012 What would you create purely for pleasure?
Purposeful purposelessness; one mans vision creates a museum under the sea
Instead of 5 Things to Draw On This Week…
The creative process throws up many surprises, and that includes the process of writing this newsletter, which I see very much as a creative act in and of itself.
Being prescriptive of what and how I share makes me feel stifled and rebellious. I have enough structure and expectations during my week. My Friday newsletter needs to be a place to express thoughts and be myself.
I can tell when I’m not feeling passion for a project because it feels weighty or I avoid it altogether. That’s how I was feeling about this newsletter.
A few days ago, in my journal, I wrote the question:
What would you create purely for pleasure? In a world where no one was watching or judging, or you weren’t concerned with the thoughts of others?
Drawing? Making films? Photography? Creating website projects (guilty of that!). A book or a blog? A newsletter?
This was my response:
“We’re only here for a short time so I feel this question relates to my legacy. What do I want my kids to know about me - the part of me that perhaps they aren’t so familiar with. Not just Mum or Wife or Worker. Instead the part that really makes me tick.
Afterall we’re all very quickly forgotten about in the scheme of time. There are very few individuals on the planet who are really remembered: Jesus, Buddha, Gandi, Shakespeare, Mother Teresa, (I’m noticing not enough women are springing to mind. God help us if people we are still talking about the Kardashians in 1000s of years time!).
There’s a part of me that says why even bother? Who is interested in me anyway? But then there’s the part that enjoys the simple satisfaction of creation, which gives me a sense of pride in the process. A sense of roundedness.
How often do we create from a place of pure pleasure; unconcerned if people are watching, or what they think?
As Rilke writes in ‘Letters to a Young Poet’:
”Just be attentive towards what rises up inside you, and place it above everything that you notice round about. What goes on in your innermost being is worth all your love, this is what you must work on however you can and not waste too much time and too much energy on claifying your attitude to other people.”You see, I see the act of creation as all encompassing - the beginning, middle and end. An oxymoron.
Purposeful purposelessness.The call to creativity feels like a shapeshifter of frustration. It presents itself at times as cute and enticing. On other days it’s unsatiable and terrifying. Sometimes you love it and sometimes you want to throw it out of the nearest window (I’ve done that with my work too!).
But when the act of creation niggles at you and is pulling on your coattails, you can’t ignore it. It will always win in the end, or it will be the end of you.
And there it was - in black ink on the light cream piece of recycled lined paper in my notebook…
I do this when no one is watching, and I don’t care for opinions, money, followers or feedback.
I write and think.
Read for pleasure.
Draw in my sketchbook because there are no expectations for a finished piece of work (that’s why we should all be keeping notebooks and sketchbooks, but that’s another post entirely.)
‘Never thin enough, pretty enough or rich enough’
For most of my adult life, pursuits have always been about the finished piece. Personally and creatively. The exams at the end of school, the degree at the end of Uni. Never thin enough, pretty enough or rich enough. Always working towards an end goal. But when we get there, we move the bloody goalposts!
Even with my art, it was always about whether I could market it, sell it or if the client would like it. At one point, I lived the creative dream and was miserable. I had moulded myself into what I thought other people would like.
Alas, a mental short circuit and, latterly, the necessity for a more structured job sent me on the path away from a creative career into a more formal employment choice.
At first, I saw this as a ball and chain. Leaving no movement for my creative pursuits. But with some mindful reframing of the situation, I’ve realised I’m free to create, draw and write with no expectation. I don’t have to be concerned with stats, sales or opinion.
The next hurdle to jump is recognising that this free time is as important as my time to exercise, work, and care for my family. Because without this creative time, I die a little inside, and that won’t leave a positive legacy for my children.
To paraphrase Rilke in ‘Gravity’s Law’, perhaps if I trust my instinct and calling to create, soon I will rise up, rooted, like trees :)
Inspiration to Draw On
Sometimes inspiration I share may stop at one. Sometimes it could be ten. Let’s allow ourselves some freedom here - this is supposed to be fun! Instead of the prescriptive 5 things, here’s some inspiration to draw on this week:
Weekly Creative Prompt
What would you create purely for pleasure? In a world where no one was watching or judging, or you weren’t concerned with the thoughts of others?
Music to Meditate to
As I wrote this newsletter, I was listening to the soundtrack of one of my favourite movies, Chocolat. This piece came on as I was rewriting my journal entry into this post. For me, ‘The Story of Grandmere’ touches on the magical, mysterious and cheeky part of my personality that favours doing the opposite of what’s expected. Listen to this track as you consider the journal prompt above to arrive at what your heart wants you to hear.
Recommendation: A Sculpture Garden Beneath The Sea
‘Casa dei Pesci’ or ‘House of Fish’ is an underwater sculpture garden that illustrates the power of one man’s vision. The 39 underwater sculptures currently in place have created a physical barrier to block trawler nets. Over time, layers of algae have appeared, making the sculpture hubs for biodiversity to flourish as well. And all because one fisherman had a mission.
The vision for this museum under the sea is that of Paolo Fanciulli, an artisanal fisherman born and bred in Talamone. “I’ve spent so much time in these waters that I’m practically a fish myself,” says the 62-year-old, known by many as ‘Paolo il Pescatore’, or ‘Paolo the Fisherman’. “I’m compelled to protect it. It’s my home, my true love.”
You see, my friends, there is no limit to what we can achieve when we follow our heart’s calling ;)
And Finally…A Quote to Live By
“Originality often consists in linking up ideas whose connection was not previously suspected.”
~ W. I. B. Beveridge, The Art of Scientific Investigation
Thanks for reading. For more, I draw pictures and keep a library of creative exercises for you to try instead of scrolling on your phone.
If you enjoyed this and know someone who might appreciate it, consider sharing :)
Georgie x