I love these lines from T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding, the last of the four quartets
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-treeNot known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always–
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
The last line from this excerpt of the poem: A condition of complete simplicity costing not less than everything…has haunted me for years.
Why?
Because it takes everything, and often a lifetime, to cultivate an attitude of simplicity
Picasso said he could paint like Velasquez at 14 but it took his entire life to get back to being able to paint like a child.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
-Leonardo DaVinci
It requires discipline and discernment to drill down to the essence of your work.
I’ve been contemplating constraint and simplicity in terms of abstract painting for a long while. Even as I paint intuitively and from an attitude of ‘not knowing’, I’m aware of constraints such as limiting the palette and working with 2-4 values. Otherwise, without limits, my work devolves into chaos.
There’s a decisiveness in working with constraint. I’m not trying to include everything on one canvas.
In fact there’s infinite freedom within constraint
To create your best work you’ve got to risk everything.
Heinz Pagels, who was a theoretical physicist at Stanford, one of the early minds behind the Santa Fe Institute wrote in his book: The Dreams of Reason a book about complexity science:
The price of doing what you believe in is, and always was, the same…namely, your life.
It costs not less than everything to dedicate your life to what you love
Through the hours of your life may you give yourself time and space to remember the mystery that is you.
May you remember and keep re-finding your inner creative journey. As Eliot speaks of ‘the unknown, unremembered gate’, I’m reminded of the ineffable experience of life unfolding and how we come full circle back to ourselves again and again.
Indeed it takes everything to listen to your heart’s yearnings, answer the call, and plunge into the mystery of creating with aliveness, meaning and your own true voice.
I’m deeply grateful for you. Thank you for sharing your stories, your thoughts and your artist’s journey with me.
From my studio to yours-
Nancy
Comment below and tell me of your experience.
P.S. If you want to delve more deeply into the territory of ‘not knowing’ and the mystery of creating, pair this reading with my offering: The Artist’s Journey my signature online course. Learn more about it by clicking HERE.
Love the poem you share above. I am 67 yrs old and having a hard time to just play.
My mind is so used to plan plan plan so that everything would go smoothly that day for my family. Children be on time for school, husband at work, house clean and dinner ready when they are back.
I have 2 of your book, the artist journey and the adjacent possible.
Went thru some pages in the front and haven’t get back yet to completely finish and work all the practices.
It is hard to train a 67 years old brain back to a 5 years again. I am truly amaze at how hard it is. Thanks again and I will try to simplify.
Thank you Lanawati! Just keep going and believe that it’s possible to play again.
Warmly,
Nancy
Hi Dr. Nancy.
Your invitation to your “artists way” course popped in 3 times in the past few days??? I deleted first 2 without reading (Very busy), then my (artist) daughter posted it again today and I sent her a prompt response that I cannot afford it. However, I decided, when I was having a 10 minute break, to listen to your promotional video and that maybe I could, should and would take the risk, and to my delight my husband said “yes” .
I am a transpersonal art therapist, I am an artist about to enjoy my first solo, (I turned 70 last week, so this is very exciting) I paint intuitively, but I feel I will be taken on a deep journey with your course, so I am about to book and meet you in class.
Not scared, not wondering what to do with a blank page, just excited at a very deep level and trusting my gut.
Kindest regards
Basia
Thank you so much Basia! That’s so great about your daughter and husband encouraging you to take the course. How wonderful to have a supportive family. Happy Birthday! This is great about your first solo show. I’m delighted you’re in the course!
Warm regards,
Nancy
Hi Dr. Nancy.
Your invitation to your “artists way” course popped in 3 times in the past few days??? I deleted first 2 without reading (Very busy), then my (artist) daughter posted it again today and I sent her a prompt response that I cannot afford it. However, I decided, when I was having a 10 minute break, to listen to your promotional video and that maybe I could, should and would take the risk, and to my delight my husband said “yes” .
I am a transpersonal art therapist, I am an artist about to enjoy my first solo, (I turned 70 last week, so this is very exciting) I paint intuitively, but I feel I will be taken on a deep journey with your course, so I am about to book and meet you in class.
Not scared, not wondering what to do with a blank page, just excited at a very deep level and trusting my gut.
Kindest regards
Basia
Thank you so much Basia! That’s so great about your daughter and husband encouraging you to take the course. How wonderful to have a supportive family. Happy Birthday! This is great about your first solo show. I’m delighted you’re in the course!
Warm regards,
Nancy