Faith

Here's a little close up of a piece I've been working on. I like it lots. It's actually meant for a friend but I liked it so much I went back to the craft store and got another set of the stickers and the rub on's I used so I can make another like it for me. I'm kind of surprised I like it so well. To be honest, during the actual creation process I felt really nervous. Things felt off balanced and that made me uncomfortable. There are sometimes pieces that do this to me. When I started this piece it was just like striking out on a path. I had a view of the distant mountains I wanted to reach and a place to start but I took it on faith that the path will go all the way to the top. That it won't disappear somewhere over a rise. That it will remain walkable.

When I begin a work I often put that one big focal piece on first. In this case, the bird. As soon as I do though, the rest of the canvas seems completely unbalanced. This bothers me and my instinct is to quick throw something else on that will balance the space. But I've learned that I need to take things slowly, and make comp decisions based on what I envision the end result to be. Not as reactions. It's so easy to create based on reaction to action. And a lot of my best pieces have followed that process- so I'm not saying that it's a bad way to create. But with some pieces I can envision what I want it to look like before I ever begin. To realize that vision some elements might have to be added in a certain order. That doesn't allow me to throw something on just to comfort myself during the process. I feel uncomfortable. I may even want to walk away. It's so hard not to reach for something-anything, that I know will alleviate the tension. But I make myself wait. I make myself walk the path I'd laid out in my mind before I began the piece. I stitch, or layer, or doodle and may even play a little within the limits of the vision I have.

Creating I've learned, isn't always comfortable. Realizing a dream isn't always comfortable. I know I need to have faith. Faith that when all the parts of the composition are brought together that it will all work out. Usually it does. :)

What about you? Does the act of creating ever make you feel uncomfortable? Are there moments when you want to walk away from a piece? Do you later walk back? How do you deal with these moments of crisis while creating? I'd love to know so please leave a comment!!! :)