Gilbert on Nurturing Creativity
Last night I watched this video, Elizabeth Gilbert – author of a favorite book, Eat, Pray, Love, on nurturing creativity.
Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.
She talked about the success of her book and people now asking her “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll never live up to your prior success … that you’ll be a failure?”
She goes on to discuss how creativity was originally looked upon as an outside entity that visits one and graces it with a bolt of inspiration. The Romans referred to creativity as genius. Again, an outside force that would possess one with inspiration. At one point things changed. “We went from having a creative genius to being a creative genius.” And with that comes a lot of pressure, suffering, and despair. She talked about the “painful reconciliation” people go through when success comes along and then wanes.
Immediately I could relate to the despair. In honesty, I was beyond thrilled to win two major awards this past year – Master of Innovative Artistry in Houston’s IQA ’07 show and Best Wall Hanging in AQS’s ’08 show resulting in a purchase award by the National Quilt Musuem — just in case you’re wondering and because I like repeating it once in the while as I still am stunned they happened. But with that thrill came the heavy feeling that that is that. I’ll never hit that high again. My best is now behind me.
Some years ago at Quilt Market, an amazing quilt artist and I were sharing a table at the C&T booth promoting our books. The following Quilt Market I had another book to promote. She was at Market and came up to me saying she felt like last year’s news because her book was relegated to the back shelf. She no longer felt important, and she even commented that she felt invisible. I remember telling her she certainly was not invisible and, besides, my books will be on that shelf soon enough. Things cycle. And it didn’t take long. All 13 books in the Free Stuff on the Internet series are out of print (although I’ve boxes of each in my basement, if anyone is interested). Does it sadden me? At times it did. At times it still does. But on good days I’m simply proud they happened to begin with.
On good days I truly am happy for others who get the awards, who have the new books out, who create inspiring works of art. On good days I see everyone’s successes as knitted together, and I feel pride for someone I know doing well (I can feel pride for complete strangers). On a bad day when I stare at a blank monitor or piece of paper, trying to work out a new design, I find myself wondering if I’ll ever be creative again. It is painful. It can feel like torture. I can beat myself up like no one can. I can even get to the point where everything I create looks like junk and I throw things away. As a matter of fact one of those big award winning pieces was in the garbage. It was my partner who encouraged me to carry on. For that matter, he’s taken more than creation out of the garbage.
In short, Elizabeth’s talk was a good one. It came at a good time. For the downtime, when nothing is coming together, she suggests just showing up and doing the work (is that why they call it “art work”?). And that’s what I’m off to do – I’m here and I’m ready to work. And, when I get stuck, as I know I will, I will try (“try” rather than “will” – is lingering doubt nearby?) to stay busy and wait for the design gods to visit.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 am
I love your book and art Gloria. It always amazes me how the most talented people are still insecure. My day job is as a professor in medical education and I’ve watched people who are in the top 5 in the world in their area of expertise, be a nervous wreck before a talk. And I think we women are the worst at this.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
Thanks Carol. Gee, did that come off as insecure? Professor in medical education? Wow, now that’s impressive.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I love the theme of showing up and doing the work. I am feeling creatively fallow so I am trying to get down to the studio to do something, every day. Thanks for the encouraging post today!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
And in that regard, when Derry and I first started doing web work and he set up shop (which was only a one-room, small office), I remember telling my husband that things would work out. He wanted to know how I was sure. I told him that he shows up every day, regardless if there is any work to do. He arrived at a set time and he worked all day. He’d write scripts, he’d keep up what latest trends, he’dl make phone calls, and so on. And he’d work a full day, often on a Saturday too, regardless of what there was to do. Things have grown since then, and at times it feels overwhelmingly busy (although more with bouncing between various follow-ups), and now it seems the hours are longer in the office and most of the time he’s there 7 days a week (although with my living room converted to an office, I’m here 7 days a week too). He has an extremely good work ethic, and I do believe that is more than half of the battle.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
The years have taught me that I need to at least literally show up and place myself in my studio, place myself in the path where something *might* happen. If I don’t at least create the opportunity for something to come up, then, it’s on me. Like an athlete flexing her muscles and practicing for hours on end, like a musician at her instrument … just do it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Gloria.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Fulvia, thanks for your thoughts. I know that I should put myself in my studio for at least 20 minutes, but I instead give client work another 20 minutes and another and another (I’m on a 20 minute timer kick these days). That being said, I want one more 20 minutes for work, one for some exercise, and then one for studio. But, awful that I have things in that order. Responsible, and I need to drop 5, although 10 would be best. I’ll settle for 7.
And, you are right, just do it. With that, I’m off to try.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Great advice Gloria. On days when I feel like I am getting nowhere with nothing, I keep in mind that creativity certainly doesn’t flow until I step into the stream, even in some little toe-tapping, barely wet way. And like Fulvia, I find that a 15 minute rule works for me, if I can go in and tackle some hands-on task for 15 minutes, acting “as if” i were in a generous, productive, creative spirit instead of feeling stuck, envious of others, or otherwise “BLOCKED” then I often find myself in the real flow.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Hi Susie, Thanks for your thoughts. I’m still doing the 20 minute stints. I note on paper what I’ve done for that 20. It’s interesting to see the interruptions — phone, especially. I generally let the phone go to the answering machine, but it still breaks my attention. It’s a difficult one as if it’s work related, I need to get it. Thus, I can’t turn the phone off altogether. Hmmm …
March 21st, 2010 at 10:03 pm
This Video is wonderful and I’ve been viewing several other TED topics! Thanks for the inspiration!!!