Thank you Sarah. You give me an even brighter green light to pursue my private art-making time that's meandering and unspectacular. I've been so focused on taking the performance project of the past couple of years to the next level, and I needed to STOP IT. I was feeling like the piece wasn't my own anymore. So I've been lazy in the dance studio more, just enjoying moving and running around and making noise without any goal. What's come to me through this process is how much I loved doing such things when I was a child improvising music on the piano and making dances that were never shared or performed. JOY! Much appreciation, also, for your sharing of Frida Kahlo's private diary. Amazing. And the links to the film and PBS series as well. Be well. I'm feeling like it's time to head north to Taos soon :-)
I loved reading this Kristine--you are reminding me of how important it is to allow oneself to be like a child in the moment with our dancing or drawing or whatever we are creating. To be unself-conscious helps us access the JOY as you say. Amen!
Kristine I loved your comments! You are so right that it's wonderful to allow ourselves to experience the joy we felt as children. You are inspiring me to think about how I can do that in my own life.
Ah the dilemma of making for the pure joy of experimentation! This rings true for me as well...I'm trying to train myself into making not for selling & that too is important - but for my self preservation. Every day I try & I fail, but I keep on trying.
I loved the Carla Gutierrez story on Amazon, an amazing story of Frida Kahlo's life in art, so beautifully expressed. I've put Frida's Diary on my endless list of books & funny enough I happen to be wearing a Frida t-shirt today - no coincidence that I came across your article today.
Love this Frida alignment between us here today--and glad you also loved the Gutierrez documentary--the animations were really great, weren't they? She was such an iconoclast. If you get Frida's diary and think of it, swing back around and let me know what you think!
Hey Sarah! You continue to explore such interesting topics. Here's a url for an artist, Marcus McAllister, who once showed about 50 pages from his sketchbook at an exhibit (I wanted all 50 pages!). This site shows his work as well as a short video where he talks about his sketchbook practice. https://www.batonrougegallery.org/marcus-mcallister I really like your discussion of making private art, having fun with it. We need more of that, right?
Jamie, THANK YOU for sharing that link with me. I just watched the video and so related to everything he was saying about his process, about trying to keep his sketchbook a sketchbook, the doubt, the allowing, all of it. Such a great example of what I was trying to say!! I'm already thinking of another friend I want to share this video with! :D
Sarah, thanks for reminding me that it’s ok to go slow and that, ultimately, these private practices are about learning to be more free. I’ve been allowing myself to write only for myself (fiction) and that has been a delight! But then the insidious urge to make it more marketable or digestible worms its way back into my experimentation. It’s a true practice to remain in that place of naked, raw freedom rather than as you said: achievement. It drains all the joy and FUN out of the process for me. I will try using the word *uncensored* now as my north star!
I have been meaning to order Frida’s Diary for years. I will do that now too. Thanks for the doc recommendation as well! Also, that short story about the stone woman hit hard and hopeful.
Yes, it's such a challenge to keep that achievement monkey off our backs! And you are so right--all the joy and fun take a back seat when achievement starts second guessing everything in its hopes to 'succeed.' I look forward to hearing your response to Frida's diary and the documentary. I'm glad you also liked that short story about the stone woman--I also really loved that painting and had never seen it. <3
This is so inspiring to me as a blogger about my artist parents. You’ve given me a lot of wonderful ideas, Sarah. I’m going to have to share some of my mother’s sketchbook creations. And I’m excited to watch the new Frida flick. My mother took me to see her work when it was just a little unknown exhibit in Brooklyn (the 70s). I recall her works were little. So much memory stirred here and possibility. Yeesh, I love Substack right now. Thank you. And yes! Unfiltered is a goal. I find I’m writing for an audience now and it’s generative and also restrictive and I need to figure out how to do both.
YES--It would be cool to see your mother's sketchbooks. Also yes to acknowledging the tension between generation and restriction in the awareness of writing for an audience. I'm working on that myself--trying not to second guess what people might want to read and instead trying to just write about what matters to me and hope/assume that I'm not the only one!
Sticking to your own path and interests is the key, I think. But I’m also second guessing. And it’s harder to take risks. A private journal or notebook is necessary and I’ve got to get back to it.
100%. A private practice lets ideas and hunches emerge in some safety and then we can decide if they have a place in the public sphere. The hardest part of social media and all things internet for me is the performative aspect--like me, like me! It's a hard place to keep one's true north...
Wonderfully timely remarks on art practice, Sarah!
I have been away from my PC on a research trip to Paris and my notebook habit (for writing) came flooding back, reminding me of the foundation of my creativity which was born from what Natalie Goldberg calls writing practice and what I call freewriting. I spent years on undirected, private writing before moving into writing fiction to be read by others. My journal habit is also a serious daily addiction but it, too, is the hidden writing that makes all the public work possible. Now I am writing for social media, it's so precious to be able to return to that space of private writing to renew and rest, just as you describe! I actually ran courses in freewriting online and here in Wales and I have a whole website about it. If anyone is interested, I can give them the website address.
