Introducing Creative Gravy! Gravy Maker 1 & 2

I've heard from folks on several fronts that lately they are feeling flat, deflated, uninspired. Maybe it's the weather, perhaps the season or nagging colds but both here in the blogosphere and in the third dimension the lack of Merry "Making" is unsettling. I want everyone to be able to lasso this amazing creative full moon energy and make beauteous things! So what I've decided to do is write a few words on Inspiration. (It will be written in several installments as it would become One Epic Post!) Originally I thought of titling it, The Not So Super Secret Secrets of an Inspired Studio...but decided that was far too cumbersome. How about,

Brain Baster: Making Creative Gravy

I can dig it. :)

INSPIRATION: it's a loaded word, isn't it? We feel we need to be inspired to make work. Whether it be creating a painting, a sketch for a novel, a form for dance, a scrap booking layout or melody for a song-- we need The Juice. What happens when the creative well dries up? What do we do when we wander into our craft rooms like zombies or stare blankly at the paper and become uncomfortable or alarmed that our brain has left town without us? I think too many people believe that inspiration is a dramatic "light bulb" experience in which suddenly a complete creation is shown to you in a vision. I don't know about you--but I've never woken up in the middle of the night screaming EUREKA! because I've just dreamed the next Madame X. The Muse comes to you in all sorts of ways that are much quieter than this: a snowflake landing on your jacket, the dancing spots that are created when light falls through a glass of water, a double take at a newspaper headline that your brain rearranged.

Inspiration is not necessarily trying to refill what is empty, but waking up what is dormant.

Now, Let's get to the kitchen!

Gravy Maker #1: Let It Go

So many times when I speak to people about creating work, their biggest obstacle is fear. They get stuck in the mud of the preparatory stage because they are too afraid to make a mistake, or are terrified it won't be amazing, of they are worried about critique. Let it go. Firstly, Making Art is an Art, not a science! There is no perfect formula, so exact set of instructions. That's the joy of making: The complete and total Broad-acity of the whole affair! You'll never know unless you give it a whirl. Secondly, so what if it's not perfect? If a piece doesn't turn out the way you hoped? No one dies. No one looses their job and we're all still friends in the end. :) You can't be afraid of failure. It will stifle you. I like to think of works as experiments. If a masterpiece fails--that's huge. If an experiment fails--well, it was an experiment and not all experiments work. Trust yourself that you know what you need to do. Say no to the nagging fear. Say no the block.

Take a deep breath, and Let It Go!

Gravy Maker #2: Setting The Scene

It can be difficult to feel The Flow when we are overwhelmed, overtired, ill or a combination of all three zappers. BUT there is much to say about the power of persuasion. Setting the scene is key. What I mean by that is: What does your workspace look like? If it's a cacophony of crap, no wonder you don't want to make work! An organized workspace can be beneficial. Secondly, is your workspace itself and inspiring environment? When you enter this room does it get you into a groove? Inspiration boards are a good way to trip your trigger! Collect up images from magazines, newspapers, greeting cards, art prints, gifts from friends, your favorite magickal items and let them commune on your walls and in your space! Do you love the flicker of candles or twinkle of strings of lights? Put them up! Use music to further develop your stimulating sanctuary. Incense, smelly candles, and essential oils are all excellent additions. Maybe you think a small altar devoted to creativity and flow is important? Does a steaming cup of coffee with two lumps of sugar sitting on the table get you in the mood to create? Or are you a swirling glass of Port sort of gal?

The spirit likes to be talked to.
We do it through food, music, and the arts.
What wakes up your Spirit/Soul/Inner Goddess?
Make a space that supercharges you!

Gravy Maker #2 Continued: Setting The You

Now that we've covered the "studio nesting" portion, let's talk about Setting The You. Do you feel like a Creatrix? Do you feel like a bubbling font of ingenious ideas? If not, why? Just like the studio, sometimes the maker needs a little spiffing up too. It's about waking what's asleep!

Hey, Me? Yeah, it's me, I mean you. Whatever. It's time to get up...

What I'm going to tell you may sound like a one way ticket to Crazy Town, but it works--trust me. When I can't get a damn thing to come out of the other end of the pen or the brushes are betraying me...I dress up. I put on striped stockings, let my hair out and put on my strawberry apron. Getting into a mood, or character drastically changes things. If I am going to make dark work, maybe something sneaky and fantastical, I'll slip into black skinny jeans, hawk up my hair and paint my fingernails with my favorite black polish and throw in some gray netting somewhere. If I'm painting a goddess portrait I like to wear plum or scarlet and put on big earrings and stones. Maybe you would fancy working barefoot? In stilettos? In a flowy Grecian gown? Putting on red lipstick? Taking the make up off? Putting on a green velvet cloak and hunting boots? Maybe simply wearing a piece of jewelry you find to be particularly beautiful and meaningful. Costume and play both allow us to bloom and there is no better place for this to happen than in the studio.

What are you going to be?

Tomorrow: Writing Prompts! Truly, far more fun that it sounds--I promise!

Until then--
Merry Making and Many Blissings!~*