A lot of what I do is try to seize the moment to savor something inspiring. This may be looking at a beautiful view (which I’m lucky enough to say I do a LOT), noticing and really appreciating a moment with my children, noticing the textures and beautiful materials around me, and taking the time in my busy day to gather these things for my sculptures.
Life is about taking the time to appreciate these moments. Everything else – all the hurrying, plans, and tasks often get in the way of this. My life is a constant balancing act in this regard. For instance, things have been very busy for me in the last few weeks with international visitors, my husband’s huge birthday bash, and the usual litany of tasks associated with raising four children age seven and under. And still, still I have seen and done some beautiful things that are creatively working in my mind.
Most of this starts with inspiration. My main inspiration comes from those fleeting, beautiful moments in life when you notice that you’re really living. You know those moments? The ones when you are truly in the present, noticing the colors, textures, and light around you. When you really listen to the sounds in your midst. When you stop and see the sudden beauty of someone in your family and it takes your breath away.
To me, these moments are at the core of life and this is what I strive to capture in my sculpture.
One jaw dropping moment for me was when I corralled all my kids down to our creek to take a photo for their Daddy’s birthday. You know how hard it is to get four kids to pose for a photo? It is tough. But oh, when they are all united, all there in that same moment together, all enjoying the same joke and the smiles ripple across their faces and through their bodies . . . now THAT is worth it!
Another was exploring Graveyard Fields in the Pisgah National Forest with my kids and British friends. The crisp air, snow on the ground, clear sky, cold refreshing streams and sparkly stones made my heart sing! My kids and I gather so many things for my quilts on adventures like this.
Another was when I was clearing up our yard getting ready for my husband’s party. I saw the most gorgeous twisty dried vines on some brush I was piling to burn in a bonfire. I took out my pocket knife and spent twenty minutes trimming them off the brush. Aren’t they beautiful? I can’t wait to use them in a quilt!
This is the kind of thing I do all the time. I see wild violets growing in the yard, pick a few and press them into a book. I see a dried poplar flowers and grab them quick before my kids can break them and rush them down to my studio. The kids bring me little things all the time too. I end up with a wild and wonderful variety of things to work with.
I think the main thing is to take the time to really live and enjoy the moment. Relax and let that moment fill your heart. It only takes a few minutes to stop and take something in.
My ultimate goal is to maintain a state of being where I’m taking the time to think about my internal motivations AND taking the time to appreciate the beauty of life as it happens. I use my creative practice to help me get to this state, and I want to help you use creativity to find this level of mindfulness in your life.
I’m currently working a “Guide to Exploring Your Creativity Mindfully” with a whole load of creative ideas to get you started. It will be coming soon!
Warmly,
Jenny
PS. If the thought of these mountain adventures is enticing to you, know that I’m currently developing a structure for you to come to Asheville, visit my studio and make collaborative sculptures with me. You can come on adventures with your family, gather beautiful things, and then make a quilt about it, (yes, even kids can be involved). Then you will have an artwork that you will truly treasure forever!