And I have the Frida Kahlo book!! I love it so much and like you say, it feels like more than just an illustrated book, it absolutely pulses with Frida's life and presence.
Your post was a great combination of topics. I love your Substack, and am flattered beyond anything that you have recommended mine. Thank you!
"the hidden writing makes all the public work possible" YES! And having one's sketchbook or journal be 'a place of rest and renewal' is so perfectly stated--I'm not sure I said it so clearly! And please feel free to put in your URL for the freewriting website here in the comments! I know a few people here who really loved your piece on Meret Oppenheim's Stone Woman--it is so good!
I have neglected it of late and we had a lot of trouble with the online courses but there's lots of stuff, hopefully of interest, for free!
A new post dropped yesterday at The Fur Cup, so do have a look if you have time. This one is about the daughter of the minotaur in Leonora Carrington's painting. I feel self-conscious about promoting 'myself' but my real aim is to make the women surrealists, and their work, better known.
Seeing these pages of Khalo's diary is amazing - what an extraordinary woman. I missed this edition of the pink teacup so commented about sketchbooks on another (later) issue. The comments here about JOY are also inspiring. Bringing the child to the page, the dance floor, the space whatever it is and allowing the private inner child some time outside. Re-inspired. Much gratitude.
This is a great message, Sarah, to remind us to do creative work for ourselves, too, not just for achievement. I am wanting to pursue some nature journaling that I was trying out last fall -- combining drawing and even painting with notes. It feels new to me and thus there is something to "get over" to make it happen. This piece on the joy of art journaling may help inspire me. Thank you!
I also loved that you shared that video of some of the pages of Frida Kahlo's sketchbook. It was so cool to see it. Thank you for that too!
Yes, and it's hard to do stuff that feels outside one's expertise! And I think what's also hard, is truly perceiving your nature journal (or my sketchbook) as something personal and private, because if we do, then it really doesn't matter what we put in there--however 'bad' it might look, because no one else will see it. I wonder if the performative nature of social media kind of undermines that effort, as we are certainly looking at and getting inspired by cool nature journals and sketchbooks...
Always a joy,fascinating, to read your inner thoughts. I felt a little like a voyeur, reading, watching your personal and insightful musings, as it was such a window into an artist’s way.
Thank you Sarah. You give me an even brighter green light to pursue my private art-making time that's meandering and unspectacular. I've been so focused on taking the performance project of the past couple of years to the next level, and I needed to STOP IT. I was feeling like the piece wasn't my own anymore. So I've been lazy in the dance studio more, just enjoying moving and running around and making noise without any goal. What's come to me through this process is how much I loved doing such things when I was a child improvising music on the piano and making dances that were never shared or performed. JOY! Much appreciation, also, for your sharing of Frida Kahlo's private diary. Amazing. And the links to the film and PBS series as well. Be well. I'm feeling like it's time to head north to Taos soon :-)
And I forgot to add YES to meandering and unspectacular! Those were the words I was looking for myself!
I loved reading this Kristine--you are reminding me of how important it is to allow oneself to be like a child in the moment with our dancing or drawing or whatever we are creating. To be unself-conscious helps us access the JOY as you say. Amen!
Kristine I loved your comments! You are so right that it's wonderful to allow ourselves to experience the joy we felt as children. You are inspiring me to think about how I can do that in my own life.
Ah the dilemma of making for the pure joy of experimentation! This rings true for me as well...I'm trying to train myself into making not for selling & that too is important - but for my self preservation. Every day I try & I fail, but I keep on trying.
I loved the Carla Gutierrez story on Amazon, an amazing story of Frida Kahlo's life in art, so beautifully expressed. I've put Frida's Diary on my endless list of books & funny enough I happen to be wearing a Frida t-shirt today - no coincidence that I came across your article today.
Love this Frida alignment between us here today--and glad you also loved the Gutierrez documentary--the animations were really great, weren't they? She was such an iconoclast. If you get Frida's diary and think of it, swing back around and let me know what you think!
That's crazy that you were wearing a Friday t-shirt while reading this!
Hey Sarah! You continue to explore such interesting topics. Here's a url for an artist, Marcus McAllister, who once showed about 50 pages from his sketchbook at an exhibit (I wanted all 50 pages!). This site shows his work as well as a short video where he talks about his sketchbook practice. https://www.batonrougegallery.org/marcus-mcallister I really like your discussion of making private art, having fun with it. We need more of that, right?
Jamie, THANK YOU for sharing that link with me. I just watched the video and so related to everything he was saying about his process, about trying to keep his sketchbook a sketchbook, the doubt, the allowing, all of it. Such a great example of what I was trying to say!! I'm already thinking of another friend I want to share this video with! :D
Sarah, thanks for reminding me that it’s ok to go slow and that, ultimately, these private practices are about learning to be more free. I’ve been allowing myself to write only for myself (fiction) and that has been a delight! But then the insidious urge to make it more marketable or digestible worms its way back into my experimentation. It’s a true practice to remain in that place of naked, raw freedom rather than as you said: achievement. It drains all the joy and FUN out of the process for me. I will try using the word *uncensored* now as my north star!
