Read My New Article In Full...

'Leaf Notes'

My article titled 'Are You Mistaking Arrogance For Humility?' has been published at Creativity Portal ~ follow this link to read the full feature.... or go to:

http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/a/tatiana-kuzyk/mistaking-arrogance-humility.html

On a separate note, last night I finished my latest painting, as seen above, ~ 'Leaf Notes'

New Article... Read An Excerpt Before It's Published!

I finished working on an article last night titled 'Are You Mistaking Arrogance For Humility?' ~ as soon as it'll be published on Creativity Portal I'll place a link in sidebar. But for now let me share an excerpt below.....be the first one to see it!

Artist’s Musings On Creative Process...

Are You Mistaking Arrogance For Humility?

From a personal experience I can tell you that whenever I’m feeling creatively congested, AKA ‘blocked,’ I’ve had, somewhere along the way, applied a mental-emotional break to the creative flow that’s awaiting its expression. I believe that creativity is NOT of our own making and our free will does not give us a right to determine WHAT will come through us into this visible, 3-Dimensional reality as defined by our five senses. Our control of the process (read ‘interference’) is limited to stalling and stopping our creative expression, or making the so called ‘aesthetic adjustments’ that we hope will render our work ‘acceptable’ by adhering to some illusory standards.

Oftentimes the thwarting of our creative self-expression begins when the process moves into the unfamiliar territory. Perhaps we feel attracted to experiment with a new technique, a new genre, or a new color palette and decide to give it a try. Our uncertainty deepens as we hesitantly begin to explore the unknown creative vistas. Soon two old and familiar companions join us on our journey – doubt and criticism. In order to make their presence tolerable we try to mitigate (read ‘control’) the path of our creative journey. We start running towards the ever-elusive sense of safety by changing the course and heading back for the familiar grounds, or out of panic and desperation, we stop ourselves dead in our creative tracks altogether.

American Heritage Dictionary defines the word ‘humility’ as 'being free from pride and arrogance.' Yet way too often we put the proverbial horse before the cart by mis~perceiving arrogance for humility, particularly in our creative life. The popular message, often clothed in the garments of authority, loudly and unanimously declares the extent of our creative ability, AKA 'talent.' And herein lays the hidden arrogance. ....

.... to be continued....

This morning I've been reading A Course In Miracles and I came across a passage that's very relevant to the subject matter of my article (once you can read it in its entirety).

"The result of genuine devotion is inspiration, a word which properly understood is the opposite of fatigue. To be fatigued is to be de-spirited, but to be inspired is to be in spirit." ACIM T4.1.5-6

In my article I talk about commiting oneself to one's creative self-expression as a Sacred Practice. I use the word 'sacred' in context of devotion and dedication to the Process versus the outcome, or the final product. I sincerely believe that not only we can free ourselves permanently from the so called creative blocks by re~gaining a true perspective on what this beautiful gift of creativity really is that each one of us is so abundantly blessed with and what our role is in its expression. Additionally, we can endlessly deepen and fearlessly explore ever more depth of this creative well within... by expressing our creative gifts and sharing them with one another we begin to remember who we authentically are..... perhaps because our creative journey is a channel to bring the beauty from inside ~ out into the world. What a relief that is in contrast to the endless search for our own identities in the world outside first and trying to bring it inward second..... finally we can let go of this emptiness that is associated with searching for our beautiful Selves in the external.....now we can see it where it always has been and the wonder and beauty of our expression is a timeless witness to who we are in Truth....

Send Page To a Friend

ScanCafe, the award-winning photo scanning service: rated best by CNN Money, raves from Popular Photography and pro photographers.

Re-Claiming Authentic Yearnings...

Ohm Nama Shivaya

22x28

Colored Pencil on Cardboard

~ Writing that mantra in Sanskrit and English helped me find my center~

I've been pondering the subject of Authentic Yearnings as they relate to creative self-expression and life in general.... There's always a loud mental noise going on in our minds and only in moments of stillness, when the agendas of all outside demands get suspended, even for a brief instance, can become aware of something deeper that we'd like to express forth in our lives. Perhaps that's what the term 'Growing Up by Growing Down' really articulates - how much of our conscious attention and focused effort we can muster to identify and THEN follow Our Truth.... what Truly matters to US, because after all, We, OURSELVES, are the only persons we will ever be fully accountable to ~ for our lives' tapestry comprised of events, encounters, and expressions..... How do we choose to experience ourselves in time that each one of us has left here.....

