Feeling the Flow
by Lynn Marlow
 When I first started painting on glass, my aspirations were modest. I just wanted to decorate a little window in my front door. I followed a pattern, stepped carefully, and did something that I thought was really pretty, but not unique, or even particularly personal. Doing it gave me some confidence, though, and I decided to try a bigger window. This time, it was the 15 panes of glass in my daughter’s bedroom door. All together, they made a surface of 72 X 30 inches: a pretty big canvas. I went back and forth deciding on the pattern I wanted to follow, everything from a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired geometric to Georgia O'Keefe flowers. In the end I went with a Tiffany inspiration. I’m a gardener, and love nature, and I liked the idea of bringing the garden into my home.
This time, though, unlike the first attempt, there was no pattern. I sketched out what I wanted to paint, and laid it all out on the glass. When I was happy with the drawing, I filled in the black lines, and then got started on the color. I improvised as I went along, sometimes adding or moving elements as I went. I played with mixing and blending colors, to give depth and shading. The last part was the greatest challenge: I had to represent water, and couldn’t leave the panel transparent enough for a visitor to see my daughter’s dirty clothes pile through the glass.
 The whole project took me about 8 months, a few hours just about every day. It helped me survive my divorce, it kept me away from junk food, and it was what I consider my very first original work of art. I was incredibly proud of that door, and actually impressed and surprised by what I was able to do. That may have been the best part. I surprised myself with what I could do when I took the risk.
That door started the creative flow. Since then, I’ve played in the flow a whole lot more, had successes and failures, and learned a lot about myself along the way. One of the things I’ve discovered is the difference between art work that comes from a desire to please or impress others, and work that comes from the flow of my own passion and inspiration.
When I get too caught up in worrying what others will think of my work, I can tell that my head is in charge. I try to be too clever by half. My work gets complicated, and tricky, and as I’m doing it, I can hear that little voice saying, “They’re really going to be impressed with this.”
Occasionally I’ve pulled it off, but usually the work I do in that frame of mind isn’t my best. It’s pretty safe, and generally not even my style. There’s a pressured, almost frantic feeling in trying to get it done. To sum it up, it’s not the work that feels like it comes from my creative flow.
When I’m working in the flow, it is truly something magical. When I can trust my intuition, and take the risks that my intuition tells me to take, my work has an energy and joy about it. The process of creating feels very different. I’m relaxed and inspired, and find it hard for my hands to work fast enough to keep up. I lose track of time, and get fully immersed in what I’m doing.
Think about your own creative endeavors, past and present. Think about those times when it was a struggle, when fear or self-doubt interfered, and the work didn’t feel like it flowed. Then think about those magical times when all the elements came together. Think about times when you felt the inspiration, and let it flow out. Think about that feeling of passion in your work, of the beautiful dance between your heart and your fingers, and how much it pleased you to see your work when it was done.
 We all have a creative flow inside that is always there, but sometimes we talk ourselves out of trusting that flow. If we worry about what others will think, we block the flow. We get in our own way, we feel stuck, we second guess ourselves, and nothing we do seems right or satisfying. The next time you find yourself struggling with that thing you’re trying to create, pay attention to where you are in the flow. Ask yourself who you are trying to please.
Here's the Coaching Bit —
When you are worried about what someone else will think of your work, or your primary goal is to meet someone else’s expectations, you are putting a dam across your creative flow. On the other hand, if your work is coming straight from your own inspiration and vision, the flow carries you along with much less effort. Pay attention to your energy and flow as you work, and notice the cues that you get from your own body and mind. In a very short while, you’ll have an excellent sense of how you feel when you’re in the flow, and when you’re not.
When you can't find your flow, stop and ask yourself these questions:
-
Who am I trying to please?
-
What am I afraid of?
-
How am I not being true to my vision?
-
What do I need to do to make this work my own?
If the answers don’t come easily, or if you still feel stuck, then put this work aside. It’s time to play for a little while. Imagine that your inner child is taking hold of your paints, or your keyboard, or your clay. Let yourself scribble or throw things. See what outrageous combinations you can throw together. Indulge your playful side, and don’t judge or limit yourself.
After you’ve played for a while, come back to your work. Throw out whatever doesn’t please you and your inner child. Ask yourself the questions again, and follow what your instinct tells you.
If you still feel stuck, put the work away, and try again tomorrow. Sometimes your flow is right there, and sometimes you need more time to let the inspiration rise to the surface. Take time to relax and center, and use a guided imagery exercise to tap into your inspiration. Above all, be kind and patient toward yourself. You are a bright, creative, innovative person. The ideas are all inside, but can’t be forced. Be ready to ride the wave when it comes. When you feel your flow of creative energy moving, jump in, and let your inspiration carry you along. Send
This Page
To a Friend
Return to Top
Read Other Articles & Essays
©2006 Creativity Unbound |
Home
All About Coaching
Get Started
Lynn's Bio
Articles
Ask Lynn |
