by David Dowd | Jul 6, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
I am a big fan of the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. I have devoured each of his books, and now they sit prominently on my bookshelf, close at hand, in case I need inspiration. His characters inhabit flamboyant and imaginative worlds, such as “Killing...
by David Dowd | Jun 29, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
I have lost a favorite book. Many years ago, I knew exactly where to find it. But a fire that ripped through my house a couple of years back took it away from me, along with everything else. All was lost. The fire destroyed about 6,00 homes in Sonoma County in the...
by David Dowd | Jun 22, 2021 | Creativity, Travel, Writing
There is a natural rhythm to artistic work. It shouldn’t be rushed or forced, but, rather, it should be integrated into the core of our lives. I have a dear friend, who is a writer. She recently posted on Facebook that writing is a JOB. She actually capitalized the...
by David Dowd | Jun 15, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
“Love for our neighbour, being made of creative attention, is analogous to genius,” wrote the philosopher Simone Weil in 1942. She probably could have found a simpler way to get her point across. But she is a philosopher after all. That spark of genius is a...
by David Dowd | Jun 8, 2021 | Creativity, Writing
I am working on a memoir right now, exploring a brief period of my life, which was both turbulent and psychologically insightful. I would like to think that there is some value in sharing my story. We will just have to see. But, as I write, there are some parts of...
by David Dowd | Jun 1, 2021 | Creativity
DOODLING: Scrawling little images on a piece of paper when you should really be paying attention to something else may seem like you are just wasting time, but nothing could be further from the truth. These drawings transform mental discourse – all the buzz inside...
by David Dowd | May 25, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
I follow an idiosyncratic signal that tells me when to knock off creative work for the day. I spend long hours staring at either a computer screen or a yellow legal pad of paper when writing notes or preparing a first draft. But I do not decide upon a fixed length of...
by David Dowd | May 18, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
My mother is a textile artist. She works within the vocabulary of quilting. For many years, my mother has said that each piece of work she creates has a life of its own, meaning that the journey from inception to completion is never a straight-forward path. The...
by David Dowd | May 11, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
There is an oft-repeated theme running through these posts. The creative journey is an ongoing dialogue between the rational mind and the collective unconscious. Engagement between these two sides of the brain sometimes needs a navigator, for the different aspects of...
by David Dowd | May 4, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
Sometimes we get stuck inside our heads. We become fixated upon a particular idea. We turn it over and over in our minds, seeing it from all different angles. This process is not healthy for the soul. Don’t fall into the trap of ruminating on an idea, worried at the...
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...