Everything changes. You start out doing one thing and wind up doing something else. I’ve come to feel that dogmatism in art and craft is the biggest enemy of creativity. It’s a gift to embrace change in your work.
How did I embrace this? Not too long ago, I was sorting through a large document storage valise in the shop. You know, the ones that have endless pockets for papers and sort things according to your choice of topics? In it, I found some designs for wooden jewelry that dated back to 1969. There were pendants, brooches, and earrings. Some had actually made it out of the design phase and wound up on sale at a small shop in Ottawa. I call this body of work my hippy dippy phase. It’s called that because of who the target customers were. Other pockets in the valise unearthed other design phases. Lots of small signs, boxes, carved cutting boards and maritime designs as we get close to current times.
Cease movement, and they can toss a funereal wreath atop your work with sighs, ” He was so productive. Whatever happened?” Now, it may surprise you to learn that I do not couple this to commercial success; that’s nice, but creativity is not limited to how many sales we’ve made this quarter. Creativity is an essential part of staying mentally healthy. It branches into many parts of our lives. It keeps us young and alert.
I’m personally sure that while Leonardo and MIchelangleo had the celestial on their minds while creating great works, they were also feverish with the desire to create something beyond what they had previously done.
We can’t do better than to follow where the masters have led.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
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Merry Christmas 🎸🎸
And a Merry Christmas to you as well!
Sometimes I wonder what those guys thought about what they were painting since they were painting for hire. One thing for sure; that kind of work demanded imagination and improved their skills, but what did they really want to paint? I’ve read/heard that Leonardo didn’t even much like painting. I don’t know; I wasn’t there, but he experimented all the time — one reason the Last Supper ended up so fragile. Sometimes I look at the old paintings, into the back ground, and wonder if there is something there that they were really interested in, not the Virgin and child. I wish I could talk to them.
We “play” while we create, right? and sometimes things wind up a bit fragile because the process hasn’t been all worked out. It’s thought in action and creation while making it up as you go…you know fun,
I do know!!!! Rawlins Red didn’t make the greatest oil paint in the world but I love it so much.
Merry Christmas! This is like the saying “use it or lose it”.
Correct!
You’re so right, creativity is about vastly more than chasing the money. By it’s very nature it needs to reach out above and beyond the mundane. Your leaf is exquisite.