Sharpening Your Creative Knife

Sharpening Your Creative Knife

Let me talk about something that is taboo: success. I have been successful in my career. Mind you, I was also saying this when I had not made any money yet, so my opinion may not be of sound mind. I remember when I got my first gallery show. I lost money, no one bought anything, and I had just quit my job with the starry-eyed belief that I was about to be wealthy from my art. Despite that not happening, I felt successful in all the ways that ever mattered to me. I have always felt trapped by success, too. When I created my very first image I remember feeling indebted to that vision. I believed that I had to continue creating like that to remain popular, successful. As time went on that feeling only got stronger. My art evolved, but safely.

As I found more success (again, this is very subjective), I found more trappings holding me back from where I knew I could go. As I made more money I felt reliant on those ways of earning. As I saw reactions to my art that were positive I felt a pull to create more of that positive feeling. As I became known for something, I felt fraudulent should I change directions. This is what no one talks about with success – how very suffocating it can be.

That last statement is precisely why this is a taboo subject – what about people who aren’t successful? “Are you so elitist that you’re going to talk about success?” Before those statements get shouted about, let me share why this is so important.

  1. I want you to succeed massively.
  2. I believe we all succeed in big and small ways. (The ways I have succeeded will be big to some and small to others, it is a matter of perception).
  3. I want to redefine success in a healthy way.

Over the past 8 years of business, I have gone from losing money to earning money, from creating art that I love to art that I didn’t love and back again. I’ve experienced genuinely incredible people who have helped me and genuinely horrendous acts of selfishness. I’ve been lost and found so many times I should create a box on my shelf labeled “Lost & Found” to make things easier. I’ve been obsessively committed to my work and I’ve pushed it away.

Over those 8 years of running a business, I’ve learned a lesson that only just sank in. I was 22 years old when I became self-employed and plowed forward to carve a career. I thought that what I did in that moment would define the rest of my life. I thought that the choices I made then were the choices I would carry with me until I died. I had no perspective. I had no sense of the world and how massive it is, or how willing the world is to forget. I thought I had made my bed and I was prepared to lie in it. And I was so, so happy doing that. I love the choices I made, I love the life I live, and I am not ashamed to say that it is wonderful. But, it is incomplete.

We contain multitudes, said Whitman. We contain multitudes that allow us to be/do/see/explore/create so many things. And herein lies the problem with success: it tricks us into thinking that we have found the one thing we are good at and that we must gently rest in that place forever.

I am not accustomed to resting, just ask anyone who knows me.

Joesph Campbell found that all stories are the same – the hero goes on a journey, discovers something about him/herself and the world, battles his/her dragons and then comes full circle to tell about it. And then that hero goes again on another journey, and another, and another. What we are doing right now in our lives does not have to be what we always do. In fact, I would argue, it shouldn’t be. There are too many unexplored curiosities, too many multitudes.

The fear in exploring unknown places is in thinking we will leave behind what we used to be. Never, ever is that true, nor a possibility. We take what we have learned and done and sew that into the fabric of our new lives.

I am still happily a photographer, but one day I may not be. Who can say? What I do know is that all I have learned from this path so far will bleed into the next, and I will be better for it.

You may feel that where you are in your life right now is where you will always be. You may feel like you are trapped or held back in some way. I hope you will join me in recognizing that our worth is not necessarily tied up in what we do and how we define ourselves; it is evident in our willingness to change and the belief we must have in our abilities to do so.

What is success, then, if not money or status?

  1. Success is the forward momentum of your dreams.
  2. Success is recognizing when your dreams are changing, and chasing them anyway.
  3. Success is moving boldly on your path without concern for who follows you.

This is the lesson I have learned: Rarely are people buying the art, they are buying the soul of the art. We put labels on our life so that we can better manage them, like “photographer”, “educator”, “writer”. Where, though, do those labels come from? What makes us choose one over another? If we back away from the labels and ask ourselves why we are drawn to those things that we do, the answer is clear. If you constantly follow your WHY, your greatest passion and the reasons that come with it, your life can never be defined by a single label. When WHY is more important that HOW and WHAT, you have found your genius, your muse, your inspiration. You have found yourself.

