Chats With Dead Artists
Carl Jung was writing to his friend about “The Red Book,” a record of his mystical journeying. He mentioned that its contents would be viewed as pure madness if they were not contained within an appropriate worldview that could make sense of it. The book had to have a...
The Art of Hobby
So things stall a bit, when we get all too serious. The expectation of producing something beautiful gets to be too much. There has to be a way to reorganize our energies somehow. I have come to really appreciate and value hobbies as an integral part of my creative...
The Architect’s Dilemma
Sometimes it is hard to work with the constraints of tradition. A creative project often comes up against the rules and patterns established by the past, such as within a particular genre of story. I have a Greek friend named Stavros. He grew up on the island of...
Mystery of a Story
Trying to wrangle the subconscious is part of the excitement and part of the burden of the artist. By its very nature, it does not follow a rigid path forward. The shadowy subconscious meanders. And sometimes we lose sight of it along the way. Often, in the midst of a...
The Motorcycle and the Artist
I have a friend, Charlie, who had been struggling to start work on a graphic novel he had rattling around in his head. He just couldn’t put pen to paper. In an effort to move forward, he decided to housesit over the winter in Homer, Alaska. Charlie figured that the...Recent Posts
What’s Your Obsession?But we desperately need new models, new and esteemed texts need to be uncovered that take us away from the terrain of war. There should be texts that speak to our moment – where our delicate equilibrium of climate is being upended daily. read more...
At the Top of the Creative MountainYour expectations shape your reality. I have had the opportunity of connecting with every one of you over the past year in one form or another, whether in person or online. I believe in your potential. Spend a few moments with yourself in a quiet space and remind yourself of why you began this project in the first place. Remember how exciting it was when you first captured its essence in your mind’s eye. read more...
Taking Art OutsideOver the years, I have established a relationship with this patch of land. I have traversed the terrain well enough to easily recall each of its inclines and slopes. I use this landscape in my meditation most every morning. read more...
Books for the Dog Days of SummerI have put together a short list of books that have been in my orbit over the past couple of months. These books have spoken to me – and you could do far worse than to pick up one of these books to read while the dog days of summer drag along, when disappearing into a different space altogether is essential to preserving your sanity. read more...
The Crow’s FeatherSo, I decided to give into their calls this morning, to reckon with what they were trying to tell me. Why were they hovering about my land – and such a specific patch of it? read more...
Intersection of Art and YogaHave the courage to stay in the room, no matter how hot it might feel. That discomfort means that you are getting at something meaningful and powerful. Let the sweat gather on your brow. read more...
The Conversation Between Two ArtistsYou may have lost the thread of this conversation over the past few months. It is time to refresh the acquaintance. You should dive a little more deeply into the dialogue, as you now have amassed considerable hours devoted to your work. How does the creative path that you have been walking down respond to aspects of the other artist’s work? read more...
Artistic ZenithJust take a moment to relax into the reality that your artistic project is seeing the light of day. You have worked hard. All the various strands of thought will coalesce, for you have already established a track record for yourself. Do something today to congratulate yourself. read more...
The Subconscious KnocksThe subconscious will attempt to claim a place at the table of our creation, clamoring for our attention. While its presence may be insightful, it can also be challenging to integrate those subconscious stirrings into our work. read more...
Art and the Foreign TongueThe creative endeavor can feel like a foreign language sometimes, as you begin to reckon with what this piece of work really means to you. Just what do you want to communicate? read more...