I have been meaning to order Frida’s Diary for years. I will do that now too. Thanks for the doc recommendation as well! Also, that short story about the stone woman hit hard and hopeful.
Yes, it's such a challenge to keep that achievement monkey off our backs! And you are so right--all the joy and fun take a back seat when achievement starts second guessing everything in its hopes to 'succeed.' I look forward to hearing your response to Frida's diary and the documentary. I'm glad you also liked that short story about the stone woman--I also really loved that painting and had never seen it. <3
This is so inspiring to me as a blogger about my artist parents. You’ve given me a lot of wonderful ideas, Sarah. I’m going to have to share some of my mother’s sketchbook creations. And I’m excited to watch the new Frida flick. My mother took me to see her work when it was just a little unknown exhibit in Brooklyn (the 70s). I recall her works were little. So much memory stirred here and possibility. Yeesh, I love Substack right now. Thank you. And yes! Unfiltered is a goal. I find I’m writing for an audience now and it’s generative and also restrictive and I need to figure out how to do both.
YES--It would be cool to see your mother's sketchbooks. Also yes to acknowledging the tension between generation and restriction in the awareness of writing for an audience. I'm working on that myself--trying not to second guess what people might want to read and instead trying to just write about what matters to me and hope/assume that I'm not the only one!
Sticking to your own path and interests is the key, I think. But I’m also second guessing. And it’s harder to take risks. A private journal or notebook is necessary and I’ve got to get back to it.
100%. A private practice lets ideas and hunches emerge in some safety and then we can decide if they have a place in the public sphere. The hardest part of social media and all things internet for me is the performative aspect--like me, like me! It's a hard place to keep one's true north...
Exactly
Wonderfully timely remarks on art practice, Sarah!
I have been away from my PC on a research trip to Paris and my notebook habit (for writing) came flooding back, reminding me of the foundation of my creativity which was born from what Natalie Goldberg calls writing practice and what I call freewriting. I spent years on undirected, private writing before moving into writing fiction to be read by others. My journal habit is also a serious daily addiction but it, too, is the hidden writing that makes all the public work possible. Now I am writing for social media, it's so precious to be able to return to that space of private writing to renew and rest, just as you describe! I actually ran courses in freewriting online and here in Wales and I have a whole website about it. If anyone is interested, I can give them the website address.
And I have the Frida Kahlo book!! I love it so much and like you say, it feels like more than just an illustrated book, it absolutely pulses with Frida's life and presence.
Your post was a great combination of topics. I love your Substack, and am flattered beyond anything that you have recommended mine. Thank you!
"the hidden writing makes all the public work possible" YES! And having one's sketchbook or journal be 'a place of rest and renewal' is so perfectly stated--I'm not sure I said it so clearly! And please feel free to put in your URL for the freewriting website here in the comments! I know a few people here who really loved your piece on Meret Oppenheim's Stone Woman--it is so good!
Thanks, Sarah! My freewriting website is The Freewriter's Companion https://www.freewriterscompanion.com/
I have neglected it of late and we had a lot of trouble with the online courses but there's lots of stuff, hopefully of interest, for free!
A new post dropped yesterday at The Fur Cup, so do have a look if you have time. This one is about the daughter of the minotaur in Leonora Carrington's painting. I feel self-conscious about promoting 'myself' but my real aim is to make the women surrealists, and their work, better known.
Seeing these pages of Khalo's diary is amazing - what an extraordinary woman. I missed this edition of the pink teacup so commented about sketchbooks on another (later) issue. The comments here about JOY are also inspiring. Bringing the child to the page, the dance floor, the space whatever it is and allowing the private inner child some time outside. Re-inspired. Much gratitude.
Thank you Nancy. And YES to the inspiration from fellow commenters! It feels so good to have that energy here!
This is a great message, Sarah, to remind us to do creative work for ourselves, too, not just for achievement. I am wanting to pursue some nature journaling that I was trying out last fall -- combining drawing and even painting with notes. It feels new to me and thus there is something to "get over" to make it happen. This piece on the joy of art journaling may help inspire me. Thank you!
I also loved that you shared that video of some of the pages of Frida Kahlo's sketchbook. It was so cool to see it. Thank you for that too!
Yes, and it's hard to do stuff that feels outside one's expertise! And I think what's also hard, is truly perceiving your nature journal (or my sketchbook) as something personal and private, because if we do, then it really doesn't matter what we put in there--however 'bad' it might look, because no one else will see it. I wonder if the performative nature of social media kind of undermines that effort, as we are certainly looking at and getting inspired by cool nature journals and sketchbooks...
Sarah
Always a joy,fascinating, to read your inner thoughts. I felt a little like a voyeur, reading, watching your personal and insightful musings, as it was such a window into an artist’s way.
Terry
Oh thank you Terry--and funny about the voyeur thing--a voyeur within a voyeur within a voyeur... :D
Exactly. 😀