At September’s Portobello West, I met an artist who’d cut off the top of her finger. The tip could not be re-attached, and she was looking forward to the dressings being changed so she could get a good look at the finger of her future.
I met another artist who had recently lost her father. They’d shared a studio, where he’d been both her teacher and inspiration. Without him, she was struggling to reconnect to her creativity.
At any moment, our circumstances may change and with it an artist’s life as we know it. If I lost the tip of my right index finger, how would my illustration style alter? As for writing, would I be able to feel the little nub on the J key? Could I strum a G chord?
When I was in my early twenties, I severely cut my left index finger in the kitchen. I narrowly missed a major nerve, escaping with an insignificant scar and nearly perfect sensation. But the incident made made me acutely knife aware.*
Meeting these artists–missing pieces of themselves–got me thinking about Carpe Diem. My healthy fear of finger loss–and a lot of gratitude for my ten digits–inspired me to get drawing! During lull times at the market that day, my hand flew over the pages of my sketchbook. I drew till the pencil lead was a stub.
I don’t want to draw from a place of fear, but I do want to tap into a now-or-never attitude. Because all there is, is now.
An artist who doesn't need fingers.
I do a lot of crafts. My studio is stuffed with the clutter to knit, sew, pattern make, embroider, cross-stitch, stencil, scrapbook, faux finish, make jewellery, and so on, and so on. I’m not particularly good at any of one of these hobbies because I don’t give them enough time or attention.
In the past, when I haven’t had the guts to belly up to my true artistry, I buried myself in crafts. I’m not suggesting any one of these past-times isn’t a true art form, but–for me–I used them to scratch a creative itch. While I was crafting, the need to create was quelled. But doing crafts was just a band-aid on a deep wound. In the end, the call to creativity returned, each time sharper and more insistent…because it was inspiration’s voice.
Why craft, when art beckons?
True artistic fulfillment comes to me through writing, illustration, photography, pottery and musicianship. The other stuff is noise. This fall, I’m cleaning out my studio. Why keep these materials lingering on the shelf when another artist could turn them into a masterpiece?
How will you seize your day?
Will you haunt the halls of Portobello West this Sunday?
The first 15 shoppers get to “Treasure or Treat”, and everyone in costume will enjoy free Market Membership, giving you free entry for a year plus discounts with participating vendors.
Portobello West Market
Sunday October 30
Creekside Community Recreation Centre
1 Athlete’s Way
11am – 5pm
$2 admission (Children 12 and under free)
Happy Halloween, folks!
* I want to take a course in correct knife handling and haven’t found one yet; if you know of one in the Vancouver area, please let me know! That’s knife handling for the amateur chef, but if you find a class for dagger throwing, that could be fun too.
Tags: art, creative writing, Edward Scissorhands, Fashion, illustraion, inspiration, Portobello West Market
