Four decades ago I spent a few nights sleeping in a cardboard box
underneath a parked 18 wheeler… THAT “inspiration” kept me going
for about 20 years!
However, like many lessons in life, you sometimes need a "tune-up"
or reinforcement… Two decades ago that came in the form of a few
months living and working in a 4 meter by 4 meter, dirt floored room
in Taxco, Mexico… It’s amazing how quickly you can get "creative"
with just a few primitive hand tools when your belly is empty.
I’d be willing to bet that either of these situations would provide
adequate “inspiration”…
Brian
Coop and orchidians,
it is so refreshing to hear someone address the core of what it is
that propels the vehicle that carries to our passion…creativity
and the well from which it springs is the the force that defines the
object that we produce. the techniques on our palette will enhance
what we do. in itself technique is just the steel, glass, and plastic
that the vehicle is constructed out of. bottom line…it’s the
journey no the aforementioned stuff that makes the journey so
delightful,and a gas…no matter what the cost…
aloha…namaste
rp leaf
I would seriously consider that the problem is not lack of creativity
or inspiration. What you seem to be describing are classic symptoms
of depression. I find it not too surprising that only one reply in
this thread thus far suggested this; it is an extremely common
condition, yet frequently unrecognized (in others and in oneself) and
often underdiagnosed by physicians. It’s a common misperception that
all depression is triggered by some major life event and
characterized by visible, extreme sadness, uncontrolled crying, and
verbal expressions of self-harm; but it’s usually not that obvious
and can, not infrequently, develop over time from good old-fashioned
stress. In addition, it still bears the reputation of being a
character defect, and no one in their right mind (pardon the pun)
wants to go there. It’s much more comfortable to rationalize one’s
lack of pleasure, loss of inspiration, decreased energy and
motivation as “just part of the creative process” or “something we
all go through” and that all you need to do is be guided by your
“muse” or let some divine or cosmic energy flow, or simply manage
your life better and it will resolve itself. I don’t wish to
trivialize these things; I just think that neurochemistry plays a
bigger part than people realize and should be added to the list. If
I may, I would like to recommend three things: First, talk to your
physician to rule out any underlying physiological condition, and
then discuss taking an anti-depressant. Taking the right drug can
often be the miracle you’ve been waiting for. Psychotropic drugs are
heavily researched, been around a long time, and have gotten a lot
“cleaner” over the past decade or so. It’s also becoming more openly
common and less of a stigma these days to use drugs as a tool. (On
the other hand, the “drugs are evil” propaganda has also created the
unfortunate public perception that all drugs are bad.) Second, more
often than not, heavy, sustained knock-down, drag-em-out kind of
daily, physical workouts will eliminate depression or depressive
tendencies completely. No joke. (Actually, it doesn’t need to be
that extreme; that’s just my personal preference.) Thirdly, do a bit
of research. Some good websites are: National Institutes of Health
(nih.gov); American Psychological Association (apa.org)
(specifically American Psychological Association (APA)); and
Better Living Through Chemistry (neuropharmacology.com). From your
thumbnail sketch I’d bet the farm I’m right about this.
Good luck.
Tamara
Tamara
I don’t believe that Orchid is an appropriate forum on which to
further the agenda of the psycho-pharmaceutical industry, however
well psychotropic drugs may have worked for Tamara. I’ve done lots of
research on this topic and I know too much about drug company
scandals (many of them way underreported in the US), and too many
people whose lives were badly messed up by meds, and, no, I’m not a
Scientologist.
Please, folks, do not allow a GP–or a psychiatrist who plans on
seeing you for 15 minutes–to diagnose you, or to prescribe
psychotropic meds for you. Find someone who believes in non-drug
solutions–cognitive therapy has an excellent track record in
actually curing depression (no meds are curative)–and who views
drugs as an emergency measure.
And, RR, if you think you might be depressed, buy yourself a copy of
“Feeling Good”
and take the Beck Depression Inventory. Most of us have become a
little depressed at some time. Straightening out your thinking is a
much safer approach than popping a pill. It’s also a lot less
profitable for the stockholders of E. I. Lilly.
Lisa Orlando
Albion, CA, USA
i’m replying to freakstyle’s first post, by all means keep the
soccer going never stop!!, i have become great at design and
production, but i have lost my sports, basketball, cross-country
running, wrestling, baseball, football life, i warn you do not let
this happen to you!!!, you will be sorry, yes we love to make
stuff, but excercize comes first, and if it’s in the form of
something fun, all the better, d
I may, I would like to recommend three things: First, talk to your
physician to rule out any underlying physiological condition, and
then discuss taking an anti-depressant.
A good friend of mine works with the chronically mentally ill and
has seen a lot of mistakes made by MDs prescribing anti-depressants.
He feels very strongly that anyone taking them should be overseen by
a psychiatrist (those are the ones that are MDs also, but have the
additional training).
In another matter – a recent New York Times article describes
research – they think they’ve found the part of the brain that
causes depression.
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
the thought of taking two weeks away from the shop, unless you have
no work at all, doesn’t fly with me unless you have money to burn! I
just can’t relax when I don’t have money to pay the bills and if I
have any work to do, I just do it, creativity or not. I guess the
difference for me is that I don’t see myself as an “artist” on a
daily basis but more of a craftsman. This is how I see someone who is
called a jeweler, goldsmith, bench jeweler or whatever. The term
artist or designer seems like something reserved for the well to do.
I’ll bet many who call themselves that, are probably making espresso
during the day and trying to find their creative spark at night. If
you work in an industry (and it is industry) and you want to make a
living at it, you have to accept a certain amount of commercialism.
I don’t know of many jewelry artists that derive a living off of
their creativity alone without some marketing and selling of what
sells to the average Joe! If you are talking of art shows and
galleries and making stuff to display in those places you better
realize there is a very tiny market for this type of jewelry. Don’t
be disappointed when it isn’t well received or you don’t make sales.
Being able to make neat stuff that also sells will allow you from
time to time to make the really creative piece for your own enjoyment
or that special customer. Maybe I’m not in the real world of jewelry
making but I don’t see the artsy mindset among my peers all that
much…maybe its a thing that exists in big cities among a certain
crowd. I’m thinking reality check here!-
charles
people make jewelry for all different reasons. for over thirty years
i have been working in an adult education program for the city and
county of san francisco. are you discounting this as a legitimate
form of jewelry making? i graduated from san francisco state with a
teaching credential and a ba in art. my next stop on the road, was
working as a apprentice for one of the finest jewelry factories in
the industry.over the years, i have come to the conclusion that you
can apply creativity to everything you do.look at the body of work
that thomas mann produces.Yes, you can be creative with your bread
and butter line. just remember which side to spread the most
important of condiments… creativity, passion, and love.
aloha