by David Dowd | Sep 21, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Travel, Writing, Yoga
I have been drawn again and again to the tree pose over the past couple of weeks, during my yoga practice. This pose is all about standing still, feeling truly grounded to the earth. It is not without tension, for one must remain balanced on one foot to hold the pose,...
by David Dowd | Sep 14, 2021 | Creativity, Film, Music, Photography, Writing
There is a special moment in the creative process, when you finally see the structure, the underlying foundation, of what you are trying to accomplish. You can see it clearly, seemingly for the first time. Up until this point, you have felt a bit lost, like you are...
by David Dowd | Sep 7, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
What story captures your heart? Where does magic comes into your life? Where do you accept fate and not try to contest it? The artistic creations that we relish, those that we cannot do without – either our own or others – are ones that reinforce the core myth of our...
by David Dowd | Aug 24, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
The novelist Thomas Wolfe titled his most famous book “You Can’t Go Home Again.” But most artistic ventures demand a return to the beginning, in some form or another. Such journeys may wander far afield, but ultimately, meaning comes about by finally discovering the...
by David Dowd | Aug 17, 2021 | Creativity
What if creative malaise has crept into your life? Is it a form of illness, perhaps one of the spirit? Creative health is fundamental to our spiritual growth. It might even be an essential attribute for humanity – a quality to be viewed as akin to either physical or...
by David Dowd | Aug 11, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
I was eating dinner with some close friends the other night. Their daughter attends high school in the area – a traditional academic-and-sports-oriented campus in which students’ progress is closely monitored via testing. My heart goes out to those families caught...
by David Dowd | Aug 3, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Music, Photography, Writing
I don’t have any easy answers in this week’s post. This entry is more a set of observations that raises a fundamental question about child development. How do we cultivate a safe space for teenagers to continue with creative endeavors? Younger children need little...
by David Dowd | Jul 27, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Travel, Writing
In his book, “Last Child in the Woods,” Richard Louv makes a remarkable observation. He believes that children must interact with nature in order to embrace the notion of mystery. In his opinion, mystery is a fundamental quality of human development that cannot be...
by David Dowd | Jul 20, 2021 | Artists, Cooking, Creativity, Writing
The child development expert and coach Thanna Vickerman talks about the need for children to immerse themselves in the flow of things. Left to their own devices, children naturally fall into these moments of reverie. The expansion of their imagination takes flight in...
by David Dowd | Jul 13, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Music, Travel, Writing
Sometimes it feels as if everything has already been done. There is no room for still another portrait or another novel. It is time, then, to consider the art of inventing new forms. Michael Shapiro, in his inspiring book, “The Creative Spark,” relates that Ian...
Solitude and the ArtistBut if you sit still for long enough, then something strange begins to emerge from this engagement with the mind. What was once myriad thoughts can be observed to encompass only maybe eight to ten notions that keep cycling through your awareness. read more...
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...