I took a trip to Argentina last week. For the past 10 years I have talked about traveling to Patagonia and it finally happened. I went with no intentions of making images there. I needed to be entirely outside of my norm. And, after I finished hiking and exploring, the most interesting thing happened. I wanted to create. I deeply desired to play with my camera and make something, even though I had expressly given myself permission not to.

This is the interesting part of allowing yourself to do what you want or be who you want to be: you will always end up completely, authentically YOU. I found myself in this creepy, run-down Airbnb apartment. Though it was a little undesirable to sleep in, it awakened my passion. I had just seen glaciers and snow-capped mountains, scenery like I’ve never witnessed before, yet there I was, in this little creepy apartment, and all I wanted was to create there. Just as I started out in my own small, rather disgusting little apartment, I found my creativity awakened.

Life has a funny way of pulling you back to your roots, of making you question why you do what you do. I found my answer sitting in that bed. I create to show beauty in darkness, and I’ve been learning all about how to create beauty through a camera. But now it is time for the darkness, and oh, I’ve been learning darkness, too. I’m ready to create. I don’t know what to call what I’ll do next. I haven’t figured it out.

But it’s December, and I’m sharpening my knife.

 

15 thoughts on “Sharpening Your Creative Knife

  1. Yay! I’ve heard you talk about the new work you were struggling to accept creating, and I am SO SO excited to see it! I believe everyone should create with their whole heart, as honestly as possible. Without fear. I can’t wait to see where your heart is now. ♥

  2. Hello Brooke,

    Your words resonate through me, like a inner- body earthquake. I am almost 72 years, you would think the journey phase of my life was over, not so. Photography has been my passion for 20 years but only now am I beginning to reveal my deepest emotions through my images.

    Thank you for going to the dark side,
    Judith

    1. Brooke and Judith,
      Thank you for this article and your comment, Judith. I just turned 59 yesterday and your messages about creativity, trusting the ebb and flow of life, and not being too old are a balm to my soul!

  3. Oh,how I love your words. You make me want to be brave! Can’t wait to see where your creativity takes you next <3.

    Tiina

  4. I’ve been feeling every ounce of what you described. I’ve had 20 years in my journey as a nurse. My heart is pulling me somewhere different. As a nurse, I’ve paid bills and raised my kids thus far but I want to experience more, to learn more. Last year, I saw how fast our flames can be snuffed out and I want to be remembered for something more than monitoring bowel movements and passing pills. There’s obviously more to the honorable job as a nurse but the creative beast within beckons my attention elsewhere. Loved the blog post and so happy you had such a great experience! Hugs.

  5. How I needed to hear these words. So much truth. Also the theme of “Your Why” is everywhere for me. Thank you for sharing your beginning and how you found inspiration in the Patagonia and created. I am a big fan of finding beauty in darkness – always have been. Thank you 🙂

  6. I am grateful for your post. Many of my colleagues and I struggle with what a “successful” creative identity means. Unfortunately, labels stick early on, usually encouraged by well intentioned teachers and mentors encouraging folks to be rooted to brand identity and a narrow scope of expression to motivate success. In addition, proficiency takes time, so artists are afraid to make changes once they reach a comfortable level of success. But the natural order of life is change and when artists fight against that to feel safe, their creative energy withers away. They become chained to their past to meet expectations of future performance. I am happy you are evolving and are willing to share as you explore the multi-layered nature of your artistic expression. In other words, you rock – thanks for the continued inspiration you offer the community you’ve nurtured, and for the beautifully haunting images.

  7. Good to see your new post.
    It is wonderful to hear you got to take your Argentina trip, I have never really seen photos from there before, and now I want to go! LOL
    It sounds like such an inspiring place, even the ratty apartment.
    Love the photos, all of them!!! 🙂

  8. These words come at the perfect time for me to hear. It is, in fact, December and I am sharpening my knife as well. Ready to head in a new direction. Thank you for words and inspiration. I look forward to whatever your heart desires to create.

