Member-only story
Only you can see this message
This story is eligible to earn money through the Partner Program. It may be shown as part of the metered paywall. Learn more
Jul 9 · 2 min read
Craft
My modus operandi
Get it to talk to you, is my advice. Get a dialogue going between you and what you’re creating. Things of importance will be revealed. You’ll learn things your creation knows that you need to learn. If your art is not talking to you, suggesting things to you, you’re in trouble in my opinion.
And stay open to that dialogue even when you’re burning up with ideas and energy and can’t wait to get them down. Keep listening. Keep an ear to the ground.
I was very interested in the craft of art-making long before I got interested in the reactions of others. And when I got interested in their reactions, it was to try to answer my questions around whether I had crafted something worth looking at. I do believe, though, that we’re naturally attuned to some crafts and not to others.
Writing is different for me than painting, for a lot of reasons, maybe because I’m less sensitive to the issues of success and failure now. I don’t mind being a frank beginner. I enjoy the…