12 Secrets: Surrendering to Cycles

12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: Secret 4
Surrendering to Creative Cycles

This week, McMeekin addresses creative cycles: What are they? How do we survive the Void? She also asks us to examine what our own creative cycles are like, what we do to feed them and figure out our flow.

So after after stewing on the information for a few days, I was able to solidify a few observations. Firstly, I do notice definite cycles--weeks of heavy dreams, inability to fall asleep because ideas are swimming laps in my psyche, and prolific productivity in the studio. When these things wain to a less manic level, I like to read interesting texts about things that aren't art, see strange films, find odd photographs, thumb through image heavy coffee table books, discover new and exciting music or attend openings or showings in my city. Travel is an inspirational power food. For me, traveling is similar to experiencing your first Aloe and Ginger smoothie: it fills you up, tickles your fancy, treats you with something unexpected and is ultimately refreshing.

"Stocking Self Portrait" by Molly Roberts. Mixed Media 2008. Click for a larger view.

Though most often, I find surviving The Vacuum isn't the problem. (That's what I've titled my Void.) My issue is trying to focus on one idea at a time. I get pulled in the direction of plays and then fashion design and then "Ooh! that's new!", flipping through design magazines and grumbling, "$4,ooo for an ottoman? I could make that..." and "Where do I get china markers?" and constantly scribbling down new ideas for paintings, shadow boxes, classes, altar pieces and experimental books and-- WOAH!

But even in the quietest of moments I feel compelled to make something--words or marks--that describe that quietness, something that reflects the inner space, something that responds to The Vacuum. Sometimes I experience creative Limbo when in a transitional period, a time when my interests are in flux or I'm moving on from one theme or material to another. I think, "I've been playing with this project for months, babying it, devoted to it, loving it. But---Oh! Ooh. What's that?" And I see that idea from across the room. I slyly look at it and it looks at me, we exchange glances for a while. So, I take initiative. I flirt with that idea for a while. Then I become brave and I ask it out for a drink. After a few dates at the library or in the sketch book it dawns on me--we were meant to be! And all the while I feel guilty about moving on from the former idea, the series, the finished work. But ultimately, I must leave it behind and confess,

"It's not you, darling. It's me."

The most excellent part of this melodramatic exchange is that there is a happy ending. There are no tears, no one is dejected and holed up eating Ben & Jerry's and no one gets their tires slashed. :)

What are your creative cycles and soap operas like?