Why We Create

An artist friend reminded me last night why we do what we do. Fundamentally, we create for ourselves. Of course I design with the customer in mind, but when I only create for others, my work feels flat.

 I’ve been creating for a long time. When I was in college and later on, my work was deeply emotional, both my poetry and fine art. I studied as a printmaker and I always liked making editions— getting into a rhythm, knowing what each piece would look like even before I pulled it off the press and yet still being surprised. I liked how meticulous it was. It was predictable, and there was security in that.

 My poems, on the other hand, come to me all at once. I don’t sit to write, rather I write to release the words. I often write about sad or difficult things. Once the poem is on a piece of paper or screen, it’s as if those feelings have worked their way out of me. Designing jewelry is much like writing poetry. Ideas come to me spontaneously, and I need to make note of them before they are lost to me again. 

I remember reading years ago that ideas don’t belong to us. I like to think they are floating out there in the ether waiting to be discovered. I do believe if that you pass up an idea, it will move on to someone else who may act faster than you. 

Everyone has a different making process, and we can only truly understand our own. In that way, those processes are like emotions— though we may try to imagine what someone else is going through, we can never really know. I hope that in your search to feel and create you find peace and give yourself grace. That’s what I’ve been working on.

Wishing you love and light,