I'm writing these words as much to you, Dear Reader, as to my Self.... I've come to realize that we can never relax into a comfortable oblivion of assuming that since we'd made some head way on our Authentic Yearnings, we'll continue to follow our Hearts from now on ~ I wish that was the case.... ? Or maybe not. Our Authentic Yearnings change as we change, as we move through periods of transitions, enter the next stage of our psycho-emotional development, or simply make a switch from a strawberry ice cream flavor to a rich, decadent buttery pecan..... So, too, we must go back within and check if our Authentic Yearnings from a year ago STILL are Authentic, or perhaps, unbeknownst to us had turned into 'musts' that we continue to impose upon our battered souls unaware that our once Authentic Yearnings had transformed into 'Authentic Replicas' ~ that's the expression used by sellers of 'Authentic' Rolex Replicas...

My feeling is that in this global period of transition where each one of us is immersed either first hand, or through a circle of the people close to us, in financial~economic worries ~ being able to even identify our Authentic Yearnings seems like a true Mission Impossible.... So, how do we begin to find our footing in the chaos that touches us internally, externally, or both??? How do we sooth our petrified inner youngster and find refuge and healing in creative self-expression? Even for a moment. Just for today.

I don't have 'the' answer for You. You hold it within, and that's the best answer and the only one that will work for You. I can only share my, often hesitant steps, on my own path ~ hoping that my story will encourage you to keep on going, or perhaps finding your path again. Anew. Carrying a flashlight of hope in one hand while moving to the rhythm of your heart beat with remnants of courage in the other.... one foot in front of the other...... walking on. Why? Because there's no other alternative if you want to live Your Life as Your Self. Of course that's Your decision to make in the first place.

Storms and any extreme weather conditions carry in their own definition a very valuable for us characteristic, namely they are Transitory.... sooner of later it WILL stop pouring, the violent winds WILL subside and the Sun WILL come out again. In the meantime, while I'm waiting for the winds of outer turmoil to settle down, I pray more than ever before in my life, I feel attracted to explore iconography of different religions of the world and to incorporate it into my own artworks.... I read spiritual literature and try to stay present in the NOW as much as I can.... while driving, writing, artmaking, or in the company of others.... I find free-hand writing ( at least three pages ~ AKA Morning Pages) very healing and centering, though recently I do them at different times of the day.... Spending time in nature or just going for a short walk around a neighborhood is a very powerful remedy for a so called 'inner confusion' ~ I feel that by walking I am actually walking In-Ward toward my inner Self ~ the answers always come and provide me with a much needed solace.... just for today, just for an hour.....

How do you re-connect to your Authentic Yearnings? How do you stay centered on your Path as it winds and meanders?

Creative Re-Charging....

I've been going through a lot of practice of how to let go or relinquish the endless demands of my mental to-do list..... I've realized that it seems easier to succumb to the routine of crossing the items off the list than trying to re-evaluate the list's content in the first place, not to mention learning to give myself some 'room to breath' physically and emotionally.

Perhaps, unbeknownst to me, I've arranged for some creative waiting period and since in the meantime my to-do list is growing exponentially I'm trying to find my footing one day at a time by learning to let the present moment BE.... the way it is, not the way it allegedly is 'supposed to be.' And somehow, if I allow myself to acknowledge and appreciate the many little 'Now Moments' I've been actually blessed with, I am at awe and I feel very grateful.... I've engaged my creativity outside of my art making space in a very tangible and fun way, though I've been 'only' working on the same painting I'd started when my company had arrived 3 1/2 weeks ago. Let me share some fun adventures that's been nurturing my starving Creative Spirit so far..... we rummaged through a huge flea market and I bought a shopping bag full of loose pages from old books and an old atlas with beautiful maps and imagery ~ all for $2! (I incorporated some of these pages in my painting ~ see the picutres below). Past Friday I visited the Art Institute downtown Chicago on a free admission night and had a blast at the contemporary art exhibition hall! Another afternoon of rich stimulation of all senses took us to the Chinatown where we wondered through small shops stuffed to overflowing ~ floor to ceiling ~ with oriental goods, funny smelling foods, and good-luck charms....

I love the shot of a Chinatown alley...

My creative Self has also been nurtured at home where I would work on my painting while my friend would make another beautiful greeting card alongside her little daughter trying to mimic her mommy.... somehow we all created in unison bringing into visible a new creation from the depths of our imaginations.....

