10 Word Images
Posted on | May 30, 2010 | 4 Comments
Recently, I read this book called What It Is
The book contains several bits of insight I have enjoyed reading.
“There is a state of mind which is not accessible by thinking. It seems to require a participation in something.”
and
“In a myth or a fairy tale, one doesn’t restore the kingdom by passivity, nor can it be done by force. It can’t be done by logic or thought…Monsters and dangerous tasks seem to be part of it. Courage and terror and failure or what seems like failure…”
I’ve found the first quote to be true when I am painting. I find the state of mind that I have been looking for. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter if the art is good or bad.
The second quote couldn’t be more apropos to the agor I’ve dealt with over the years.
It’s interesting how reading these things (if you can call it reading–the entire book is an extraordinary series of collages) absorbing them, implementing them, can open that inner door to creativity. My dreams are changing. Even when I close my eyes, I see forms taking shape into the most beautiful paintings, sculptures, films. It’s delightful.
There is an exercise in this book that I have been doing because it only takes three minutes and it is an effective way of keeping a diary without writing a zillion words. What you do is simply write down ten images from the previous day. Here are the ones from yesterday that I wrote down in my journal.
- 1. The ashes of burnt homework floating down from the end-of-school-year fire.
2. The vague outline of a face I didn’t recognize in the dark.
3. Black cat fur filled with burrs.
4. Glistening white fur on Gordon. (Not good, she is a dark gray cat with kidney failure.)
5. Broken orange Doritos in a bowl.
6. A fat stick thrust through a relatively small marshmallow.
7. 12-pack of Miller Light.
8. Clumps of clothes stuck together in the washing machine.
9. Spider webs in a corner.
10. Sage’s sweaty hair and forehead.
I love how I can go back over this and choose things to elaborate on if I want, or just let the words trigger memories.
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4 Responses to “10 Word Images”
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May 31st, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Oh, that’s an interesting exercise. Maybe I’ll try it too!
1. Driving towards the sun (which isn’t nearly as fun as it suns)
2. People moving boxes at apartment complex
3. Two cups of boba milk tea
4. Trunk filled with boxes and bags
5. Weed on the lawn
6. Ocean view from the freeway
7. News on TV
8. Missed freeway overpass disappearing out of view
9. Keyboard on the couch
10. Nearly overflowed toilet
Kelvin Kao’s last blog post..Barked at a Dog Today
June 2nd, 2010 @ 12:51 am
I love that! My opening up of the mind usually happens when I run. I think art would do the same thing, focus the body elsewhere while the mind runs free.
Margaret’s last blog post..Gray
June 2nd, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
I close my eyes and see all sorts of things too – which is bloody annoying, because I still haven’t finished the last lot of stuff I saw. >:- |
Pacian’s last blog post..Brontesaurus
June 10th, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
That’s a fabulous exercise! Thank you for sharing. And I really like some of the things you came up with–a nice glimpse into your life.
Wende’s last blog post..In Photos: A Summer List