The artist must actively cultivate
that state which most people avoid:
the state of being alone.
-James Baldwin
**********************
I spoke with a drawing class from a local college yesterday. I always feel like I could have done a much better job with these things and yesterday was no different. I left thinking that I hadn’t fully expressed fully all the advice or warnings I might have wanted to offer. I had sped over the idea of taking a mindset for their work that makes it apparent that they view their work as important. The idea here is that if you don’t take your work seriously, how can you expect others to do the same? I don’t think I got that fully across.
The one thing I did stay on was the value and need for solitiude in their work, how they must embrace being alone with their thoughts and work in order to take their work to its fullest potential. They should be honest with themselves and if they are uneasy about being and working alone, this is not a path they should follow. I told them that the solitude was actually the big attraction for me and that, even as I spoke with them, I was wishing I was back in the studio. Alone.
Creation is most often done in solitude. There have been successful artistic collaborations through the years but they seldom have the impact and power of the singular voice and vision. And this is most often forged in solitude.
Maybe I’m biased towards this idea because of my cultivated affinity for being alone. I don’t know nor do I really care. As the glorious Garbo said, ” I just want to be alone.”
I just checked – it was on April 17, 2008, that I published the following words on my “About” page:
Living a quiet and hidden life, anchored to my dock like a barnacle to a piling, I varnish boats on the Texas Gulf Coast. My dock provides both things Virginia Woolf recommended for a woman who writes: money, from the labor, and a room of my own – space and solitude for thought, remembrance, and creative reflection on the truths and mysteries of life.
That Virginia was one smart cookie. 😉
It was great seeing you again at the coffee shop. I think you did just fine; it’s always tough trying to connect with the students. I particularly enjoy watching their faces as we share the things we’ve learned through the years. And I wonder where they’ll end up.
(Of course, I wonder where I’ll end up, too.)
The group we met with this year are very talented; it was really interesting to see their expressions when you spoke about raw talent and pursuing, stretching, pushing to go in new directions or simply expand perspectives. Raw talent does only take you so far, in any pursuit, not just art. I’m not sure they understood that, but perhaps in time with some experience?
Regarding solitude, amen. These students seem to be very social and I could see their faces fall just a little bit when you said that solitude was essential. I hope they come to realize they don’t have to live the life of a hermit, but need to give themselves the time, space, and permission to create. Inspiration can strike anywhere, but the time spent with yourself allows the idea to form and become fully realized.
I appreciate listening to you and I appreciate the interaction with the other artists. All very energizing and inspiring! Thank you for taking the time.
Thanks, Bonnie. I also enjoyed hearing about your own venture into the creative world.
It is interesting to wonder about where these students’ paths will take them. I try to dispell some of the romantic myths of an artist’s life by letting them know about the needed sacrifices, such as time and the constant company of others, but still want them to feel it is accessible if they truly desire it and are willing to work for it. If one of them takes anything from theses few words, I will be greatly satisfied.
Again, thank you, Bonnie. Good to see you again.
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