I halfway understand that to be a writer or an artist of any kind means I have to roll up my sleeves and do the work.
The other half of understanding this is knowing the real work is actually found in living, in engaging in my daily routines, in things like gardening or simply playing with my dog.
I have to roll up my sleeves and show up to write, but I have nothing to share if I am not first fully engaged in living, noticing and listening.
Being a Digital Artist does not tether me to the internet. It is actually the opposite. It is found in the ability to disconnect from the feedback, approval and the constant monitoring of my online presence.
I have to write for the sake of writing. I have to live for the sake of living, not for approval or applause. This freedom has given me back my lens of noticing and just listening.
For me, life is about living simply without becoming austere. What can I give away? What do I really need to live happily? And what is it that makes me happy?
What can I notice today and what are these things telling me? Why are they significant enough to be held in my memory?
Today I noticed the leaves in the birdbath
How everything looks polished in November blue skies -
This past weekend I noticed the grass in the marsh
I should pick up more shells -
Collect more rocks
Throw them back -
Take more pictures -
Garden more -
Live more
Notice more
Write more poetry…
Sharing these things online is what makes digital artistry so enjoyable to me. But the irony is that in order to get it – I first had to disengage from the addiction to approval that the internet gave me.
My digital space is like a scrapbook of poetry, photography, tiny lessons I have learned in the garden and wrinkled letters smelling of cedar trees. I find myself intrigued by others who are offering the same; simply living their lives and sharing the things they notice.
All of these things we do online; finding our niche’, our market, our readers, they simply come down to celebrating our lives. Not just the good moments, but also the vulnerability, the bad, the frustrations, the changes. When you share you find you are not alone and your readers show up.
Here is a short list of other digital artists I am currently following:
You might enjoy their beautiful photography, their short bursts of inspiration, their vulnerability and writing that cuts truth into juicy halves big enough to share.
Horse Dancing / Paula Josa-Jones – She asks the questions that get me writing.
A Big Creative Yes / Dan Goodwin – Dan is a creative coach. I recently connected with him on Google+.
Rhayne-A Map of My Planet - really inspiring photography and insight!
The Good Eye Project / Robin Anderson – more great photography and insightful posts!
Lauren Rushing’s Flickr Stream – This is a new flickr stream Dan Goodwin introduced me to. Really amazing!
They teach without teaching and lead without the need for followers by simply living and being brave enough to share their lives.
They lean into uncertainty, vulnerability and fear everyday and I honor them for that.
Who are the Digital Artists that inspire you the most?
Maybe you can join me here on Google+.
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16 comments
November 23, 2011 at 3:31 AM
Not only do you have a great way with words, you also have a great eye! Your photos are fantastic and truly thought inspiring. Some of them, like the one above, make for great mental vacations; you can really get lost in them. Yes, it’s certainly true that we need to get out and ‘experience life’ in order to be write about it. ‘Getting out there’ also affords us some downtime away from our daily grind that can certainly stifle our creative spirit. Moreover, it allows us some very important mental processing time. Strange but true: I’ve always tended to have very creative moments, especially for writing song lyrics, while riding buses … even city buses!
November 23, 2011 at 9:54 AM
I can see where riding on buses might be inspiring. All the people coming and going and all the different towns. Just being a passenger for a while sounds like a great way to travel. Glad you like the photography I find it to be a great way to stay inspired. I try to be honest with the photos I take. I don’t add too many effect unless I just have an urge.
November 23, 2011 at 4:20 AM
Nicole, thanks for sharing fav blogs of yours. A lovely way to discover the [cyber] world – through friends.
Thinking of which … in bygone days I used to have friends, seen from the distance, for reasons that were empty then, remain empty now … the realization of which hurting like an unfriendly pinch … Having acquired an ability to respond, I now take responsibility. To have friends and not listen to them, why have friends? Don’t, I answer myself.
November 23, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Do I hear what you are saying? That you had some old friendships that seemed hollow because there was no listening involved? You are right what is the point of having friends if you don’t listen or they don’t listen to you. I so hope you enjoy the links. I have come across some amazing talent on Google+. The conversation there is totally different than on facebook.
November 23, 2011 at 9:05 AM
It’s a time of austerity also for me – I must focus on the Things that Matter. It happens to coincide with Thanksgiving this year which brings to the spotlight those particular Things. Still mentally ticking them off while the 10,000 other things persist.
Holly
November 23, 2011 at 10:04 AM
But your art will surface through the 10,000 things. Taking care of your Mom and Mark’s school activities. If you can’t engage in gardening in the real sense then you life as it is should inspire you. Where is the romance in your day? Maybe it is found in balancing quiche and checkbooks while tracking across the front yard to your Mother’s house. The constant questioning of yourself is so human and so many others can relate to the struggle. The struggle of caring for your family while your art sits in the corner glaring at you with sad sullen eyes. I think as a writer I would find a way to squeeze in some haiku. Tiny bits of writing to just reflect what is. What is a quick form of art your could attend to? Maybe just playing with colors. Just thinking. What colors come up when you think of your trips across the yard?
