Tuesday, January 8, 2013

To try, or not to try . . .

"Nature Holds The Key To My Heart"
( Torch-fired enamel on copper )


To try or not to try, that is the question, and the answer is yes  . . .  it is possible!! (Repeating to self)

When I think back, I can't really remember a time that I wasn't creating something. As a small child in art class, to endless hours in my room with a pan of watercolors. From craft projects with my grandmother, to gardening with my mom, decorating cakes, cross stitch, etc.

I suppose creating is synonymous with who I am. I can't imagine not creating, using my hands to express the things in my heart that words just cannot. It's why I love photography . . . after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. But sometimes too much daydreaming becomes a problem for me. I find so much joy in the process of daydreaming about projects that often my ideas never make it to fruition, almost as if something will happen if they do, which ironically in itself IS the point, right?

And that brings me back to that question of to try or not to try. I am an epic failure at New Year's resolutions which is why the last couple of years I have chosen a word instead to help inspire me through the year. This year, I chose possible. It simply means, that may or can be, exist, happen, be done. I chose this word especially after an inspiring weekend a couple of weeks ago with my son at a pole vault camp (that you can read here). The whole experience reminded me of what the word possible means. It's a word that is full of anticipation because we really don't know what we are capable of unless we try.

A couple of years ago I had a friend talk me into taking a metals class. I remember the first couple of days thinking....what was I thinking! You see in a metals class, a jewelry saw is supposed to be your best friend It's where everything starts, but right off the bat it was a love hate relationship. I felt like the only dork in class as I fell behind because I could not saw a straight line to save myself. I had to continually stop and start to replace one broken blade after another, and to say the least I wasn't feeling the fun. I was also deathly afraid of the torch! But somewhere along the line after staying with it, the saw became an extension of my hand and the possibility of adding color to my pieces made me overcome my fear of that torch.  I remember how good it felt the first time I held a piece I had finished in my hand that started from an idea, even if it did take me an entire semester to finish it. It's been almost a year since my last metals class, but I've decided to sign back up for the spring semester. . . I've had an idea in my head for two years and it's time to make it possible.

I found this beautiful quote that puts into words the act of creation that I know we have all felt at one time whether it was gardening, painting, photography, music, crafting, etc.

"One of the strangest things is the act of creation. 
You are faced with a blank slate - a page, a canvas, a block of stone or wood, a silent musical instrument. 
You then look inside yourself, you pull and tug and squeeze and fish around for slippery raw shapeless things that swim like fish made of cloud vapor and fill you with living clamor. You latch onto something. And you bring it forth out of your head like Zeus giving birth to Athena. 
And as it comes out, it takes shape and tangible form. 
It drips on the canvas, and slides through your pen, it springs forth and resonates into musical strings, and slips along the edge of the sculptors tool onto the surface of the wood or marble.
You have given it cohesion, You have brought forth something ordered and beautiful out of nothing. 
You have glimpsed the divine."   ~ Vera Nazarian 

To create something means simply that we are bringing something into being, a part of ourselves, something unique that wouldn't normally just be by itself. And in producing our creations whatever they may be and sharing them with the universe I think we not only inspire others, but help them to also see "possible".

I know right now I feel full of anticipation and I'm sure I'm not alone. Share with us in the comment section here,  in our flickr group, and on instagram some of the things you are creating or the things you hope to make possible . . . inspire us!!





20 comments:

Sherri B. said...

Oh Kim, I truly believe we are kindred spirits...this post resonates with me so deeply. That quote is amazing...I've taken several jewelry classes, too, over the years - I hated the saw and found PMC fascinating even though I didn't quite know what I was doing (lol). I even have a kiln collecting dust in my art room closet. I wish you luck with your class and I'm sure you'll do amazing...did you make that necklace? It's spectacular!!

Kim Stevens said...

Hi Sherri, yes I did make the necklace...it was a labor of love. Each heart had at least 7 separate firings each as I layered the colors. And I think the reason I had such a hard time with the saw at first is that I also do PMC and thought to myself, I could have cut this out of PMC in 5 minutes! haha

heyjudephotography said...

Oh that necklace is absolutely stunning! Hearts are my favorite, and that is just beautiful! You are very talented and I'm glad that your word is "possible." I know that you are going to make many many things possible this year, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor (of love).

