Well I've finally decided to stop fighting the "block" and just turn my attention to other things. I've struggled for two weeks trying everything I could. I painted in my car, and wiped two starts. I met the plein air group (on the coldest day!) and failed to even be able to get excited about the farmers, the good light, the chickens, etc. I've worked in the studio and not finished anything I've started and I've sat in several coffee shops and been uninspired. Its time to stop. It can't be forced and I need to relax.
So, I am going to turn my attention to Christmas. The line "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. May your heart be light." struck a chord this morning. My heart has been heavy and my head too full of myself. I'm getting the house in order, I took 20 pounds of magazines and papers out to the big blue bin, I need to go through my daughter's toys and clothes and get them donated. This post from Jennifer King really hit home too. She wrote on Wed. about getting rid of those useless things that have cluttered your life. I felt so good yesterday after I moved furniture and purged some clutter. Now I can start with a clean mind, spirit and house after the holidays.
I am sure I will post here and there. And update Facebook. But I will now wish you all a blessed Hanukkah and Christmas season. May your hearts be light and from now on your troubles out of sight.
13 comments:
Robin, This is a great idea. I'm going to try the same thing!! Thanks for the Holiday wishes and may you have a wonderful and prosperous New Year. Let's get together in 2010!!!
Purge to your heart's content! Wonderful and inspiring post. I look forward to hearing (and seeing) from a refreshed Robin. Enjoy your family and the season.
You have done so many fine paintings this year, congratulations on that huge accomplishment. Take a break and enjoy family and friends and the Christmas holiday and well deserved time off. When the spirit moves you back your audience will be here.
You and Jennifer King (thanks for pointing us to her blog post) are an inspiration! It's great to know others are feeling blocked and in need of regrouping, and thank you for a thoughtful, beautifully written solution...
It's so difficult to realize that there really is no lost time, everything goes into the crucible of your life. You will emerge complete and fullfilled - so let go of the guilt and enjoy Christmas. Everyone and everything will be here when you get back.
I love your honesty and your attitude.
You deserve a nice little rest.
Many wonderful things in nature need a little winter break.
I think you're on to a good idea that I need to follow for right now, too. Thanks for talking about it on your blog! and best Christmas wishes to you & your family!
Robin, You've taken the right decision. I fully agree with Jennifer that getting rid of clutter (in any sense) is a wonderful way of enlarging the space around us as well as within ourselves. Things, thoughts or habits which make a lot of sense for us today can become less useful or sometimes even meaningless or disturbing for us tomorrow. It's just that we are sometimes too busy to realize what has moved to that stage of - being clutter. The end of the year is a perfect time for a break to do an inventory, and to friendly and thankfully say good bye to all those things/thoughts/habits which helped us enjoy life and develop yesterday, but have stopped doing this for us today. With letting them go we create room for new things to come (and to let go again). This is the way we grow. Robin, I wish you a peaceful and refreshing break. I really enjoyed having met you this year in NY :-) Petra from Switzerland
I think when you're feeling blocked it's because your artistic subconcious is trying to tell you something and that's the only way it can get your attention. When I'm blocked, I keep a dream journal by my bed. Often the clues to the problem come out in dreams. Your work is wonderful.
robin, just came out of bit of that "struggle" myself. i sympathize. i found that if you stop painting for awhile, it'll drive you back to it. we painters have got to paint. leave it till youre going crazy to paint again. until then do some stuff you've been meaning to do. p.s.- when you get done decluttering your life can you come to NC and do mine? LOL
I think Mike's on to something here...sometimes you just have to "wait it out" by doing other stuff that has to be done...and then you'll be dying to paint again! (still working on the decluttering & Christmas prep. here!) Best wishes to you.
Thank you Robin... and may your heart be light enough to soar!!
Robin:
I love your work. You never know how many people you may have touched with your artwork and blog. Now you've inspired me to clean out all my "stuff"... at 55 years old, I seem to need less of it and more experiences, more time painting, and more fun. The inspiration to paint again will come back when it's ready and when you aren't trying to grab it. (it's like trying to catch a butterfly - you can't chase it, but when you're least expecting it, one may fly across your vision and land close by.
Thank you for your art. Happy Winter.
Karen Sukle
Northern California
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