November 23, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Great Post Nicole:
Really being an Artist —a writer is Living in the NOW & being conscious & ‘tuned in’ (Thru ALL my senses) to what is going on around me every day & every moment(not always easy:-)) btw. So I will follow your lead here….
* At 7:10 am this morning I noticed the raindrops making multiple ripples in the birdbath out our front picture window
* A few minutes later I took in the scene of a gray/black finch lighting on the birdbath, taking a drink or two, then diving in & immediately flying back out(Guess he was cold…LOL)
* At around 8:30 I was able to fully enjoy my 7 yr. old Granddaughters sheer joy, giddiness, & Passion as she sat for well over an hour practicing her cartooning(quite a feat for an active kid like her)
These simple pleasures in life are what real LIVING is all about
Take care
Matt
November 23, 2011 at 6:10 PM
The scene sounds beatutiful Matt. Maybe your Grandaughter is like that bird dipping in and out of the birdbath just figuring things out. Children and birds – what could be more zen? Well, maybe a cat. I have to believe that it was for moments like the ones you speak of that you chose this life you are living. You have a platform to celebrate it all set up. I bet there are dozens of others out there who are helping to raise their grandchildren. Others who are finding new eyes through the eyes of a child. I hear that it is different with grandchildren. You are more laid back and forgiving. With your own kids you just want everything to work out perfectly and you have such high expectations. You should maybe write about what you are learning from being a grandfather.
November 24, 2011 at 11:27 PM
You are following some great Digital artists form whom you will be able to learn a lot about Digital arts. Though I do not know much about digital arts but it attracts me a lot. Thank you for sharing this post.
November 25, 2011 at 7:37 AM
Nicole,
You use one of my favorite statements – “just show up”……I have been told many times that what I do is “show up”….. AHHH, the beauty of being present in the moment of life.
I smile,
I enjoy,
I live,
Thank you for your beautiful poem today,
In gratitude,
Nancy
November 25, 2011 at 11:02 AM
The digital artist I am impressive with is ……Nicole Rushin,HAHA
. I really like the poem you write. From your post, I start to really understand the life of digital artists. The subtle mood you described move and touch my heart.
November 25, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Well thank-you Sophia. I hope you are finding joy in your everyday.
November 28, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Hi Nicole,
Great poem! I totally agree with you when you said life is about living simple. Sometimes we complicate things and as a result we complicate life. It is truly wonderful to live life with freedom and enjoy its beauty to the fullest. Please don’t ever stop writing things like this it inspire us a lot!
November 29, 2011 at 10:31 AM
I love hearing that Kendra. It encourages me to keep going. I write because I love to feel inspired and in sharing my writing I really hope to inspire others. Thanks so much for your comment.
November 29, 2011 at 8:02 PM
In this era where writing/poetry blogs get less hits on search engines, coupled with the fact that there are less and less book readers rising up, the way seems “bleak” for literarists. However, true artists, whether digital or not, will continue to pursue the expressions of words and penmanship all for love and purpose. And it is to these very artists on which the future of poetry/writings/literature depends very much on, of whom this generation must learn to appreciate and support some day or another.
And yes, you are certainly a digital artist whom I respect and admire, Nicole.
November 29, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Hi Titus,
I just added a new plugin to my blog (replyme) so this response should land in your inbox. I want to make sure I am following up on the conversations here in the best way I can. I love the conversations blogging inspires.
The book reading is simply moving to digital devices. I read my email in bed every morning before I get up. I star the ones I want to follow up on and delete the rest. I see it as the new newspaper. I do still read magazines, though. I don’t see magazines going away anytime soon.
Poetry is something special though. You can read poetry online but there is nothing like a poem in the hand. Small, easy to publish chap-books will probably become even more prevalent as calling cards. Which is what they were originally for – for promotional purposes.
In my case, I find it gratifying to give my poetry away as free content. I have even thought about making tiny handmade paper books to hand out like business cards. I just started selling my poetry in Dream Boxes as gifts – we’ll see how that goes. I also now have a paid subscriber letter that is $5.00 a month. Because what I love to talk about are dreams. I love dream analysis. This is what my paid letter is about. Poetry just kind of opens the doors to converse about it.
So maybe the problem with many modern poets is the fact that they see their poetry as finite. I don’t see it that way. My goal is to liberate the word from the page. To let my writing take me where it may and to let it liberate me. Writing for journals might be nice but it seems confining to me. As digital poets and artists we have an opportunity to open the gates to greater things with our art and now with the reach the internet can give us – there are just no limits.
There are too many poets who are not being heard.
Thank-you so much for your support – Titus
Nicole~