More ways of ‘getting out of the box’, overcoming
blocks, and really expressing yourself
It is a myth that ‘artists are mad, bad and dangerous
to know’. Some artists unfortunately buy into the myth,
perhaps out of a lack of awareness or tools about managing
the creative process. However, if you read quotes about artists
describing their creative process you will notice a massive
theme of spirituality running through. The ‘commercial
art market’ however, is almost all about the end product.
What this doesn’t tell you is that most artists are
into process, creating their art to connect with themselves,
understand, connect with and love God, and the end result
is, well, kind of a bonus!
Perhaps Picasso says it best “Painting isn’t
an aesthetic operation; it’s a form of magic.”
And we can take him literally, there. And Giorgio De Chirico
said: “To become truly immortal, a work of art must
escape all human limits: Logic and common sense will only
interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter
the regions of childhood visions and dreams.”
I have made beautiful paintings, songs, poems, jewellery...
and learned a lot about myself and about creativity in the
process. I’ve practised Julia Cameron’s marvellous
creativity techniques (from her books ‘The Artist’s
Way’, and ‘The Vein Of Gold’ for years,
too. (I know I keep going on about them, but they are... brilliant!)
Julia Cameron’s first tool is ‘Morning Pages’.
These happen every morning, where one writes three A4 pages
in a large notebook. It isn’t a diary, more a ‘brain-dump’.
For example: ‘must remember the laundry. GOD! I feel
depressed today. Oh it’s Thursday, meeting Rae. Wonder
why she said she didn’t like Tom... Maybe he’s
not so good for me after all... I hate writing this...’
Whatever it is. It is not for showing to anyone, or even,
for re-reading much. But the process is such a powerful one!
It gets the subjective thoughts out of the head and onto the
page and one gains... objectivity, and suddenly, power and
choice over many areas of one’s life. It has certainly
changed mine drastically for the better. After doing it for
a while (and yoga which also helps) I suddenly got in touch
with my ‘higher self’ – wise voice that
just knows what’s best for me, what my true direction
is. What a blessing!
The second tool ‘Artist Date’ means you take
yourself off once a week (alone – no hangers on!) to
do something that pleases and nourishes you. A way of fuelling
your creative juices - passion! One of my artist dates was
to go to a dance shop and try on pink fluffy tulle tutus!
And lovely pink satiny shoes! Silly, but it was something
I’d missed out on since I was a kid. Healing. And fun.
And soon after that I joined the dance tribe I still belong
to and began to really... dance! What might your ‘artist
date’ be? Here are some tips about creating safely with
joy:
Secrets of Creativity, Part Two:
Protection: Be careful who you tell about what you plan to
create. Unfortunately, seeing others being creative often
‘pushes peoples buttons’ and they will discourage
before you’ve even started. So save it for friends you
know support you, or wait til the project is ready for unveiling
before you tell!
Space: Having a special space for creating is a lovely thing!
Even if it’s only the corner of a table or a small desk.
Make it just how you want it, display favourite things, make
it really yours, make it sacred.
Do what you wanna do! If you feel like making ceramics, go
do that! Don’t let your conscious mind make you take
up knitting classes because it’s ‘more sensible’
‘less messy’ or ‘cheaper’! Stick to
your first intuition and label any fears about it as ‘resistance’.
Then go book!
Nibbling. Forget about having whole weekends of time to spend
on creating! That’s rare! Instead, go for the ‘nibble’
(my friend Karen-Eve says ‘if you can’t get lunch,
get a sandwich!’). Negotiate ten minutes of time with
yourself, and get down to something, even if it’s only
the opening line of your book, stretching one canvas, lining
up your paints, tinkling a few bars on the piano, sharpening
your pencil. Next day, nibble a bit more...
Labels: Find ways of making your creativity ‘not a
big deal’. Give it non-scary, comfortable names, (use
to keep any anti-creative sourpusses off your back, too).
Example: ‘I’m going to play with my sewing for
ten minutes’. ‘I’m going to splash some
blue paint on that wall for half an hour’. ‘I’m
going to write half a page on ‘monotony’.
Resistance. ‘Writers block’ –Aaargh! (Ghastly)
affliction usually caused by too much conscious mind and too
much focus on ‘the final result’. Also caused
sometimes by too much sustained writing without a break. Instead,
create space to noodle, writing anything that comes into the
head (even ‘AAARGH! I can’t write anything...’)
for ten minutes a day. Should solve the problem. And, label
any feelings of not wanting to start (or play the instrument,
show up at the class, etc.) not as ‘laziness, lack of
skill, stupidity, etc’ but as resistance. ‘Hmm.
I seem to be suffering a little resistance today. is a lot
less threatening and easier to overcome: ...’Never mind,
I will start and paint/play/write a little, anyway –
even if it’s rubbish!’.
Be prepared to be bad. It’s ok to produce a rubbishy
painting, junky bit of writing, tatty bit of sewing, dodgy
stew, sometimes! (My friends Esther and Davide chucked their
tasteless pasta out the window, which was perhaps the best
place for it!) We can’t always be brilliant!! Just allow
it to be as it is, come back to it later. I have often found
paintings that I initially thought were great, to be not so
good later. And conversely, uncovering a ‘failure’
I had faced to the wall, exclaimed ‘Wow – I really
like this one!’ Somehow, our creations need ‘cooling
time’ – a bit like after you bake a cake. You
have to wait a bit to taste it, to see how it’s turned
out.
Doodles on the phone – drawing while the conscious
mind is busy yields much! Keep your doodles, play with them,
maybe they’ll lead you to... embroider them on cushions,
paint on them, put images on your business cards (or, like
me – make them into jewellery!)
We all have our own unique way of creating. No-one can teach
you that – you have to practise, PLAY! And discover
it yourself. For example, every artist mucks about with materials
until they discover (invent) their own way of putting the
paint on. And that very thing is what makes every artist’s
work unique. So don’t think that anyone else can do
it better than YOU can cos they can’t. They might give
suggestions, but really, you just have to be willing to practise...
Only YOU can make YOUR art!
I wish you great joy in creating and hope it brings you as
much delight as it does me!
Join Jeli Lala for ‘Yoga, Crystals, Dreams’ mini-workshops,
Tegun Gallery, Hanoman St. Ubud, Wednesdays and Saturdays,
10am-12pm. Please TXT 081 239 43354 to book or email JELILALA@BREATHE.COM
NEXT ISSUE: Overcoming Grief
Jeli Lala created the ‘Ashram of Spiritual Jewellery
and Art’ at no. 1, Sukma St., Tebesaya, Ubud, with her
husband, Putu S. She has studied yoga and many other spiritual
practices for more than ten years. She writes “As a
life-long artist, I’ve been exploring my inner world
since I was a child. In this column, I will share some of
my personal experiences and spiritual methods – hopefully,
you’ll find this interesting, and maybe it will give
some ideas for your own journey”.
Jeli welcomes comments and may be contacted on:
Email: jelila@jelila.com
Website: www.jelila.com or www.imagine-retreats.com
