OUT WITH THE OLD
Before the Studio Edit
Out with the old, in with the new. The Irish have a tradition on New Year's Day of opening the front door and the back door, then they sweep out the old year. and sweep in the new.
That seems so appropriate considering the major “Studio Edit” I've been engaged with for the last two years. And in particular how I felt the need to get rid of all the special gear related to my surgery. In that case, I am delighted with the outcome of the surgery, but I'm not interested in reliving the experience through the objects associated with it. I suspect that that is a trauma response. But I don't care. I am feng shui-ing my life and I am quite happy to undo my ties to those experiences.
Speaking of ties. In the process of cleaning out every corner of my life. I unearthed this story I wrote - Tying the Knot - It was based on the knots that Mariners use, some of which had been taught to me by my father. Around the time I wrote it some famous author, unbeknownst to me, wrote a book based on the same motif. I do think that some creative ideas float out there and can land in more than one place at the same time. Elizabeth Gilbert has a wonderful story about that in Big Magic.
I aspire to being anal compulsive, but I have to hire-out. I create chaos when I work. Things are moved and abandoned on the floor. Since I dip my hands into the paint as I work, I'll pull multiple gloves off and leave them on my paint table. But I like to have everything in order when I start. Paints lined up by color. Brushes by size and type. A place for everything and everything in its place. It's largely because once I am completely engaged in painting, the last thing I want to do is stop and look for a tool or find out I don't have the paint that I need.
But the best reward for doing a major “studio edit” is that you get rid of all the stuck energy. What a relief. In fact, when I finally let go of something, like some tool I thought I'd use but never did, or some unwanted gift, or an expensive item that I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of, I will say to Emily, “I'm going to liberate myself from this item..” It feels to me as though these unwanted items stick to you and demand your attention. -- Oh yes, you again. That thing I do not want. -- At those moments, it's good to remember that space is also a valuable thing to have.