Lamb and Frog

In the previous post I talked about finding out where on the creativity continuum you are most comfortable. Do you like to follow the rules? Do you have the discipline it takes to learn and practice them to achieve a level of skill? Are you willing to take risks? I believe that most people are creative to some degree. I also believe that finding an outlet for this creativity and actually getting down to the business of creating something tangible is good for the soul.

Finding ‘Your True Medium’

I have a friend who sees things in words and on film. I have another who sees things in cake. I have several who see in fabric and notions. People fail in their creative efforts because they never find their true medium. People get all hung up on whether or not a given pursuit is artistic thinking that if it isn’t, then it isn’t creative. Let me tell you, creativity can be exercised in any medium, not just in ‘the arts’. Rock climbing and computer programming can be art forms, it’s all in the approach.

My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work with oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master.–A Christmas Story

Too many people wander aimlessly learning craft after craft (or art after art) thinking they’re being artistic but never really being satisfied with what they’ve achieved. Part of the dissatisfaction is because, while you are learning a craft or an art (knitting, crochet, sewing, dancing, painting, sculpting), it is necessary to create someone else’s vision to learn the rules and acquire the skill necessary to realize your own vision. But I think that most of the dissatisfaction is that these people never recognize how they really see (or hear, or feel) the world. They don’t enjoy what they pursue because they get so wrapped up in acquiring a set of tools and a bunch of completed projects that they don’t think about why what they are doing isn’t feeding their souls. They’ve never actually had the joy that comes from creating something that begins in their own minds and ends with their own hands (or feet, or voice).

Fining your true medium requires introspection, not consumption. I’m not saying not to spend money, time, and resources trying out different mediums and acquiring skills.* I’m saying that if you find that after one or two or several different efforts that you aren’t loving what you’re doing, take the time to ask yourself why and explore the answers and other alternatives. And don’t let other people’s definitions of what is ‘art’ or what is ‘creative’ stop you from pursuing your passion.**

Yarn Is My Medium

I see things in words and in yarn. The beauty of nature often inspires a poem. Anything and everything I see, do, or read can be inspiration for a blog post, short poem, or an essay. Sometimes I see something so beautiful that I want to re-create it–in yarn. Recently I decided to use yarn to create my ‘vision’ of leaded glass (so not my medium) windows. The first (but, I hope not the last) result is the ‘Vitres’ pattern. It represents my my vision of the New Mexico sky, at sunset (top, far right) and at midday (bottom, near right), as it might be seen through the mullioned window of an English manor house. The pattern is available as a free PDF download by clicking the link, above. If you’re not a knitter, I might eventually have some available for sale in my (open, but still empty) etsy shop (lambandfrog.etsy.com).

*I know, Ron, but let’s not argue that here.

** The diatribe on turning your passion into a paying endeavor (or not) will be saved for later.