  9. *happy tears* I love you so much even though I’ve never met you. Your words always connect so fully with my soul it’s like therapy for me.

  10. I love this blog. I am a photographer and love the act of taking and editing photos, but become terrified and paralyzed at the thought of selling them. People have bought my photos,but not because I put them out there with any gusto. It just happened. The business side of art is scary and I don’t really know why. Thank you for your insights and your knowledge. I truly appreciate it.

  11. You always speak such truth. Not just your own, but a Universal truth. I used to be a “well known” quilt teacher…traveling the world sharing what I loved. And then one day I didn’t love it. It was scary because I had to continue to be her. I still had many lectures and workshops scheduled. That was when I was about 42. I called it my dead quilter phase. I did come back to quilting and did many other great things including 3 books, creative quilting inventions, VidCasts and traveling to lots of other great places.
    About 6 years ago it happened again. The quilter was dead…for good this time. Luckily I knew what it was and how to handle it. Today I am a photographer. Funny, but I now go to Quilt Shows and set up my Traveling Portrait Studio. What I have learned is to trust that little tiny voice in my heart. It will steer me to amazing places yet to be explored. And so looking forward to next years Promoting Passion. 🙂

  12. I have never posted a comment on anything before. But I wanted to share with you how much your art help me through the darkest time of my life. That sounds so utterly dramatic, but it is true. I am not an artist but I know what speaks to me and I know what I like.

    On April 1, 2016 I had just found your site and was browsing through your portfolio and immediately was drawn to Underground Discoveries. A nurse from my doctor’s office called me and asked me to come into the office to discuss the results of the biopsy. I asked if she could just give me the news over the phone. She told me to hang on a minute. After a very long minute, my doctor got on the phone and said “I don’t want to give you the news over the phone.” I literally froze and said “You just did,” as Underground Discoveries was staring at me from my laptop. I immediately made that beautiful picture the background image on my laptop.

    Most people know that basics of cancer treatment. But what people don’t realize is the emotional roller coaster a person goes through. I remember looking in the mirror after my first chemo session and thinking it looked like I had aged 10 years in just seven days. I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me.

    If my life was a movie, the turning point of my detachment would have been inspirational and meaningful. It would have involved wisdom-filled epiphanies about discovering my true self. I would conquer my demons and go on to live out my cancer journey in happiness with Joaquin Phoenix by my side while kicking cancer’s A$$. But my life isn’t a movie. I stared spending time alone. It’s a strange moment when you realize you don’t want to be around people anymore. Being sad was a feeling that my brain latched onto like a child learning a new word.

    I saw Underground Discoveries Every. Single. Day. I saw it every day for 18 months; it spoke to me and helped me through chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo; not only for its beauty but the story that I saw.

    I am cancer free, Praise God. I want you to know I shared this picture with the other women I met through my breast cancer journey. These women I met are loyal, steadfast and supportive; friends you can call in the middle of the night; who stay by your side no matter what. I shared it with Caren, in addition to being all of these things, was also a friend who laughed easily and didn’t hesitate to send an e-mail marked URGENT that included images of a celebrity with a lot of plastic surgery (subject line: must discuss). Caren passed away 3 days ago; with dignity and enough courage for all of us. Caren loved this picture too; and we spoke about it often. I just wanted you to know what a difference your talents and your spirit has made to many people.

  13. Brooke, you are truly able to put things so eloquently – i want to store your words in my head to remind me everyday that all this is possible. I have discovered an amazing passion in me this last year – one that has been helped to the light by you and Sue Bryce. I want to thank you for giving me the sense of freedom to express myself for me and to know that it can complement my other passions. And to all those who have already commented it is amazing to hear that none of us are alone. That we are able to change and share and passions will evolve and morph into new ones. Thank you.

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