Never Too Late
January 30, 2007
I’m now gearing up for my upcoming show, as the time is now T minus 11 days until the big day. In terms of priorities, my A list includes finalizing a few pieces that are sitting in my studio not quite ready to tell me whether or not they are finished and my B list includes two blank panels that currently have nothing more than rough pencil sketches on them. If time permits I would love to create and finish those in time for the show as well but if that doesn’t happen I still feel good about the collection of works I know will be ready. I am beginning to line them up in the hallway outside my studio to get an idea of how I might arrange them at the gallery.
There was an interesting editorial in the LA Times this morning entitled "Never too late" with a sub-title that read "Brash young genius isn’t the only creative force. Time and experience, trial and error are just as likely to rock the world." The article began with the observation of society’s tendency to "presume creativity is the domain of youth, that great artists are young geniuses, brash and brilliant iconoclasts," and went on to say the following:
"…there’s another path to artistic success, one that doesn’t rely on sudden flashes of insight but on the trial-and-error accumulation of knowledge that ultimately leads to novel manifestations of wisdom and judgement."
This was interesting to me because it touched upon elements of my own life experience. Not that I consider myself some kind of "genius" or artistic groundbreaker, but because when I look at my creative path I see my youth as a wild burst of colorful energy with definite outward movement, whereas lately my work has felt quieter and calmer and it is much more inwardly focused. Despite this more introverted process, I still see what I am doing as having universal appeal with messages that many people can relate and connect to. The exciting part is that I only see this getting better as I experience more and examine more. In so many areas we, as a society, tend to believe youth is always the better experience, and I will admit I had never thought much about how these ideas even spill over into the art world. Interesting indeed.
What have your experiences been as you’ve moved from your 20s to your 30s and 30s to 40s and beyond, as an artist or otherwise?
If you are interested in learning a bit more about my journey and what has been inspiring me lately, I was recently interviewed by the lovely Megan Potter. You can read the interview here.
That quote really resonates with me. I said Yes! out loud when I read it!
More and More I know the wisdom of ages; something that older cultures already have been saying for years.
I Loved your interview (thank you for doing it!)
and how I wish I could go to that girly show and breathe in all the creative genius!
Take (and share!) lots of pictures!
XO,
Melba
youth is overrated. for me anyway… i’ve enjoyed aging because with age i’ve gotten to know myself better, appreciate my life more, and i have more confidence in myself. i was so thankful to leave my teens…and then my 20s…both decades were hard on me. and so far i’ve been lovin’ my 30s and looking forward to my 40s.
hmmm….i get this sweet note in the mail today and on a bitchin’ card, then i see
my name at the end of your interview….no -seriously….thank you!
sweet dreams!
k
Wonderful post. I really enjoyed the quotes from that article especially because it is just so TRUE. It like when I was in Peace Corps, the older volunteers coming to the job after retirement just had so much more life and wisdom to offer us all in all they did. As a 34 yo old writer myself, I feel I am just starting to find my feet after a prolonged sidetrack stint. My first love was always writing for children and young adults-fantasy fiction. Its how my best friend and I bonded nearly half our lifetimes ago, sharing our stories and manuscripts back and forth. Now I am getting back into that full swing and I honestly haven’t felt quite this happy in a long, long time!
As I am turning 40 in a few short months I have definitely thought about this. I think I was truly naive in my 20′s, struggling to find myself in my 30′s and now as I’m at the doorstep to 40, I feel like I am FINALLY feeling more comfortable in my own skin.
I need to really KNOW this in my bones…and re-learn it again and again. Thank you so much, Swirly!
I think that, for me, a lot of it revolves around the idea of who I might satisfy. I’m less interested in satisfying others, now and more interested in meeting those who either just don’t care or find parts of my work satisfying. Still, having the one helped me get to the other.
i resonate with the comparison from childhood to know with my art.
i am going to try to make it to your show! it’s just a few hours away from here. so excited for you, Kelly Rae, Penelope and the rest of the girls…
xoxox