There’s a saying in the rooms of recovery that ‘your disease is doing push-ups’ while you’re in there working on sobriety, abstinence, solvency or your form of mental and spiritual well-being. Translated, if you choose to go back ‘out there’ and do research, say in bars, Baskin-Robbins, etc.–chances are, you’ll spiral back into your addiction very quickly. It’s a sobering reminder that external forces are in operation while you’re practicing your internal ones.
Let me give that scary but, significant, warning a positive spin.
Say, once-upon-a-time, you left your creative soul to pursue more financially rewarding work. This is a reminder that the artist/musician/actor in you didn’t obediently retreat into a corner and sit there.
No. The whole time you’ve been accounting, selling, teaching, or whatever your chosen departure has been, you’ve also been listening to tunes, eying the colors of the sunset, feeling the texture of items placed in your path and making observations, judgments and designs in your brain. Your inner artist has been doing push-ups, staying actively alert and aware, just waiting for you to sit down and invite her back.
There is no time like a sheltering-in-place order to nurture that vibrant force within. I say this because my inner artist has recently made a re-entry, and boy! Is she having the time of her life.
Before we were ordered to stay home, I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of studying the art of penny rug making with the esteemed artist, Liz Alpert Fay. I started my first one during the session at the Guilford Art Center the weekend before they had to close their doors. Liz gave us socially-distanced participants each a kit of pattern pieces, swatches of felted wool and enough inspiration for this artist to soar.
I attempted my first pillow-sized piece that March weekend, but eventually unstitched that trial-and-error pillow top in order to re-use the wool backing. But I have made several since then. It’s what’s getting me out of bed in the morning. The thrill of the colors, the touch of the soft wool, the beauty of the Pearl Cotton thread and the ability to compose using these simple structures.
I described the ‘pennies’ to my action partner on the phone this morning. “Each circle is a work of art,” I told her. Imagine now 20 of those mini-works of art in one piece. “You’re creating circles of art throughout your life,” she reflected noting that my newest coaching group is, indeed, called Transformative Coaching Circles. I love the symbolism of the circle–having no beginning and no end – as coming up with solutions to each of life’s quandaries whether in composition, client success or daily chores around my apartment. I love to bring whatever I’m working on to completion. There’s enormous satisfaction in that as well as multiple works of art in the accomplishment.
In writing workshops, they call that coming full circle a bagel – bringing in the beginning and tying it neatly to the ending. Below you’ll find some samples of my newest artworks. My push-up-doing inner artist is having a heyday even though I’d laid her off nearly 20 years ago.
I challenge you, during this quarantine, to invite your inner artist out for an afternoon, a day or a weekend. May her creativity spark something inside of you that will carry you through this unpredictable, unknowable time we’re in. The world will benefit from your joy.
Since you’ve read all the way down here, you get to see some of the pieces I’ve made. Thanks for taking the time today.
Bedroom Chair Pillow
Living Room Pillow
Pillow for Laura and Jon
Design for Kitchen Wall hanging
These are amazing Jane! And the story very inspiring, thank you!
@Dawn Thank you! I particularly value YOUR eye in all things creative.
Good one,Jane….
@Carol Thank you!
Very nice, Jane. Related clearly to other work of yours!
@Prudy Thank you! I always value your thoughts with our long history (and getting longer…) xo
Wow!!! I love that pillow too. And the kitchen wall hanging colors…so cool. It’s so great to see you creating magic in more ways than one.
@Scarlett Thank you! The craft projects are keeping me out of moodiness and despair. Keeping me in the present moment while listening to something on audible – most recently Anne Lamott’s Hallelujah Anyway. What’s keeping you out of trouble these days?
Gorgeous! Reminds me of your eggs with a different medium.
Hi Jane. I love the design for the wall hanging. Those calm colors against the definitive edges of the circles. The sense of movement from one tone to another. I will be curious to see how this translates into softer edges when using thread.
I am so glad you are back at work!
PS: I have a friend in Brooklyn who is part of an interesting crafting circle of young women. If sharing your work as well as seeing what they are creating intrigues you, let me know and I will check in with them. It is a relaxed, open and friendly group. Absolutely no critics.
@Linda I will definitely continue reporting on my progress with the piece. Thank you for your kind words and support.
Hi, Jane
I love these and see a reflection of your egg paintings!!
You are inspiring me…,
@Alice Yes! Of course you do! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Love your writing Jane. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself. I have been working more than ever these past few moths lie so many other small biz owners. Now that the weather has changed, I have been spending every Sunday in my garden. Not sure why I spent so much time away from it and hired the peace of weeding, planting, watering out! I’m back! Agree, simple creative pursuits feed the soul when we most need it. I come back to my desk much more focused after a day in nature. Thank you for re-enforcing this concept for me!
@MaryLou You said it so well! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree – we ‘job out’ the stuff we will probably actively do when we retire!! So glad you’ve found that bliss in your own backyard.