I often liken being artistic or creative to being a piece of rock (bear with me) that has a seam or vein running through it. This seam represents our creativity, running right through us, forming an integral part of what makes us unique and defines us. If we try to remove it, the whole of us becomes broken too. For the seam to exist, so must the rest of us. We have been formed around the seam, and that, in turn, informs what form the seam takes.
Ultimately, the formation of the rock and seam is made over time and is influenced by both external and internal factors (nature and nurture). This formation is the process of being creative, understanding what inspires us, and what makes us ask questions. This stage takes time, and every part of us informs our process, leading us along the paths that move us toward creating work. The process and the work don’t necessarily flow in a linear way. Perhaps we build ourselves up to a certain point, gaining an understanding based on our experiences and emotions, but then, as with rocks, this can shift. It could be a minor change, a splinter or crack that alters our path, or perhaps something cataclysmic, akin to a volcanic explosion—something that completely upends our comprehension of the world.
Throughout this blog, and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, a podcast too, I want to keep examining what drives our process: the seam running through us that twists and turns with new knowledge and ideas, and how this then feeds our work.
I’d love to know about you and what drives your process. Has it changed? If so, was it subtle over time, or did it take a completely new direction? Let me know in the comments.