Creative Spirit Blog March 17, 2025 Putting Things in Perspective

The Inner Nest Acrylic on Textured Surface

“Creative energy is energy.  When we are worrying about creating instead of actually creating, we are wasting our creative energy”.  Julia Cameron

When I speak of perspective here, I do not mean the kind of perspective that is necessary when you are drawing or painting objects on a 2-dimensional surface to give the correct expression of their height, width, depth and position. (Which if doing realistic work, I do feel should be correct, no matter what style, medium or colors you choose to use.) 

I am referring to our perspective on life. It is a unique and individual lens through which we view the world, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and actions, ultimately impacting our overall well-being and how we interact with others. 

There are “the glass is half full people, and the glass is half empty people”.  I understand you can’t be one or the other every single minute of your life.  However, how we deal with things daily, and we meet adversity says a lot.  Some make the best of a bad situation and view them as an opportunity.  Others become stuck.

Our overall perspective on life and how we react to it influences our art and how we approach our art making. Why do we want to make it, what motivates us to make it, what outcome do we expect from the process of art making? 

The glass is half full people come to the art process with exuberance and an open mind, they are willing to “risk a glorious failure” and enjoy the process.  The glass is half empty people will struggle to get it right, and want a plan to get there because they don’t want to make a mistake.   But is there really a “right” in self-expression?  

“And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.”  Anai Nin

Having a positive perspective, and outlook on life, when we approach our art making is important. If we come to art with an open mind, and a willingness to explore, we will find infinite possibilities. It will help us stay curious and adaptable in an ever-changing world. 

When we are comfortable with uncertainty and exploring new possibilities, we build confidence in our ability to learn and grow. Our art making becomes more individual and creative.

“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.”  Sigmund Freud

My logo is “Perceptions by cALand” It reflects how I interpret sensory information I have gotten from the world. The meaning I assign to stimulus.  It is shaped however by my experiences and beliefs, which are influenced by my perspective of the world, life in general, and what I feel is important to me.

Perception is how we initially interpret sensory information, while perspective is the broader framework or lens through which we view and understand the world, shaping our overall understanding and interpretation of experiences. Our perspective of life influences how we approach most of our daily activities.  It affects our art making and all creative activities.

When approaching our art making, it benefits us to have a positive perspective. We need to find joy in the journey.  We need to see all the possibilities and not be tied to one thing. If we think positively the world open up. Enjoy the creative process . Be positive. Carolyn