The Messy Studio with Rebecca Crowell - Episodes Tagged with “Place”

Episode 228: Creative Flow

Rebecca Crowell — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 20:00:00 -0600

The state of flow has been described as the mental state of being completely present and fully immersed in a task, and psychological studies have delved into what enhances this state and what types of personalities seem to be able to access it most easily, although how and why we enter this state remains rather mysterious. The experience of flow in the studio is one many artists crave as the source of ultimate joy and satisfaction in making art. But creative flow is elusive—it may appear without any conscious effort or disappear when you most want to rely on it. Today we talk about this state of mind, how to cultivate it, and the role it can play in your work.

Being focused and fully with your work is crucial to the state of creative flow. Without distractions or extraneous thoughts, you are responding with sensitivity to how your work is developing. Flow also tends to lead us to work in ways that are sensual and tactile rather than intellectual, although you may take breaks for more analytic thinking. It has to do with sensitivity to the materials you are using and your own coordination and skill in using them.

Although it's possible to enter a state of flow at any stage of your development, when your skill and your intentions are well matched, it is easier to find your creative flow. On the other hand, studies have shown that a certain level of challnge tends to enhance the flow experience. Having some intention for what you're working on can help channel your focus.

Although this creative state is unlikely to happen because you strive for it, there are ways to encourage it. One idea is to let yourself be fully involved with whatever media you are using, enjoying the process in front of you. Another tip is to create plenty of work so that you can feel less precious about whatever you're working on. A playful attitude, enjoyment of what you are doing is a hallmark of the flow state. You may benefit from background music and setting up your studio situation to avoid distractions, When the flow state starts to break up, accept that you are leaving it for a while. Take satisfaction in having experienced it but don’t stress about losing it.

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What's new at Cold Wax Academy?
Rebecca and Jerry have just launched their Fall quarter of live, online sessions with a special focus this time on member participation, plus informative sessions on a variety of other topics such as photographing your art work and using Procreate. This month also marks the beginning of Cold Wax Academy's 3rd year of teaching sessions, meaning that the member library now has over 80 recordings and other instructional documents available for members. To access this wealth of information and to take part in upcoming live sessions, please visit the membership page at ColdWaxAcademy.com and sign up for one of the two levels of membership available.

Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for more information.

Also-- stay tuned for information coming soon about Rebecca and Jerry's newest project, Espacio, dedicated to providing beautiful living and working spaces for artists and writers. Espacio's first offering is Casa Clavel, a modern, fully equipped house opening this September in the beautiful cultural city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. You can learn more and make a reservation by emailing info@coldwaxacademy.com. A dedicated Espacio website is coming soon!

Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience with Cold Wax Academy:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

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The Messy Studio Podcast is a Tick Digital Media Production.

Episode 227: The Gift of Days: An Artist Residency

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0500

We’d like to begin today with some words from John O’Donohue, the Irish poet, author, priest, and philosopher--who wrote in his poem, For the Traveler:

May you travel in an awakened way,
Gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations
Which wait along the way to transform you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you

O’Donohue’s poem-- from which this excerpt is taken-- reflects on the impact of travel that is done in an aware and thoughtful manner. Taking part in an artist residency program is one way to experience a new place on this deep level and to experience its influence on your work. In today’s episode, Rebecca reflects on her recent 3 weeks of residency at the Obras Foundation in Portugal, and the challenges and rewards of this experience.

We talked last week about the duality of familiarity and novelty that you can experience when working with the idea of place and in your response to unique aspects of an environment. There can be novelty in what is familiar, when you tune into your daily environment, and there can also be familiarity in what is new, as you seek out what you know and are comfortable with even in a completely foreign environment. When working in a truly new and unfamiliar place, it can be a challenge to find focus and continuity with your ongoing work. Allowing your responses to being on a residency to evolve organically in your ongoing work may be the best way to integrate your new experience.

website for Obras Foundation: http://www.obras-art.org

Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for more information.

Episode 226: The Importance of Place

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 20:00:00 -0500

The influence of specific locations on creative work is important among many kinds of artists, from plein aire painters to site-specific sculptors. On today’s podcast, Rebecca talks about the ways responding to certain places has impacted her own abstract work over the years, and specifically how this has evolved in recent years since her move to New Mexico. We hope that her thoughts invite contemplation of your own influences from both your home environment and your travels.

Two aspects of place that influence abstract imagery are familiarity and novelty, an intriguing duality. Familiarity leads to visual language based on repeated observations, repeated experiences, and getting to know a place beyond initial impressions. Knowing a place deeply leads to an integrated approach of emotions and visual observations and can be a very satisfying way to experience your everyday life. Treating your home environment as a rich source of ideas enhances your everyday life and sense of gratitude.

Although you can experience the aspect of novelty anywhere if you pay attention, including in your home territory, it plays into your work in a different way that can be very stimulating and can lead to ideas outside of your everyday realm. The sense of what you see and experience being unfamiliar and strange keeps you curious, reflective, and attentive. This happens especially during travel in other countries. You need special awareness to navigate this unfamiliar territory.

Interpreting a sense of place in your work in a meaningful way can evolve over time, especially when you work from your home environment, as you engage in the process of noticing and understanding the subtleties of your home location. What you know and love about a place has a natural way of becoming embedded and central to your work. But even when responding to an unfamiliar place, connecting your experiences to what is already present in your work is a good way to approach it in an integrated manner. And if your current location is not supporting your work in ways that you want, if you are able seek out a different lcoation for travel, a residency, or even a new home, it is something to consider.

(website mentioned in this podcast: resartis.org)

Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for more information.