Today’s 3 Ideas are all about;
1. The kick of Creating and the super fun creative exercise you can do.
2. Why art is not just for your own pleasure.
3. A quote that tells you the kind of projects you need to do.
1) The "Kick" of Creating
I recently came across a wonderful piece of quote from Kurt Vonnegut (he’s a writer btw) on the act of Creating, and that too, for yourself.
He says;
“Nobody will stop you from creating. Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. That is the way to make your soul grow – whether there is a market for it or not! The kick of creation is the act of creating, not anything that happens afterward. I would tell all of you watching this screen: Before you go to bed, write a four-line poem. Make it as good as you can. Don’t show it to anybody. Put it where nobody will find it. And you will discover that you have your reward.”
My take on this:
He’s absolutely on point. 🎯
I’ve found myself making drawings that I’m NOT happy with,
when I was creating for others – the social media, an audience and the like.
But, I’ve always had fun when I have made things for myself. 😌
It’s just like the kid who draws – only to please themselves.
The Action: Make Something for yourself by tonight (and make it as good as possible) and don’t show it to anyone.
2) Art can be useful to others
Is art only for the pleasure of oneself?
If that is true, that seems self indulgent to me. 🤷♂️
I see life is productive when it serves, not only us, but others as well.
But this thought “art is for only my pleasure” seemed to dislike a part of what I did…
Until, I came across this excerpt from the book “the Artists Way”.
A friend of mine shared this message with me this week and I keep thinking about it. 🧠
“In centuries past, art was made for the honor and glory of God.
Viewed in this light, a career in the arts was a career of service, not egotism.
There is a cue there for us.
The dedication of our work to a higher cause than our own self-promotion frees the work from preciousness.
It becomes not about how good we are but about how good we can be in selfless service to something larger than ourselves.
As artists, we are the bearers of gifts, spiritual endowments that come to us gratis and ask only to be used.
A gift for music asks that we give voice to it. A fine photographer’s eye asks that we focus it.
We are responsible to our gifts for the use of our gifts, and this is a form of accountability too.”
by Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way)
The takeaway: Dedicate your Art (aka your skills) to a cause higher than one’s own ego (the I)
3) Favourite Quote of the Week
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
– Howard Thurman
That’s it for this week folks!
See you in the next one 🙂
Best,
Kesh.
Practical Life Advice,
Actionable Art Tips and
Weekly Quotes & 
