Make One Thing
October 4, 2012 
'Make' one thing - I tell myself.
'Do' one thing - I repeat over and over.
Make bad 'art'. Make good 'art'. But - make some 'art'. Pick up that camera and 'create'. Some 'thing'.
Resistance...fear..self-questioning and always that doubt. What is it that I'm doing here? Why? Is there some grand purpose? Some great master plan?
It happens. Like everyone else - I too - have days like this. I feel it. In my body. In my mind. In what I do and don't see thru the lens of my camera.
I can't. I don't. I won't. It's all too hard. It's endlessly grey..and endlessly rainy. As much as I do love the rain - it's endlessly uninspiring.
And then..I begin. I notice the orange...the green. I arrange and re-arrange. I look. I see. I get myself lost in possibility...in color and light and all of the permutations and endless combinations.
I showed up. I did my work.
In the end - I know. I 'made' one thing.
Reader Comments (27)
Long time not seen!!
Love this unique still life assembly. All the opposites in it seem to be in a harmonious balance and this is pleasing to look at.
This is such a POWerful still life!
& the words filled with wisdom <3
Marcie, this is beautiful. And how did you know I went to bed last night, fell asleep feeling just such inadequacy? So questioning what I'm doing sometimes. So doubtful.
We show up though. We do our work.
I try to remind myself how lucky I am to feel called to such work.
Thanks for the message that resonated. Thanks for sharing such an "exquisite" photo.
yes, you did ~ and it is lovely!
And what a beautiful thing you made. Feeling very uninspired as of late. Will keep this post in mind tomorrow - tomorrow is another day. Maybe I can make something too! Thank you Marcie.
If rain means you get to work on your still-lifes again, YAY FOR THE RAIN! We're in for a real treat, if this is any indication! I LOVE what you do!!!
Good arrangement, colours and contrast. Like it!
I know how you feel.. At least I did one thing too. Wrote a synopsis to my book (I try to get something going here: http://linksbook.wordpress.com/) - I sit and stare on the white paper - my camera stands beside me. AND it is raining here as well. All is grey.. I know how it feels like to be you. BUT you got a splendid result .. with a huge wow-effect ..
I relate so deeply to this resistance you speak of...it's such a source of frustration for me. But like you say, you just have to show up each day and 'make' one thing. Your photo is fantastic!
The colours popping against the dark background give everything so much dimension. I am happy it was raining outside ;-)
Been there...felt like that! A friend from long ago used to tell me during these times...'just do the NEXT thing'...in other words, don't look beyond the moment...wise advice that I have carried with me for years for moments such as these that you described. This is one of the reasons that I began to get interested in art journaling...because there are days when there is more than a photo composition waiting to be explored....that is why I leave my journal open on my studio table....every day I add or start something...every day....like what you wrote here. Love your photo...I think it expresses perfectly what you wrote.
absolutely love it, marcie
Yesterday I took over 100 pictures at the most beautiful garden and deleted them all. Just one of those days i guess. I love the Chinese lanterns pictures here with the crisp green apples.
Nicely composed - and a good antidote to the old saying about the devil finding a use for idle hands!
in my case i guess it's laziness.. :D but this sure is one fine artwork yet again.. :)
Very nice still life!
This is fabulous! I've always loved this flower. Great composition!!
Marcie-as much as I love your nature photos, you have such a gift for still life. Which I envy greatly. Because when the weather doesn't cooperate and the skies are gray (again), we need to be able to "make" something from nothing - as you have demonstrated so beautifully here. Gorgeous inspiration.
You made good art!
Attractive arrangement - both colors and shapes.
This is lovely Marcie. I'm so glad you did make this one thing.
Présentation très classe!
J'aime!
Wonderful Marcie...i put these seedboxes in a big glass ;-)
What a fantastic still Marcie--I love the transition in the Japanese Lanterns from red to apple-green.
love how the red flowers turn into green towards the apples
Good for you! Wonderful art!!! I like this one a lot. The colors, the set-up, the simplicity, the light.
beautiful, creative, artistic ... just great !