The 2nd Outlet
Blake, famously, illustrated his poems. Henri Michaux was an accomplished and renowned artist as well as a “master” prose poet. Archie Ammons painted (my friend Brian Clements owns a bunch of originals). Flannery O’Connor too. And she recommended it for writers.
And I recommend “it” too. And by “it” I mean some other form of creativity besides writing. “Real” writing (ha ha). Even blogging (??) can be this 2nd outlet of creativity.
I draw and smear around on paper. And take photos of it. And I find it quite rewarding. And in some way(s) I am sure this enhances and complements my writing.
But, as with anything else (wine, women, werewolves, etc) the 2nd creativity can become too much. An obsession. A distraction. (Blogging !!!!)
I’m not sure how successful I am in keeping the different disciplines in good check but one solution for me is to write and smear at different times of the day. And, in general, to just keep an eye on the situation.
I’m guessing that many of yall have a 2nd creative outlet and wanted to know how you keep it useful without it becoming a harmful distraction ? (that being said some writers may well be better artists or whatnot and, so, the 2nd creative outlet SHOULD take over…..)
Tags: archie ammons, werewolves
I like this post, and I will think about it today.
It harkens back to your post about “the edge”, I think, for me at least, because, even though I blog, and I draw, and I make lists (not “real” lists, “creative” lists, kinda obsessively), (and I make comments on blogs), my first “response” when I read this post is “I drive around Oakland”, as if that’s my “2nd creative outlet”. It’s a distraction, definitely, and it “wastes my time”, maybe, ‘cuz I’m always feeling this annoying little pull like I should be “doing” something else, but it’s not “harmful”. My brain goes “somewhere” and I experience a “flow”.
I’m feelin’ the call of the steerin’ wheel right now.
And I don’t have to be to work til after noon.
I’m happy.
(I do feel guilty about the gas thing, though.)
I like this post, and I will think about it today.
It harkens back to your post about “the edge”, I think, for me at least, because, even though I blog, and I draw, and I make lists (not “real” lists, “creative” lists, kinda obsessively), (and I make comments on blogs), my first “response” when I read this post is “I drive around Oakland”, as if that’s my “2nd creative outlet”. It’s a distraction, definitely, and it “wastes my time”, maybe, ‘cuz I’m always feeling this annoying little pull like I should be “doing” something else, but it’s not “harmful”. My brain goes “somewhere” and I experience a “flow”.
I’m feelin’ the call of the steerin’ wheel right now.
And I don’t have to be to work til after noon.
I’m happy.
(I do feel guilty about the gas thing, though.)
i’ve been thinking about this a lot because i just started taking piano lessons again after a 10-year hiatus. i know it will never take over, but it is important to make sure that practicing does not seem like a more pressing obligation (because of my teacher’s impending arrival) than my writing. what i like about playing classical piano is that it’s an entirely different sort of creativity–it’s the interpretive sort. i’m not composing, or making anything up, the way i am with writing–i’m just working on learning someone else’s composition and then, creatively, forming my own expression of it.
i’ve been thinking about this a lot because i just started taking piano lessons again after a 10-year hiatus. i know it will never take over, but it is important to make sure that practicing does not seem like a more pressing obligation (because of my teacher’s impending arrival) than my writing. what i like about playing classical piano is that it’s an entirely different sort of creativity–it’s the interpretive sort. i’m not composing, or making anything up, the way i am with writing–i’m just working on learning someone else’s composition and then, creatively, forming my own expression of it.
As a side note, I worked for Archie Ammons one summer. My job? Yard work, and going through massive stacks of his water colors. Basically, we sat in his basement, and he’d select one from the pile, then ask me what I thought about it. If we both approved (and this was a quick process, as there were hundreds of these watercolors), he put it in one pile. If neither of us liked it, it went into the trash. And there was a third pile, which were the watercolors he gave to me. I’m not sure what criteria we used when we selected the ones I was to have, but I got some really great work from Archie, who I miss deeply upon this reflection.
As a side note, I worked for Archie Ammons one summer. My job? Yard work, and going through massive stacks of his water colors. Basically, we sat in his basement, and he’d select one from the pile, then ask me what I thought about it. If we both approved (and this was a quick process, as there were hundreds of these watercolors), he put it in one pile. If neither of us liked it, it went into the trash. And there was a third pile, which were the watercolors he gave to me. I’m not sure what criteria we used when we selected the ones I was to have, but I got some really great work from Archie, who I miss deeply upon this reflection.
i get nice and relaxed and strangely edgey when driving around too,…. :)
i get nice and relaxed and strangely edgey when driving around too,…. :)
play us a song, Amy, play us a song :)
yes, sorely missed…. and i wonder if Brian Clements bought the stuff from the 3rd pile !!! :)
play us a song, Amy, play us a song :)
yes, sorely missed…. and i wonder if Brian Clements bought the stuff from the 3rd pile !!! :)
If you want one of Archie’s watercolor, Rauan, just let me know. I’d be happy to mail you one. Just need your address.
If you want one of Archie’s watercolor, Rauan, just let me know. I’d be happy to mail you one. Just need your address.
Diplomat: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385523793/ref=nosim/0sil8
Diplomat: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385523793/ref=nosim/0sil8
I like to sort things.
I like to sort things.
o, that’s be great,…. can you email me at ronklassnik2001(at)yahoo(dot(com)??
thanks !!!!
o, that’s be great,…. can you email me at ronklassnik2001(at)yahoo(dot(com)??
thanks !!!!