Comments on: CREATION vs. CREATING

By: Amelia McLeod

Amelia McLeod — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 23:24:41 +0000

Hi Brooke,
i always love reading your words, i find them inspirational and very thought provoking. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about my own process when you asked the question, but, I am day 332 of a 365 day project which I started with naivety 332 days ago. It is getting hard to create for creativity sake, and I keep finding my ideas are getting bigger, requiring more thought and time. But I am ignoring them for the quick fix solution.Some days I am very lazy, some days I spend hours perfecting the image. some days I wish I could say I was a “sellout”, but to be honest I don’t think I figured out the Indtagram world very well, and still don’t have a great nu,her of followers. But it did teach me something. As much as I would love the accolades and following (doesn’t it make us all feel better), and I still have thoughts like, “why didn’t my image get more likes? It’s better than that one….”, it has toaught me that when one person tells you that you are an inspiration to them, it makes it all worthwhile.
You are an inspiration to me, thank you. Amelia

By: Maude

Maude — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 23:48:57 +0000

Thank you for this post. I think I started to make art because I liked creating. I think we all start like this. Then, somewhere along the way with the praises of other I think I started to make creations instead of creating. It is a long road to learn to create and love again. Right now I experiment with working slower and not showing what I do right away. Keep speaking, keep creating. Maude

By: Stephan Pawloski

Stephan Pawloski — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 04:34:50 +0000

As I re-read this, I wondered, is this getting stuck, failing, battling the fraud police in our heads, is all of this maybe part of what becomes our foundational life experience so that we may in fact create art?

By: Freedom

Freedom — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 19:13:47 +0000

So glad I found you <3

By: Roberto Melendez

Roberto Melendez — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 23:15:16 +0000

Hi Brooke, Thank you for your thoughts! As a weekend oil painter your words struck a cord. Since the 1980’s I always painted for myself, partly because I really never thought anyone would enjoy something that was so personal to me. Partly also because I’m an introvert and exposing myself , I thought , would be a horror. When I finally started showing my work, I liked the attention……and then came the failure. I found myself trying to produce what I thought people would like and did it quickly…..fail, fail, fail….did I say Fail! Stopped my art in its track! I knew it! I am an imposter! Were the words that circulated in my head. It took me a few years to get back on the saddle and not because I thought it out but because I needed to create. I didn’t know it till now, but now that you mentioned it , I am too a selfish artist, I create because I need too, for myself, at my pace and I love it. One of my cousins who is also a painter came over one day and exclaimed, “you have been working on that small piece for a month!” My reply was “Yes, going as planned!” He just shook his head, Lol. I still show my art, but don’t care who likes it! I think when your art is honest and true to you, there will always be someone who identifies with it. I will tell you that I’m very excited that I discovered you on CL. Love your work and your teaching! Having so much fun combining my painterly skills with my photography and I’m being selfish about it!
Roberto

By: Leesa Voth

Leesa Voth — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 14:39:48 +0000

As a musician, the totality of my life experience as an artist has been the creation of intangible musical experiences, rather than physical products. I have worked hour upon hour, most times alone, for decades, practicing my craft for all the reasons you have listed in your blog post. My deep internal motivation for performing music has been for my own personal experience, even if I have served others graciously with my art. Is this selfish? Yes, in all the best ways. I love playing music, I do it for my own pleasure, and when I decide to share it with others, I create an experience for them as well. In fact, I believe our obligation as artists is to perform for our own personal experience. This will make our art truly authentic. The outcomes of that follow naturally. You will know when it is the right time to share, if even at all. Authenticity is not a race, it is a way of life, and so should your art be.

By: Michael Snively

Michael Snively — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:47:58 +0000

As an artist, one of our greatest challenges is to find a balance between these two aspects; creation and creating. Or as I refer to them as creativity and the artifact (with its rewards). This oscillation is part of the angst we live with all the time. Is the artifact and it’s rewards more important than our creativity? For myself the creativity is more important, yet to find some balance I have found the need for some feedback. To usually get the feedback you need to have a product, or artifact to share. Sort of a catch 22… Maybe in the long run, it is more important to live a creative life being true to our soul and spirit as artist!

Brooke, the hardest part is finding that balance, and maybe slowing down a bit so that we truly see. Thanks for everything you do! The art, the charity, the teaching, the community awareness, and for just being you!

By: Shelby Leeman

Shelby Leeman — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 20:52:20 +0000

Hi Brooke! After years of lacking any creative inspiration, I’m trying to really expand my horizons. But it is still a struggle as I overthink every aspect of my work – usually focusing on what is wrong with it vs what I did right. Since I’d describe myself as unforgiving, I’d say I create for the brief sense of satisfaction (before I tear the piece apart). The fact that I am capable of pushing beyond the boundaries of these walls I’ve built…well it provides me with a great sense of pride. Currently I don’t see myself as an artist but as a student. I’m taking my expertise in photo editing and attempting to find a sense of purpose.

By: Mumbi

Mumbi — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 18:31:06 +0000

Thank you for this blog post, I think that these are the hard questions that we should always be asking ourselves, how Elise shall we grow.
create to see my creation, I have it my head and I add to it as time passes and I have these wonderful aha moments as I am driving and I want to see it. I create it in my mind and want to see it and show it. I have the experience in my heart and head, now I want to produce. I am still learning so I know that I need to be patient and allow my ability to produce to connect with my vision.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 10:04:11 +0000

Hi Brooke,

I create to prove myself that my thoughts are meaningful. Of course I love to hold the “product” in hands and show it around. Of course I love the applause. But most of all I love to see how I change through my art. It makes me stronger (no, wrong, I make myself stronger). It leads to a better versio of myself. Does that make sense? :o)

Sweet smiles from Germany,
Ruth