Connecting the Dots

Let go of your ego and try something new

The annual Dutch Connection floral display in the house of George Eastman, founder of Kodak.

This week’s theme in The Artist’s Way is about recovering a sense of connection. Many of the exercises are about connecting to our inner muse and releasing blocks around our desire to try new things and create.

Connecting to Others

For me, this past week was about re-establishing a sense of connection with others. This weekend included get-togethers with family and friends, as well as celebrating my husband Joe’s birthday. (Even though it’s today. I know you’re reading this, so happy birthday!) Then on Sunday, when Joe had friends over for D&D, I went out with my best friend Amanda to look at some art. We went to two local galleries: the George Eastman Museum and ARTISANworks.

One of the current exhibits at the George Eastman Museum has photographs from the museum’s collection, some dating back over 150 years. That also includes early forms of photography, like daguerreotypes, tintypes, and these:

Cyanotype by Anna Atkins, on display at the George Eastman Museum (Source)

I’ve seen cyanotypes before — an early form of photography that was often used to document plants. I went into the gift shop because a couple of postcards of cyanotypes from the exhibit caught my eye.

“If I came across a class to learn how to make these,” I said to Amanda, “I would sign up for it.”

Then I turned around and came face to face with a display of kits to make your own cyanotypes. It’s apparently easier than I thought it was.

We both got kits so we can each make our own cyanotypes. I’m waiting for a sunny day to try mine. (Ideally, before I wrap up week 12 of The Artist’s Way.) What an excellent synchronicity, though. (And another new art form to try!)

Amanda (right) and I in the Marilyn Monroe Room at ARTISANworks

Connecting to Your Inner Child

This also ties to another theme in this week’s chapter. One of the ways we can better connect with our art is by letting go of the idea that it has to be perfect.

I know that the cyanotypes and other new projects I try will not be perfect. The kit I bought says it’s for ages six and up, so if it looks like something a child made, that’s why. And that’s okay.

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d bought a guitar and am playing for the first time in more than two decades. I’m not expecting anything prolific from myself. It’s one medium where I truly feel I’m allowed to have fun, with no greater aspirations beyond strumming a song in the privacy of my own home.

In the age of social media, I think we psych ourselves out with our creativity — that it has to be not only perfect but interesting enough to “go viral.” Screw that. Make things for yourself. Try new things because you want to, not because they’ll get you followers on TikTok or Instagram. Create something that looks like it was made by a kid. Because it was — by your inner child.

Seen at ARTISANworks

If Only I Didn’t Have to Be So Perfect…

Here’s an exercise from Week 7 of The Artist’s Way that will help you release your inner perfectionist.

Complete the following sentence: “If I didn’t have to do it perfectly, I would try…”

And list 20 things you might want to try.

Here are a few of mine:

• Creating cyanotypes (of course)

• Playing guitar

• Cross stitching (I bought a beginner’s kit a few weeks ago that I have yet to start!)

• Painting a portrait

• Writing a short story collection

• Illustrating a webcomic

• Doing floral arrangements

• Making a short film

• Creating three-dimensional art like in the image above

You get the idea. Then pick something from your list this week and go try it (or take a first step toward trying it.)

Tell me what you’re making in the comments.