Tag: debra linker

Many Paths to Success

Success:

Of course, I find quotes that match my own ideas.

debra linker, painting, acrylic, abstract

Many Paths
$600

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.  Winston Churchill (Politician)

I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  Bill Cosby (Comedian)

I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.  George Burns (comedian)

What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.
Bob Dylan (Musician)

There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.  Christopher Morley (Journalist)

Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.  Arnold H. Glasow (Author)

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.  George S. Patton (Army General)

I planned to write and write and write about the Many Paths to Success … but these quotes say it all so I’ll just shut up now and let you enjoy them!

Tortured Artist

debra linker, painting, acrylic, flora, mushroom

Nod
$150

Depression sucks, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do.  It sucks the life out of you, drains energy, darkens even the sunniest day.  Everything hurts.  Anger is turned inward (which, some believe, is the cause of most depressive episodes).  Hope dissolves.  Suicide seems a reasonable response.  Depressions SUCKS.

I can not begin to discuss clinical depression from a knowledge base of anything more than hearsay as I am not qualified to have anything more than one opinion – if clinically depressed, let the doctors help.

Situational depression:  now that I can talk about from a position of experience and much exposure to the experiences of others.

Today I’m thinking about the plight of artists who experience severe depression.  What I have witnessed amongst my colleagues and friends (and experienced myself), is not only the crippling effect of dark periods, but the debilitating belief that passion is gone … forever.  It is apparently common for depression to leave its victim feeling as if they have lost some part of themselves that they can not seem to recover.  Loss of interest, reduced self-esteem, a general loss of purpose, even a lack of physical passion.  Many of us continue to get out of bed and conduct our work (and it seems easier if the work is left brain activity).  But for the artist who depends on their ability to generate creative juices enough to motivate them to their craft, a whole new set of problems are encountered.

I am drawn to contemplate what I believe about artistic expression.  I believe the artist is a conduit of sorts; receiving ideas and inspiration from some outside-of-themselves source, and using the medium of their choice to draw the (let’s call it an idea) in to themselves, and, for lack of a better description, breathe it in to the material world.  In other words, to create.  Since the 14th century, the term “inspiration” has been used to denote a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation.  Miriam-Webster adds “the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions” to the definition of the word.  The medical field uses it to express the act of “drawing in”, specifically, drawing air in to the lungs.

For the artist, to believe that the conduit has been shut down, permanently, is a death trap.  It is more than a sense of suffocation, it is a sense of being severed from the creator within … exiled from God.

In “One More Time to Live”, the Moody Blues (in MY interpretation) use lyrics to clearly depict what depression looks like for an artist (and, also in my interpretation, suggests a way out!).  In my imagination, this song is about a guy who looses a girl, spends time looking out the window of his mind and seeing the world with eyes skewed by his sadness/anger/depression:

{The depressed view of the world)

Look out of my window.  See the world passing by.  See the look in her eye.  <snip>
Desolation Creation (Tell me someone why there’s only confusion) Evolution (Tell me someone that this is all an illusion) Pollution (Tell me someone) Saturation (Tell me someone) Population Annihilation
Revolution (Tell me someone why this talk of revolution) Confusion (Tell me someone when we’re changing evolution) Illusion (Tell me someone) Conclusion (Tell me someone) Starvation Degradation

{The Path to Recovery)

(Changes in my life) Humiliation (Changes in my life) Contemplation (Changes in my life) Inspiration (Changes in my life) Elation Salvation (Changes in my life) Communication Compassion Solution

As hard as it is to just GET UP when you are so down, getting up – getting OUT seems to be the path to survival and recovery.  In the song, Desolation concludes with Degradation.  In the “recovery” stanza, the path is humility, contemplation, inspiration, elation, salvation, communication, compassion = SOLUTION.

