Flickers & Flames
Suspended 6” X 6” X 2”
There are moments of awareness that can create small sparks of creativity. The colors of a sunset, the luster of a textile, something you see in random places can all serve as tiny sparks that ignite your imagination. These sparks with a little added energy can really fuel your creativity and lead you to a lot of exploration and experimentation.
The last time I had a spark like this was when I was exploring some ideas in a sketchbook and it led me to a series of work that allowed me to play in my studio for months. I fanned the little ember until it grew into a flame.
Over the decades of creating art, I have learned the value of small sparks. I have also learned the value of a controlled flame. By controlled flame, I do not mean controlling the outcome of my artwork. I mean using my time and energy (fuel) in a sustainable way.
In order for me to sustain my art practice, I need a few things. I need to be sleeping well. I need to be eating healthy. And I need to be balancing my time in the studio with my time outdoors, exercising and moving. When I sit, I stagnate. When I move, everything in me flows.
The other way of working is by starting with a flame. Some people find this useful. I do not. When I start with a flame, you have to keep it fueled. You have to continuously add energy to sustain it. It’s easy for the flame to grow. The larger and larger the flame becomes, the more fuel it burns. The more energy expended to keep it going. The problem I see with the growing flame is that it can become a bonfire.
If you have endless energy and infinite time, you can work like this. I have neither of these resources. And so, I manage my health, rest and movement. I create in a way that I can sustain the small flame and keep it lit. If the flame becomes too large, I run out of fuel and I burnout.
Neither way is better than the other. I am only sharing what I have discovered about myself over the past 25 years. I have noticed, explored and gotten out of my system many little flickers. Every now and again one of them grows into a flame and I protect that flame. I fuel that flame and keep it going. However, as I gain more experience, I avoid the bonfire. It seems really exciting but it takes a lot of energy to keep going. I think the reason I have been making art for so long is that I look for flickers.
Flickers are everywhere and if you miss one, another will come along. If you are constantly looking for bonfires, you will miss the sparks of inspiration. Look closely. Be open to small wonders. Explore the little idea that you think might be interesting. It often is. Starting small let’s you build. Trying to take on too much makes you overwhelmed.
Celestial 6” X 6” X 1.5” in black floater frame