Kim Stevens said...

Thank you Judy, enameling has become one of my favorite things to do in class, I wish I had the set-up so I could do it at home. Nearly everyone that comes to the class to start (community college) doesn't have any experience and I'm so blown away and inspired by the creativity that bounces off the walls....I believe we all have untapped talent waiting for "possible".

terriporter said...

That necklace is worth every bit of fear and trying and sticking with it. Absolutely stunning! I identify with everything you have said about creating. I can't remember a time when I wasn't creating something, some things better than others. But I think it feeds something in us that nothing else can. I too have been all over the map with things like cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking and finally photography (which seems to satisfy my creative need like nothing else I've ever done). I keep going back to the top of this post and looking at that beautiful necklace! I hope you will continue creating these works of art. And I love your word "possible". So much is possible that we don't realize until we try.

Carol said...

What a great way for you to start our year off. Your post fulfills our mission to inspire perfectly. You are indeed talented - that necklace is a work of art. I'm so glad that you see the possible because our world needs all the expressions of beauty we can all make. I so envy your mission, and I have complete confidence you can carry it out. Congratulations on one beautiful accomplishment, and on your decision to follow your muse!

Dotti said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ... the photo, the thoughts, the post. And yes, inspirational, too. I long ago learned that I'm happiest when I'm creating. After trying a number of things, I have to say, like Terri, photography seems to fill the cup to overflowing.

Possible is a great word.

Kim Stevens said...

I have to agree with you Terri, photography satisfies my creative need and fills my soul, but there is something about the process of sawing metal and using hammers...it satisfies creative and primitive all at once! haha (I'm hoping to create some to sell, I've had an etsy store that I've never opened)

Kim Stevens said...

Thank you Carol, hopefully I will be able to share my idea as an actual piece later!

Kim Stevens said...

Thanks so much Dotti, and like you and Terri both said, the cup overflows from photography in a way other things don't. But going back to class I'm hoping to combine my love of both photography and jewelry, we'll see what happens!

kelly said...

what a gorgeous piece of jewelry/art!! i love that you are taking a class. sometimes i feel silly taking all these classes, but i have found that discovering a previously untapped ability is such a confidence booster. take photography for instance - i find so much joy and inspiration in learning to capture my world. and carries through all areas of my life. but also i think there is something quite therapeutic about working my hands. Your beautiful quote describes it so perfectly. Thank you for sharing it. xoxox

Linda said...

I really like your definition of creating. It's so true! Every stitch, every stir, every snap is putting a part of me into the finished product! It is always so satisfying to see a project finished! It is an accomplishment! I did this! Me, just me! Your necklace is so pretty! You must open your etsy shop! You have so much creativity!

xo,
Linda

Kim Stevens said...

Yes, and when there is so much of us put into what we make, sometimes it's hard to let me to, they are like babies! :) Thank you Linda!

Kim Stevens said...

Yes, I have had many...What was I thinking classes, some turned into wow and some into whoa!;) But like you said I find that every class I take or new thing I learn opens up each and every sense in a new way of seeing, and hearing, and touching, and it absolutely carries through the other parts of life. Thank you Kelly! xo

Jeanne said...

Kim this is just lovely! and how awesome that you are going to take another metals class. Sounds like such an interesting thing to do, and what amazing things you can create! A great post!

stephmull said...

What an awesome post, Kim! And a beautiful piece of jewelry....yay for you!!

leigh said...

First of all...that necklace is amazing!! So beautiful! Second of all...I think you and I are so much alike. I have always been creative. It's in my blood. And I'm always coming up with lots of ideas of projects to start on, but therein lies the problem. I start the project, but don't finish it. I think that's why I was so attracted to photography. It was something I could start and finish in one day. My husband used to always say I needed to work on my follow through. I had finally found something that I could follow through on.

Kim Stevens said...

Thank you Jeanne, it starts next week and I'm getting excited!

Kim Stevens said...

Thank you Stephanie!

Kim Stevens said...

Yes kindred spirits for sure Leigh....I was going through my "art closet" the other day and found a few water colors that I still need to finish among other things. And the first couple of things I need to do in my metals class is finish a few projects... :) And you are so right about photography, it's an all inclusive creative act!!

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