Summer Fun 24 x 30 - $250

Summer Fun
24 x 30 – $250

We may not be able, at first, to paint our next Best of Show or compose our next Platinum seller, but it is essential that we START.  A brief but honest conversation with a compassionate friend in a coffee shop may be enough to stir within us a sense that things could change.  Talking.  Communicating our fear that “it’s over” and having someone encourage us to just take ONE step forward (or back to ourselves) could be enough to get a brush in our hand or to dust off the piano bench and take a seat.  A canvas filled with dark, angry, chaotic strokes or the pounding of dissonant chords on a piano or guitar may be incomprehensible or even intolerable to bystanders – but to the recovering artist – it is the sight and sound of hope.  It is a start.

And tomorrow, we can do it again – perhaps with a bit of color, or a softer beating on the drums.  And soon, if we have the courage to just keep going – we are likely to find the truth we forgot:  there actually is more we must create – and we can – we must.  One step (or stroke or tune) at a time.

 

Give Me a Break!

Being a disciple of The Artist’s Way means I write “Morning Pages”; a free-flowing, unedited series of pages in which I dump my brain on to at least 3 pages of handwritten musing.  Today’s musing concerned what I’ve come to understand about asking life to “give me a break”.

Almost every time in my life that I have uttered (or screamed) those words, no real break was forthcoming.  I’ve made this plea, at one time or another, to family members and employers, to lovers and friends, to life in general, and to God.  Rarely did I experience the receiver of my petition saying, “You know, Debra, you’re right.  I should give you a break.  Here you go”.  Nope.  My demand for “you” to “give” me a break usually landed of deaf ears.

And then I discovered what may very well be the reason.  I started from the false premise that I needed you to be the giver of whatever solution I sought.  I do need you – for a lot of things – but when I need a “break” – it turns out that I need to give it to myself. And, even if others wanted to give me a break, none can do so completely.

If we are arguing, you are most likely going to stand your ground, continue to try to prove your point or to somehow make me see the issue your way.  If we are arguing, I am very likely to take the same stance from my point of view.  If I need “a break” from that argument, you are not in a position to give it to me.  I must provide my own solution.  Ironically, in this scenario, my solution seems to be to give YOU a break.  To consider your point of view as equally valid as my own, whether I agree or not.  When I do so, my own internal tension subsides and the “break” I seek begins.

debra linker, painting, acrylic, flora, flower, lotus,

Uncertain Times
$150

I am an active, energetic, and often intense person. That describes my core.  A side-effect of my personality is to let things spin around in my head (and heart), and, if I am not conscious of it, begin to twist on itself, like a spring being squeezed tighter and tighter.  As I feel the need to demand that something or someone give me a break is the very moment that internal spring is about to be suddenly released from its coil.  If you’ve ever compressed a spring and suddenly let it go – you know the result.  It flies off in some unpredictable direction and if it’s been squeezed tightly enough – it will likely break whatever it encounters.

As I realize that I am the only one who is responsible for giving myself a break, I can reduce the tension on that spring and let it uncoil gently.  The result is always in my favor.  Always.  How, you might ask, do I begin the process of giving myself a break?

Most of my techniques are not news, and all are simple.  Breathing deeply helps.  As does exercise (especially yoga).  Routine healthy nourishment reduces the frequency of my internal coil tightening.  Journaling.  Meditating.  Talking with a friend.  All things we hear suggested as stress relievers.  But for me – and this is the point of today’s monologue – the biggest thing is to REMEMBER to GIVE MYSELF a break, and to stop looking for that from some external source.  Just the very words, “Debra, give yourself a break” seem to trigger the beginning of the relief I seek.  Just that.  Remembering that it is MY job to give myself a break.  And reminding myself that I do, indeed, deserve one.

 

Ambiance

Passionate PIMA SOLD

Want to know more about why journaling is so important – take this Intensive Journaling class!

It’s often early – very early.  My internal alarm clock seems to prefer a 5:30 a.m. setting, even on weekends.  First things first:  coffee.  And then, when I am faithful, I settle in for a round of Morning Pages – or perhaps you would recognize it as “journaling“.  Yes, writing.  Yes, with an actual pen on actual paper.  And yes, ambiance is a vital part of my process.

