One without the other? Would that work? If you have no resolve, can you persevere?
I keep coming back to the words of Deng MIn Dao in 365 Tao where he wrote “each day passes whether you participate or not.” I often chastise myself for not doing more with my time and get comorted that it isn’t true . . . but I know it is.
My first journal pages from 5 years ago. The border is a printed page of one of Teesha Moore’s journal pages using a printer that was almost out of ink . . . I think giving credit is very important.
I’ve done little of this quality since . . . I had a “done that, what’s next?” way of thinking. But something has changed, I can feel it. It might be something to do with age, that feeling that time is becoming more precious when you know that perhaps 2/3 to 3/4 of you life has passed or it may be because I have the time to devote to . . . what?
If you visit here often you’ll be aware of the breadth of what I do . . . and I love that aspect of just mucking around trying many things but now, now I want something a little more. In a word, I want excellence.
During the last couple of days I’ve left comments on two of my favourite blogs, that of Quinn McDonald and Diana Trout that excellence is my goal.
I’m such a dabbler flitting from one thing to another and while I can do a reasonable job in what ever I try, I’d like to be really good at one thing over and above all the others . . . to feel accomplished instead of ‘almost there’ and I guess that’s what keeps me going, the search for that fabulous feeling of a job well done at the moment of completion . . . and then do it again in search of that high. I need to focus or I’ll just fly around in circles like a catherine wheel and never achieve the best result that I’m capable of!
People get to the top of whatever they do because they have the drive and passion and perhaps that’s what others respond to as much as their work. I don’t necessariy want to reach some pinnacle of fame and fortune . . . I just want to be able to look at what I’ve done and say “Now that is well made!” I want it to be well made to my satisfaction which, surprisingly, does allow for small imperfections. I want to make things that I think are original, unique.
So my resolve . . . to persevere in my search for originality and excellence. Now I need to focus. Continue to muck around, yes, but perhaps flit a little slower between my varied interests? Is that possible? To flit at a slower pace? Maybe a month by month focus?
I started with questions and have ended the same way . . . that’s life.
late start studio 
You have a huge amount of skills and talent, originality and excellence. It’s hard for highly skilled people to pick just one thing to work on–maybe they fear success, maybe they want to pick the thing they are BEST at. Sometimes it’s good to know that no creative work is “not worth it.” Each day passes if you participate in a lot of small things, too.
How interesting that I’ve always seen myself as someone who has never really developed my own style because I don’t stick at anything long enough, yet others see it. Wanting to be the best at something, known to be really good at some thing . . . it’s no small feat, an enormous goal.
I go for “remarkable”.
You too? You are!
here’s a quote from an artist at Pilchuck Glass School back in 1989
“the fun is in the process that outcome is just debris”
oops typo the outcome…. not that outcome ….
oh and Brett Whiteley’s advice to an aspiring artist-
“aim at virtually whatever is in front of you… and then one day you’ll see something that you have truly never seen before and that is the beginning of yourself & that heralds the beginning of difficult pleasure.”
http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/difficult-pleasure/clip3/
(NB Difficult pleasure is how Brett described painting, or creating art: Art is an argument between what a thing looks like and what it means.)
Thank you so much for the link . . . a difficult pleasure, a wonderful quote. I’m not familiar with Brett Whiteley, in fact my education in art and about artists is sadly lacking.
The process, yes that’s where the pleasure lies but consider the outcome debris? To me, the outcome is the end result of the process . . . it should achieve it’s purpose, to stimulate is some way, and if it does, then can’t be considered debris while it achieves that purpose. I need to think more of this because sometimes, for me, it is in the making . . . I’m thinking of the embroidery behind the puka leaf which sits forgotten on a shelf, unimportant now because it served as an exercise, an experiment in stitch and construction. Yes, it’s now debris!
A great quote; one I will remember. Thinking I need to be a better participator! I so understand your search for originality and excellence (but not perfection).
There are a lot of us on that road Mary.
Oh Ho! I love that quote. That is all about the process. It’s about loving whatever it is that you are doing at this particular moment. I do know what you mean, Wendy. As much as process is important to me, craftsmanship is equally important. I value it highly. It helps us to create our story or feeling.
But a funny thing is that craftsmanship seems to be across the board. In other words, if you are working on your drawing, your painting also improves as does the making of beaded bracelets (and that is my current shiny thing after work).
It seems to me that the more I improve in individual skills, the more I enjoy the process although I do so love a tricky challenge. It also seems as though my critique of my work has become more objective and focussed . . . for example the spine of the book is just a tad to wide for my liking, others may think it just fine however I’m not doing what I do for their approval . . . when it comes down to it, it is MY opinion of my work that matters most. This is a definite shift in perspective for me.
And I won’t tell you about all the pretty shiny beads and bits and bobs I brought back with me from Thailand . . . although I will tell you where to shop if you go. I might even come!
I’ve only just allowed myself to ‘flit’ from one image or medium to another. Have been stuck for years with the responsibility of producing a completed piece – it has been like working in a straight-jacket for years. I’m loving the freedom of playing and experimenting without an absolute end – like jumping in the camper and following the sun…:)
Flitting definitely has it’s advantages however there’s a few irksome aspects as well.