The Artist’s Way Revelations

My Journey to becoming a full time artist, accompanied by The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION

A book by Julia Cameron, which was recommended to me by a fellow animal communicator who knows I’m on the journey to becoming the artist I always dreamed of as a kid.

Honestly, I did wonder where I’d find the time to read it and follow the 12 week course it lays out, but goodness me I’m so glad I’ve started.

I am sensitive. I am strong. The two are not mutually exclusive

The process helps us to recover our creativity, and heal past wounds and beliefs that have put blocks in our way. It’s a revelation.

“Trusting our creativity is a new behaviour for many of us…We may feel – and look – erratic. This erraticism is a normal part of getting unstuck…going sane feels just like going crazy.” Julia Cameron.

Well, having changed what I’m doing, how I describe myself and my artwork so many times over the past few weeks, I was so relieved to read that this is normal and part of the process.

2. THE PENNY DROPS

To say the penny dropped would be an understatement – I’ve been trying to put into words why I create art.

What Julia has written sums it up perfectly for me. I now understand why the pandemic has given me such a massive urge to create art again.

It allowed me to slow down and NOTICE nature again, just as I did as a child.

In Julia’s words,

“The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention…Paying attention is always healing.”

Paying attention is an act of connection to the present moment, where there are no worries about the future, no upset from the past. It’s a safe place to be, a joyful place to be. A peaceful place to be.

Creating and paying attention allows me to be part of the fellowship of nature, where we are never alone.

I realise now that creating art today, makes me feel the same way as it did when I was little.

REVELATIONS

I’ve had so many a-ha! moments, I just want to share with you the ones that jumped out of the page at me, they may resonate with you too.

“Work has to be work and not play. Anything else we want to do eg paint – must be considered frivolous and placed a distant 2^nd”

What is the difference between work and play? Why are the two so distinctly paired off against each other? It’s EITHER work OR play? Can’t it be both? Can’t it be neither?

“Many of us equate difficulty with virtue – and art with fooling around…Something – a talent for painting, say – that comes to us easily and seems compatible with us must be some sort of cheap trick, not to be taken seriously.”

YES! Art for me was always something that was to be done in my spare time, as a hobby (an activity done in leisure time for pleasure.) Leisure time. We’re not at school now, where we are allocated set times for leisure, eating, thinking and exercise. We shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for doine one activity over another. It’s our time to make the best of in our own way.

“Creativity is not, and has never been sensible. Why should it be? Why should you be? Do you still think there is some moral virtue in being martyred? If you want to make some art, make some art.”

I can completely relate to this. We’re always told to “work hard,” and do things that are important – studying for this, being tested on that. Society brands you based on what you do, not who you are based on subjective yet collective opinion. Somehow the level of stress, responsibility and money determine how much of a person you are.