I have a favorite place – my sofa, in a room with large east-facing windows, beautiful plants, and my art on the walls.  This sofa has held me through many tortured writings, let me lie in the arms of its plush pillows as I’ve cried, held my friends as they’ve told me of their dreams and sins, and supported me through heart-ache and long nights watching Hell’s Kitchen and Hugh Dillon (Yum!).  It is my place of refuge.  It is the place where, when I am done torturing myself with insecurities and self-doubts, I can launch in to my day of creative living…or try to.

As well as the ambiance of the room, I have a few other requisite items that add to the depth and holiness of intensive journaling.  No, it’s not (necessarily) zen music and candles (although that never hurts).  These items are practical; but while they are at it, they must also be beautiful, preferably artistic and hand made, hopefully purchased locally, or from an independent business.  My journaling must haves are:  coffee mug, journal (with handmade paper when life is really good!), and writing instruments.

Here are a few of my favorites, with links to the creators’ websites – which I hope you will visit and be inspired to shop.  You’ll find I am routinely promoting indy-artisans.  They are, after all, my favorite kind of people!

Etsy - ArtistsLoftPpaquin1

Picasso Style Coffee Mug

You’ll find this mug at Patricia Paquin’s Etsy shop for $37 (until it’s sold!).  I have a wide range of coffee mugs – this is not one I own – YET!  I like her sassy style.

 

 

Journals – this is where I would go broke if discipline didn’t reign me in!

Etsy - WeeBindery - DL

 

This beautiful journal is one I purchased from WeeBindery (also an Etsy shop).

 

While exploring other journal makers for this article, I found a few places to refer to you that literally made my heart sing!  Look at these!

Artisan Graham Journal 1

 

 

 

 

Handsome, bold, strong!  (Some of the things my dreams are made of!)  This journal is made by Artisan Graham of Montana.  Their journals can be purchased here.

 

 

Bibliographica Journal 2

 

 

 

 

Louise, of Bibliographica, an Auckland, New Zealand artisan, made this unique journal that is creative and sexy and on the very top of my wish list!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etsy - PaperUlixis Mini Notebooks

 

 

Leather journals are not my only recommendations!  I often refer artisans whom I just simply adore them, and anything they make.  PaperUlixis is one of my favorites for mini-journals.   Her work is sweet and sassy, smart and fun, pretty and functional … and that pretty much describes Uli.

 

PENS

I can personally recommend the craftsmanship and excellent shopping experience of buying hand-crafted pens from Jen’s Pens (as I own several and love them!).

Etsy - JensPens - DL

And now – for the part of intensive journaling that actually matters the most to me (well, with the possible exception of the coffee) – handmade paper.  Who doesn’t love the feel of a pen or pencil scratching across the hills and valleys of gentle lumps in the paper?  Who doesn’t watch ink spread just a little as the fiber soaks it in like a thirsty desert plain engulfing spring rain?  Who doesn’t hesitate, for just a moment, before they scar their sacred words across the clean cloth of a pristine page?  Who doesn’t crave journaling just so they can jot their private lunacy on hand made papers?  Come on.  I know it is not just me!

Cate Robbins is a brilliant artist and teacher (visit her website and class schedule).  She also makes some of the finest, most creative collages I’ve ever seen.  I love, love, love her work!  Check out this journal (and she has lots more at Robbinsart on Etsy).

Etsy - Cate Robbins Thoughts Journals

She paints, she teaches, she collages, she makes journals, she has family and a farm, and STILL, she finds the time and energy to make paper!  She is one of my local heroes, for sure!

Etsy - Cate Robbins Paper

Wouldn’t you just love to write your Morning Pages or Dear Diary secrets on this paper?  Wouldn’t it be fun to scribble across the colored dots?  Be careful – your mood and energy might just increase enough to bounce you right off the sofa … and in to your day of Creative Living!