From Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic"....

"A Trick"

"So, yeah - here's a trick: Stop complaining."

"Trust me on this. Trust Werner Herzog on this, too."

"There are so many good reasons to stop complaining if you want to live a more creative life."

" First of all, it's annoying. Every Artist complains, so its a dead and boring topic. (From the volume of complaints that emerges from the professional creative class, you would think these people had been sentenced to their vocations by an evil dictator, rather than having chosen their work with a free will and open heart.)"

"Second, of course it's difficult to create things; if it wasn't difficult, everyone would be doing it, and it wouldn't be special or interesting."

"Third, nobody ever really listens to anybody else's complaints, anyhow, because we're all too focused on our own holy struggle, so basically you're just talking to a brick wall."

"Forth, and most important, you're scaring away inspiration.  Every time you express a complaint about how difficult and tiresome it is to be creative, inspiration takes another step away from you, offended.  It's almost like inspiration puts up hits hands and says, "Hey, sorry, buddy! I didn't realize my presence was such a drag. I'll take my business elsewhere."

"I have felt this phenomenon in my own life, whiner I start complaining.  I have felt the way my self-pity slams the door on inspiration, making the room feel suddenly cold, small and empty.  That being the case, I took this path as a young person: I started telling myself that I enjoyed my work. I proclaimed that I enjoyed every single aspect of my creative endeavors- the agony and the ecstasy, the success and the failure, the joy and the embarrassment, the dry spells and the grind and the stumble and the confusion and the stupidity of it all."

"I even dared to say this aloud."

"I told the universe (and anyone who would listen) that I was committed to living a creative life not in order to save the world, not as an act of protest, not to become famous, not to gain entrance to the canon, not to challenge the system, not to show the bastards, not to prove to my family that I was worthy, not as a form of deep therapeutic emotional catharsis....but simply because I liked it."

"Try saying this: "I enjoy my creativity."

"And, when you say it, be sure you actually mean it."

" For one thing, it will freak people out. I believe that enjoying your work with all your heart is the only truly subversive position let to take as a creative person these days.  It's such a gangster move, because hardly anybody ever dares to speak of creative enjoyment aloud, for fear of not being taken serious as an artist. So say it. Be the weirdo who dares to enjoy."

"Best of all, though, by saying that you delight in your work, you will draw inspiration near. Inspiration will be grateful to hear these words coming out of your mouth, because inspiration - like all of us - appreciate being appreciated.  Inspiration will over hear your pleasure, and it will send ideas to your door as a reward for your enthusiasm and your loyalty."  

"More ideas than you could ever use."

"Enough ideas for ten lifetimes.      

Elizabeth

 

What I loved, while reading this, is that I am a gangster.  For I truly LOVE playing with my Art.  

I love picking out fabrics, finding ones that surprise me, delight me, and make me feel inspired.   

I love working to put fabrics together, waiting for the moment when it seems to click, when the right combinations work with each other.

I love to see what art will unfold.

I love to see, sometimes even months later....the depth and meaning that snuck in.

I love to see others enjoy my work.

I love when others don't see my work....too.

I love it when I find art that inspires my own.

I love how my creativity has changed and grown like its own entity.

I truly LOVE creativity.

Mine, and others.

I love how inspiration is drawn to those who love it.  

As it should be!

The dance of inspiration; begins with Love - moves with Love....

I love the flow of inspiration, the magic, the unknown, the uncertainty and surprises that arise, when you keep playing.

It truly feels like you are playing with a part of the Universe, a playful mate, who comes and dares you to try this and that, and maybe some of this....if you are open and not working to do art.

I know, that when I try, nothing happens....

These delightful creative playmates only appear when I am knocking off, when I am escaping from work and life, and enter my studio like it is a playground.  

When I slip away from my adult chores and being...

I LOVE My Lady....her message, her designs, her ability to grab me from the seriousness of life, the pain and the struggle....to play and enjoy life.

Truly for me, Art is the opposite of work.