I love to work with my hands while listening and paying attention to what's going on within.... since the end of last week my mediums of choice, for the moment, have been pieces of crown moulding, baseboards, casings, and hardwood flooring.... and fun adventures with large amounts of latex paint thanks to 2'' brushes that are waaaay below art supplies' stores prices.....all this 'creative chaos' culminating in an Extreme Master Bedroom MakeOver.... I find this type of exerting physical creative activity rejuvenating and healing. What's more, it's a great way to shut the inner critic's voice up while your arm is tired from making wall acrobatics with a big paint roller.... it's so much the opposite when I paint at my art table using small, in comparison, tools and brushes.... when each stroke or color choice is being taken under debate. How can a room be completely painted in less than 24 hours and a 2'x2' painting has seen already over a dozen of work hours and is not even half-finish yet? I realize I'm trying to compare pears to apples, but I believe there's something to be learned from physically strenuous creative process when it comes to inner allowing and creative co-operation.

My company will be returning back home in two weeks.... in the meantime I'm seting my intention of stying more current with my posts.

P.S.

I'm curious how is your summer flowing? Do you find your creativity following the changes of the season? Have you noticed that some periods of year are more creatively fertile for you then others?

Below are few snapshots of my painting titled: 'Fehu' ~ I'll delve into my inspiration in creating this piece once it'll be finished.

Creativity As A Spiritual Practice....

I think the above title may quiet possibly become a subject matter of my Master Thesis, somehow I feel, not only a very palpable attraction to it, but Life in general may be sending me many 'practical references' or 'source materials,' if you will.... In fact I had a meeting two weeks ago in which I was discussing my Mandala Workshop and out of the proverbial 'blue' I declared: I want to do a free public talk titled: Creativity As A Spiritual Practice.... I still have no idea where did the idea come from, most likely from that old, familiar place of Not-Knowing, to which I connect to whenever I put a brush to the canvas or let my fingers hit the keyboard....

The reason I decided to discuss this particular subject today lays in an e-mail my girlfriend forwarded to me. It came from a creativity coach who specializes in writing for publication, or at least that's my impression. For a long while I've been having a mental dialog with creativity coaching community, particularly when I check out new articles at Creativity-Portal.com. Part of me feels that voicing my opinions may seem just a tiny bit.... well, not supportive, or perhaps creatively thwarting.... But it is only at the first glance. Let me elaborate....

I sincerely believe that creativity coaches make great contribution to one's birth of his/her own Creative-Authentic Self ~ connecting to and trusting one's authentic, inner voice and FOLLOWING it, regardless of any bullying, critical, or harassing voices to the contrary. However, in the process of unearthing and embracing our True Self with an assistance of a creativity coach, or even a therapist, the opposite happens..... we replace our inner dialog that consisted of many self-limiting or internally oppressive messages that had made the free-flow of creative self-expression virtually impossible for us, with, yet another, outer voice - one of our coach - that we adapted in place of our very own, once again. Granted, as adults, we consciously invite a nurturing and supporting narrative, but in the process we continue our dependence on someone else's approval, opinion, standard.... you name it. In other words, our inner story continues along the same script, we are only introduced to new characters portraying the same, old and familiar archetypes.

So, what is one to do when a creative block seems to take a permanent place in one's life and coaching may feel like a 'right choice' in assisting you to move back into the Flow perhaps for the very first time in your life? Of course dealing out any advice at this point would make me sound like a new disguise for the same, old dynamic that perpetuates one's outer-oriented search. What I know for sure form my own experience is this..... It is one of the thoughest, most arduous, often frantically frustrating, yet UNBELIEVABLY rewarding task of growing up, by growing DOWN, within.... regardless of your chronological age. Creative self-expression is a natural state of Being for every human being. Nobody needs to 'learn' how to be creative. You already ARE! Yes, you may want to expand your proficiency in certain channels of self-expression that you are naturally drawn to, but there IS NO school for creativity.... how can it possibly be? No ONE can bestow creativity upon you or take it away. Creative self-expression is governed by our exercise of free will to the extent of our willful cooperation with what is coming through, or conscious censorship and blocking of it. The only part of our own experience on a creative journey is our giving-into it, ALLOWING, being a witness, embracing our gifts with an awe and gratitude..... no more standing in its way ever again....

At the end of the day, nobody cares or gives a %^&&$%^ if you live your life by cultivating the beauty of your gifts that are yours to share. Through embracing and courageously expressing your Inner Gift you come to SEE your Self, to RE-MEMBER your SELF, and to let the world Know you through the beauty of your creative self-expression.

Nobody can tell you when you are ready to 'walk' creatively all by yourself, without any help, assistance, or mental-emotional props.... Only YOU can give your SELF a creative permission to live creatively.

Here's a fun and meaningful tool for your consideration ~ Creative License. Fill it out with your name and print it! I suggest more than one copy. Above all else, FRAME IT! And display it proudly ~ at your office, business, studio, hallway.... Use it as a re-minder of who you ~ at your Core. Perhaps most importantly, use it as a re-minder of your creative obligation to your Self and everyone your life touches. Here's the link: Creative License.

P.S.

