Like everyone else it seems, I do yoga on occasion. It's at yoga class that I first learned about the idea of daily practice. The idea that we can practice a pose or a way of looking at the world or an activity throughout our day and in the process, change some aspect of our life. Through practice, new behavior becomes normal and possibly have the opportunity to influence how we experience the world. A noble and exciting thing, though often easier said than done.
Recently, I realized that this blog has become a kind of practice for me. But that wasn't the goal when I first started it. I had decided that if I wrote my wonderful friend Ada every time I blogged, I'd be sure to focus on the beauty and wonder in the world rather than the sad and dark parts that most certainly also exist by the bucket full. I decided that I wanted to carve out a place where all the things that caught my eye, that made my heart race, that made me happy to be alive, would be captured and shared and saved, and thereby set a particular tone for dear ada. Well a year and a half later, I realize that the daily writing of this blog with that tone in mind, has become a practice of sorts which has added up to far more than I'd ever expected. It turns out that every single day that I seek out art that moves me, or design that delights me, or images of my garden or dogs or flowers or color or random beauty, that day is made a little bit better as a result. It's a very surprising and unexpected thing!
In the process of blogging, I've explored blogs and sites and magazines and flickr for things that I already love or things that make me fall in love for the first time. I didn't know what would emerge as the focus of dear ada, but over time it's been art and design that has dominated this process. Painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, metal work, ceramics, textiles, pattern, architecture, interiors, photography and everything in between. My background is in art and design, and I've made a career in design. I've continued to do art here and there, but always in between stuff, in the basement or in the corner of a spare bedroom. It really hasn't been a focus for a very long time. Well a funny thing has happened over the last year. In all the hunting and gathering for the blog, I've seen how other people somehow find the time and space to make their own art. And I've been inspired and reenergized and motivated by all those people who create such beautiful and amazing stuff and in the process, make the world a far richer place to be. I realized by looking at them, how much I would like a real place to get a little more serious about making some artwork again. Just for me. It seems that the virtual experience (and practice of sorts) of blogging, is fueling the real action of getting a place to focus on making some stuff of my own. A room of my own. I have to admit that I'm pretty excited to see what comes from this new, small adventure, all thanks to the amazing artists and designers I've encountered this last year and a half at dear ada and to Russell for encouraging me to start a blog in the first place and ultimately, to the real dear Ada, who remains an inspiration to me every day.
Good luck on your journey of rediscovery of your own art. Lovely post.
Posted by: midcenturyjo | May 06, 2007 at 09:22 PM