Art as Home; Home as Art

 

Creating art is much like creating home and maybe sometimes they are one in the same. Each requires some diligence, maintenance, nurture. Each a reflection of our true selves, our ins and outs, our solitary reverie. Sometimes the curtains are raised, letting in sunbeams, the pantry is full, and the floors freshly polished. But (if you are like me) its the daily grind of maintaining laundry piles, emptying the dish washer again, raking leaves, wondering what to make for supper and realizing you are out of primary ingredients. And being a creative person requires much the same maintenance. It's work. It's the daily grind and the plugging away at it even when we feel less than inspired. Have you noticed this? 

All too often I get easily frustrated when my art is less than perfect, is less than true. Part of me wants to give up and run away and take a nap. Escape to a place that feels easier, but the desire and my creative soul wakes again ready for a new challenge. And I have to give myself over to the process, to the unnerving realization that I need time. I am not a machine for rapid reproduction but a living, breathing, soulful artist. Sometimes my home is a wreck, far from ideal, but it's honest. It is an honest reflection of a woman doing her best, living, breathing, eating, dreaming, and always being (right where I am... in the present).

So how is your home? Your art? What do they say about you today?

 

** in a few weeks i am hosting an art market here in my home. if you are in the nashville area and would like an invitation please sign up for the Gathering Spriggs newsletter in the column to the right.**

images: 1,3 Polly Eltes, 2 Me

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Oh, this is so very true....It makes me feel better to think that if my space/art is going to be connected to me at all, it's gonna go through awkward periods, because Lord knows I do.

Design Sponge recently interview an artist that I totally have a crush on: Maria Kalman. They asked her how she felt in her studio, and she answered with a photo of her own writing on a piece of paper: worried. elated. calm.

I loved that. Right now I'm some place in between worried and elated.

[Lisa Ridgely]

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this...they really resonated with me. I have always felt that my home reflected my true self very well, but until recently, felt that my art really didn't. That dissonance was really unsettling to me. I have made major transitions in my art in the last few months, and my style has really evolved to the point where I really feel that it is aligned with my personality, home, personal style, etc. Not surprisingly, I am so much happier with it now...not just the end product, but the process is much more enjoyable for me as well. And I agree, that as you mentioned, daily attention is just as important for our creative selves as it is in a home, to keep everything maintained and nurtured.

[Ginny]

Double-thumbs-up.

Did you read my journal entry for this morning!?! This is exactly where I am at.

I have such unrealistic expectations regarding how my days will play out: 1) meaningful, deep quiet time with the Lord, 2) journaling, 3) boys waking up happy and well at 8 AM, 4) healthy breakfast (that everyone joyfull eats), 5) clean house with all laundry clean and folded and dishwasher unloaded, trash emptied, dogs fed), 6) blogging--which includes thinking of and preparing a meal and taking pics of the steps, etc. 7) running/exercising, etc.

Anyway. Usually I just end up frustrated and feeling bad about myself by sundown.

Love you, Heather. Thank you for making this such a REAL and lovely place to visit every day. Thanks for being my daily dose of counseling.

[Rachel]

Great post topic and beautiful photos : )

[Rebecca]

I am feeling the need to be creative but not really sure what to do or where to start....much like my house work....would much rather get out of the house and do something else

[Heather]

Lisa,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and story with me here. I'm intrigued about your process into finding your new creative voice. I would love to hear more if you are able to share. I too have been going through a transition with my home and art since moving into this house over a year ago. It was a clean slate. I could do whatever I wanted and it excited and scared me. Its taken about a year for me to really find myself, my true voice here but it is also (oddly enough aligning with my art process as I take that into a new direction too).
Isn't it great that we have the flexibility to be creatures of change, of new direction, of possibility?

[Lisa Ridgely]

This is still very much an on-going process for me, and I anticipate that it will be a continual process. I think that, for me, it involves being really, authentically, honest with myself. Intentionally noticing and noting how I really feel about my work, my surroundings, and inspiration that I come across all play a part. I have just really focused on evaluating my genuine feelings about my work, and the kind of work I want to do...really getting to the core of my real feelings about it, not just in where I am currently, but in making my goals for the future as well. It can be hard to decipher my genuine feelings sometimes - there can be layers of influence, misgivings, and doubts to get through. There have been many frustrating times through this - regrets over work and time spent going after other things, questioning myself...being completely honest with myself, with no reservations, is not always an easy thing. I have learned that I can't always anticipate how things may change direction, but I think that this kind of continual evaluation will serve me, and my work, very well.

I'm so glad that you wrote about this today! It is such an interesting topic, and I think these types of topics are really vital for artists to think through and discuss, and having a community to do those things with is really wonderful.

[Brigitte]

I've been thinking about this post all day.

[Heather]

elizabeth,
i checked into maira kalman on ds and can see your attraction to her right away. thanks for sharing! :) i find it curious that you are between two extremes.

[Stephanie Ryan]

It's not easy to create, sometimes it flows out of you from places you don't know even exist and other times it is a violent mess of angst and disappointment. Well, a loving violent mess : ) But, it is in those hard moments that we break through, learn, and expand. Embrace the difficult times because they will lead you to new levels of awareness and the true art in your heart.

My house is messy these days. My art... diverse. They are telling me that I need to clear and focus.

[machteld]

Your image of the country house is so beautiful, it makes me start dreaming right away ... :-)