C is for Clarity
Day 99 of 100 days of the creative curiosity project!
Today’s post is open to all subscribers of the blog as a sneak peek at what the membership group has been studying, with only the comments section reserved for paid members.
There are notes after the post outlining what will be coming after our initial 100 Days of Creative Curiosity posts conclude.
Yesterday’s video lesson concluded the workshop Pensieri: Little Thoughts in Paper, Fabric, and String. We covered many techniques and ideas to create elements that may be used in other projects or simply considered meditative practices on their own. In removing the need for each element to be of any importance, we removed a layer of inhibition over trying something new. There was no goal or specific outcome for our inner critic to be overly concerned.
But bringing these elements to the table to create a work of art stirs the inner critic from its slumber. The stakes are higher when we begin to consider creating an actual composition. Now the critic risks exposure and our internalized limiting beliefs are activated. Where we were so inspired to begin just moments ago, we feel confused about how to proceed. There are simply too many options, it seems impossible to choose. The “what if’s” of our creatively curious voice turn into the fearful “what if’s” of the inner critic.
As noted in the post on Day 97, our Intuitive Voice can be identified by looking for specific traits, referred to as the 8 C’s of true-selfness. The Art Critic Voice comes with traits of its own, which can also be identified through a list of C-words. Are the inner messages we receive about our art, and the process of creating it, bringing us Clarity or Confusion?
To not know what to do next isn’t a tactic of the inner critic. To not know is a different feeling than Confusion—which is a block to the creative process. To not know tells us we simply lack the information or experience we need, it is a companion to clarity.
With clarity we don’t always have the answer in the moment. Clarity may lead us to the next step in the process or it may discern that it’s time for a break from the work. Clarity may tell us what we need is more practice to achieve our goals. Where Confusion feels like pressure to make a decision, Clarity feels like calm. Clarity tells us the solution will come even if it’s not what we were expecting.
Moving beyond the initial 100 days of daily posts into the regular weekly posts for group members, we’ll continue to look at how to discern between our inner critic messages and those of the Intuitive Voice.
Here’s what else to expect after the 100 days of Creative Curiosity posts conclude tomorrow:
Two of the weekly posts each month will include video lessons from the workshop Wax, Paper, Scissors: Hot and Cold Wax Combinations with Paper
Once monthly live zoom hangout sessions will continue, with the focus being on getting to know each other as members in a very casual atmosphere and sharing whatever you’d like to discuss.
We’re going to try adding a second live once monthly zoom session which will be a mini art lesson/workshop. (Once we get rolling on this, we’ll decide whether we want to morph the two live sessions—each about one hour in length, into one longer session.)
A few additional notes for group members:
I reread the Day 97 post and realized I published it in its draft form. I couldn’t help chuckling at the irony of having written about how the critic can sound like confusion, as it was a bit of a confusing read. I edited the post and nearly rewrote several of the paragraphs. Be sure to go back and reread it for better clarity about those critic versus true-self traits. Go directly to that post at this link.
Group members will continue to have access to all previous posts including video lessons from the workshop Pensieri: Little thoughts in paper, fabric, and string as long as you’re subscribed at the membership level.
As mentioned in the post on Day 96, our May hangout will be scheduled the first week of June due to my move. I will post access information and date/time soon.
Here’s how to navigate to the blog from these emails in order to find previous posts:
From your cell phone:
Click the bold headline, which is the title of the post. In the example below it is “Following that Creatively Curious Voice”. This will take you directly to the same post on the blog.
From the blog post, click the blog title: Recovering Your Intuitive Voice for Art + Life above the bold post headline. This will take you to the main page on the blog.
On the main blog page you’ll see the most recent posts (plus the pinned lesson index post—which I do need to update). Scroll down to see each of the previous posts
From your computer:
Click the bold headline, which is the title of the post. In the example below it is “Following that Creatively Curious Voice”. This will take you directly to the same post on the blog.
From the blog post, click the rectangle on the sidebar with the blog name: Recovering Your Intuitive Voice for Art + Life. This will take you to the main page on the blog.
On the main blog page you’ll see the most recent posts (plus the pinned lesson index post—which I do need to update). Scroll down to see each of the previous posts.
