dear. What wonderful dreams you must have. Nice painting with wonderful harmony.
So how did you like going plein air painting with Edward?

Dana Cooper said...

Interesting dreams, Sheila...very nice!

dominique eichi said...

You were transplanted from a bigger plant but you are now growing on your own as a young plant. There is still some obstacles around you but they will dissipate in time, the sun still hasn't the true color it usually has for you but it will if you seek you will find. Your tender roots are protected until you grow stronger. In all you do there is a reflection to others of what you do. You are an example to many.
Blessing Sheila.

Unknown said...

Sheila, your post made me laugh out loud. I love how you take such deep serious advice and make it all your own. ; )
hugs from Texas!!!

Natasha said...

To me, it looks like hope.

artbyakiko said...

Your emotional instability on this physical plane is being healed by the white light.

Unknown said...

Lovely to see how your ideas emerge! Maybe its about nature and life with the blue sky, sun and clouds. The water is also symbolic of life that we all must have. The leaf represents you, your growth as an artist, and theres only one direction a leaf can go in this climate...
Just a thought:0)

Linda said...

The force that nutures all, is helping the plant to grow..

Dave King said...

Guess I'm more pedestrian: my ideas usually float in to my head as a key phrase or sentence. Rarely more than that, but they spark a series of other phrases or sentences and I then have the skeleton of something or other. I loved the train story, though.

Art By Erika said...

LOL I thought my ears were burnin' oh the pressure lol Ok vegetation is life and this one is especially impressive because it's a healthy happy green. You are still not quite centered but being that you are such a strong fighter, you are able to interpret your own brand of being centered and finding your beauty through all your challenges and whatever situation dealt to you not by choice. Though still not feeling solid and actually feeling a little unsheltered and vulnerable, you draw strength from positive support and energy around you. You are very strong and very intelligent, which makes you powerful and you have all it takes to be successful! signed: Sister Erika, PP