Going into the Deep with Art

“If you lose your vulnerability you lose your capacity to be an artist.”  Juliana McCarthy

Before I write or paint, or do anything creative there is a energy that builds within me.  I feel my heart pumping and the emotions are there right beneath the surface.  We often fight ourselves in this place not allowing ourselves to create. What stops us or prevents us from letting go?

It can be a scary place, it can be the great abyss within. To face those personal depths and to emerge differently can be a great  practice with art. The ups and downs of life can take us to those deeper places so that we can then emerge differently or changed. So, is true with our art. To stand out of the way and create takes practice. A practice worth exercising. Because, if in our creating we can dive to our depths and come back to the surface of our life changed or with greater meaning then we have done more than survive. We reclaim the lost parts of ourselves.

We can then look at life and creativity as a cycle. To create can then mean to feel and to dive into the depths face the demons and then come back to the surface only to be ready to deepen again. All of this takes courage or an inner strength to put oneself first and triumphantly forge ahead not knowing the next step. To resist or deny can only create more pain. We are all works in progress, and to embrace our imperfections or fears, or pain is ok. Because, in this continual process of feeling and unfolding we are brought back to ourselves. We can then take a giant sigh of relief knowing that our real self was there all along. waiting, breathing, alive.

I think this is what they mean when they say you have to “work for happiness.” To create the space for what is right in our life takes a discipline or a practice that is unique to the individual. For me it is art, it may take time and be a process of getting there.  But it is my own way nonetheless.

It reminds me of the lyrics to the cover “hurt” sung by Johnny Cash. “What have I become, my sweetest friend. ” Art can be the sweetest of friends. The great companion that listens and let’s one know they are not alone. You do not have to consider yourself an artist to create. You just have to know that art can be your refuge. Reminding you of the dark and bright sides of yourself. It feeds you hope, and allows you to reflect upon the true desire of your heart.