Today I dropped off my collage series at the Learning Expo.... I'm grateful for how creatively explosive the last four months of my life have been. In the meantime I'm making a bit of progress on another 2'x2' wood panel and looking forward to participate in the Expo's workshop on Friday morning.

Be Still And..... Create!

I feel that for next five weeks I'll be more of an observer than an active participant of a creative process.... Let me explain. My company has arrived last week to spend their summer time with us ~ two adults and a four-year old. So far, right now is the first time I'm home by myself trying to decide how to spent an hour of 'distraction-free' time..... I go for writing because for me this is the fastest way to re-connect within, find my spiritual and emotional balance, perhaps typing or long hand writing brings my Truth up to the tangible surface of my awareness. Artmaking moves energy at much deeper level for me, yet it's not as time efficient as writing my soul out. So, I listen and write.

I'm an extrovert with a strong need for time alone.... I love people, but a small group is preferred over a larger one. There's something about feeling emotionally and spiritually lost, 'out of tune' internally, when I find myself in a larger group ~ maybe C. G. Jung would elaborate his theories here by saying..... personal unconscious gives into collective psyche/unconscious....? Whatever. This meandering point I'm trying to express is the fact I've learned about myself not so long ago, namely being a hostess is my 'blind spot' ~ there's a lot of skills I'm proficient in, but not this one. I loose myself in the endless role playing and striving to fulfill everyone's needs ~ there's a set limit for how long my psyche will tolerate it..... next thing I know I begin to withdraw in order to search for my Self. Perhaps this precarious expression 'role playing' is at the heart of this uncomfortable matter..... role playing and living authentically are mutually exclusive modes of Being.... Just try to imagine for a moment; play a role of being creative. To me it is a pure oxymoron partially because my creative self-expression had begun, unbeknownst to me, the moment I decided to put a long list of pre-assigned roles into my mental re-cycling bin. Shortly afterwords I 'stumbled upon' what I call a 'creative hotline' ~ Julia Cameron's 'Artist's Way'.... that was almost twelve years ago and though, I've connected many, many 'dots' along the way my personal journey, there are still patterns to emerge....

But let me get back to my main intention for this post.... Creative Self-Expression. I've been witnessing something mysterious and beautiful. Somehow the energy of my 'Creative Zone' (that's 100% judgement FREE) has attracted my guests' attention..... I've shared all of my paper craft tools and materials at hand and all I can say is, that some kind of Creative Vortex has bursted open many channels of creative expression in everyone around! Today is a second day of over 5-hour long card-making sessions without any instructions or pointers whatsoever! The results are not only stunning design/composition~wise, but most importantly Creativity~Wise.

I truly believe that when we are in the presence of someone's creative self-expression reverence is in order.... it's so easy to stop this precious gift from flowing forth by offering either a so-called 'good' or 'bad' comment~remark.... one will injure our inner artist directly, the other will inflate the ego by handing it an 'exclusive authorship rights' to the artwork. At that moment a 'ready-made creative recipe' replaces fun, play, spontaneity, adventure, surprise, exploration, awe, letting our creativity happen and enliven us to the core of our being..... Both, 'positive' and 'negative' valuations of one's creative expression will shut down its uninterrupted flow abruptly.

As I've been practicing, what the Buddhists call 'being a compassionate observer,' by witnessing, one after another, a new greeting card being born, I realized that creativity is beyond, or rather completely outside of the borders, of one's age..... a four-year-old and a thirty-six-year-old, both tapping the Source of Beauty right in front of my eyes. Of course, any museum is a testament to time-lessness of art, but Art (with a capital A) seems soooooo beyond the reach of a 'mere mortal' ~ thus the origin of, a rather popular, misconception that timelessness of art is reserved for very, very few individuals, usually dead ones, who are proclaimed to be 'masters' or 'geniuses' by some deeply blocked, 'closet artists' masquerading as art critics or academicians..... I encourage each creative individual to write down her/his own Creative Credo that will become a rescue, a 'Creative 911 call' that you can read in times of self-doubt ~ when your journey is leading you through an unfamiliar territory and/or the critical voices are temporarily louder than the encouraging and nurturing ones....

I like to paraphrase an Old Testament quote 'Be Still And Know That I AM God' (Psalm 46:10) into: Be Still And Create..... At that moment any seeming 'creative block' becomes obsolete and yields to the flow of creativity....

Here's a sample of creative card-making by a math teacher with no, so called, 'art background'..... the only credentials that help us on our creative journey is Trust~Faith..... however your understand it. I deeply believe that the greatest lesson and mastery we will ever achieve/demonstrate is trusting and following this still, small voice within.....

How do you align yourself with your creative flow?