So, the initial thought that I'm going to try and work with here is the notion of a walkabout -- To my decided limited understanding, the aboriginals down under apparently embark on a walk through the wilderness as a means of gaining insight and focus about themselves and their place in the world.
Gods know I've been trying to do both for years.
Funny how being somewhat anonymous here is so...liberating. Feeling that putting the gushing torrent of my thoughts into written form might actually come to serve a purpose.
A number of years ago, I hit a major blook with my artistic works, and was fortunate enough to read "The Artist's Way" -- really struggled to develop the discipline that came from that book, but journaling was one of the main requirements.
In doing so, I filled several blank books and notebooks with sketches, writings, and scraps of paper. Realized that such collections are pretty much how people remember and recall things -- bits of paper, unfinished thoughts and clips of life.
Guess I'm truly near-sighted regarding my own life -- blind to the now, but insightful and perceptive regarding the past.
One of the things that being reflective has taught me is that all people are actually artists -- they're destined to create at least one great masterwork. It may be something material like a portrait or song, but more likely, it'll be their own child or a relationship -- something that defines them and assures them their legacy in the world.
I understand that Rembrandt wasn't particularly successful when he was alive; Mozart was tragically talented, as well.
Such worthy talents, but not so much during their time.
I'm convinced that people are, by their very nature, artists. The main problem that arises is that they never work to develop their art, partly out of ignorance, partly due to lack of self-awareness, mostly due to fear.
One of the great lessons that we're taught is that we rarely, if ever, succeed at something we attempt the first time. Learning to walk takes trying, trying, and trying. Becoming a good partner is something many of us will attempt, but never accomplish --
Even so, when we do work up the courage to try to create art, we all too aften make the attempt, and then hide or destroy the attempt, ashamed that our masterwork didn't spring, like Athena from Zeus's head, perfectly formed and beautiful.
This walkabout I'm starting on here will likely be unformed and possibly unattractive, but it's my art, and I'm going to create it.
We'll see where I end up when I finish.
