The Value of the Easy Stuff

Why is it that the things that you make that are easy and simple and may be just warm-ups - something you do to get your juices flowing- just fun things- those seem to get more affirmation from people than the things you work really hard at and feel more like your serious art?

It's kind of crazy, isn't it, that the light stuff seems to touch people more than the stuff that matters, that is real art. 

It's a good question. There are layers and layers.

The one key thing I want to get across is that you may be undervaluing the work that you find easy and fun and really just a pleasure to make.

 I can't do what you can do so when I see it, it feels like a little gift. I can feel that sense of pleasure that you've put into it.

You are engaged in a process that doesn't have a weightedness to it, but has a sense of investigation and play in it. That feeling gets conveyed - that lightness of being, that pleasure.

As a viewer I want that! I'm living my life, it's intense and challenging and I see this little moment you've given me - it's like a breath of fresh air. I need that as a viewer.

Often the more intense work that we do, where we are trying to convey something important and make it good, can get stiff.  That efforting makes us tight  and that gets conveyed. As a viewer,  I don't want that.

So I wonder if there is a way to bring that lightness of investigation that you do with those easy things to the work that you do that feels more serious to you. Can you bring that sense of play, light investigation, the sense of not knowing what you are doing and following what is compelling to you?

Even the most serious work, when I get the feeling that the artist is playing, being curious and not trying to get it right, I get drawn into it.

So I think as artists we need to give ourselves permission to trust our impulse, what gives us pleasure and is compelling.

If you find yourself getting worried or fearful that you are not getting it right or the 'judge' is there demanding that you do a better job with it, this is information for you. You may be heading into a 'trying too hard'.

We may get more out of it as viewers if you let yourself not know what it is that you are doing and let yourself bring that sense of impish curiosity to it. 

I think we're going to get to deeper work that way, honestly. You get to a deeper understanding if you let go of knowing what it is that you want to convey. The thinking mind can be over-controlling.

I hope this is interesting!

Please share your thoughts with me! Here or val (at) taprootartsinsight.com.
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