Being found by inspiration

I often wonder about the nature of 'inspiration'. What makes us create? How does creativity work and what evokes it? Is she a golden spark, a veiled goddess, a shy butterfly, a ray of sunlight?

How can we catch her and get her to assist us? 

Why, when trying, we keep failing dramatically? 

Inspiration does not want to be called.

Neither wishes to be invited, to be enticed, or to be given orders. 

We can't buy, earn, achieve, give or take her. 

She waits. 

Until we get the message. 

Until we stop trying. 

And then

she flutters down, 

covers our brain with a wing 

and lightly guides our hand. 

And sometimes...when cleaning brushes on a newspaper with skribbles,  she's there and giggles at us.

  

She does not want to be found. 

She wants to find us.

Found words from a dark hidden place

It's been more than six months since I last posted!!
There was no particular reason. Sometimes I seem to turn inward for a while, as if to make room for quietness and solitude before new energy can emerge.  
This summer was such a time.

I did a lot of cleaning and organizing. That seems to help clear the inner clutter as well.
I sorted out some drawers and made stuff with a leftover serviette and two torn bookpages.
The 'poetry' that I found seemed to fit the mood I was in. It is dear to me.

Hope to be back blogging soon!

(translation: the medecineman - silent - head lowered - before the faint light of stars - a dark hidden place - waiting for spirits)

Close up...

I found some big photographs of faces in a magazine and was intrigued by their size. The 'nearness' made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

I tore them up to see what the effect would be if I rearranged the pieces. Would it make a difference?  

On a base of gesso with watercolour I went to work with the two torn-up girlies. I puzzled with  eyes, noses and mouths. Amazing what an extra millimetre upwards or sideways would do to the facial expression! I glued down the pieces and added some more colour. Yet, they kept bothering me and musing about the impact of body language, especially eye contact, I started writing around them: 

  

“Isn’t it miraculous how eyes attract our attention? We check each other’s expression with an inborn mechanism to find out if we’re safe. Do we have to run, fight or lay low (like a puppy, paws in the air and soft belly upwards... “Look, I’m only little and completely harmless, so don’t hurt me. I  surrender. You’re boss...”?

With our eyes we signal: I see you coming towards me , but I promise I won’t touch you. I will avert my eyes when your are near and pass you by on the right... Or in a crowded  train when we are ‘too close for contact’ : My body touches yours but please don’t take advantage. I shall not make eye-contact,  but look down to keep myself hidden and not embarrass you.”

I had started writing without a plan, just jotting down what came to mind. I know that this way of writing may tell you a lot about yourself. 

At least it shed light upon my uneasiness... these faces were too close for comfort!

                                     So... when you meet me by chance: please keep a distance  J

Newspaper fun.

Take a page of an old newspaper and rip a small piece out of it.
Put it on top of some brown paper and scan or photograph it.
Make several prints.

Then turn your print around until you get an idea of what that piece of newspaper might become and draw it!

Then draw some more.
Make a series of it.
Have fun!

and I can't stop making them! 

Will you have a go?  Copy this one and really freak out!