The Zone of Creativity
Why you need to be there and why it matters.
Untitled Iris. An abstract interpretation in watercolor, shown in progress. As tender green shoots push through the ground outside, I’m making this painting in honor of their arrival.
Creative nature is built into our operating system. The human one. Our enjoyment of life, sense of connection, and our ability to navigate this world depend on it. But for some reason, we’ve been conditioned to override its impulses and insist on logic instead.
If we aim for predictable outcomes via AI and nonhuman mechanical delivery, disillusionment will dominate as long as the human spirit is out of balance.
I’m wondering how long these fault lines, schisms of imbalance, have been active. And why is creativity absent from everyday life?
Creativity has been relegated to an elite group we call artists, which the art world is thought to be an extension of. Or is it the other way around? This trend of separation has been in progress for as long as the term artist has been used. It’s relatively new.
Muse Notes April
Misconceptions about art are common and increasing as humanity grapples with its natural desire to create. Our understanding of art has changed as the sheer volume and diversity of expression threaten to overwhelm us. With social media vying for the stage, we must come to terms with it all, even if absent from social media.
Solutions lie within the creative zone, and the human body provides a natural bridge. Inbuilt neural networks connect us with ourselves, each other, and the wholeness of life. These pathways must not be interrupted or corrupted. Our intuitive understanding of how to best navigate life is a real thing. Strengthening our connection to the life-grid of Mother Nature makes good sense.
Exquisite Paintings on the Nature of Flowers is a body of work based on a sophisticated visual analysis of Nature's frequencies = LOVE. My long-standing body of work, ongoing and now in phase two, began in the early 1990s and is the culmination of a lifetime quest—a sacred journey into the heart of Nature, beauty, and healing the myth of separation.
Being real can’t be faked.
Authenticity is a priority as the status quo, including the art world, recedes from its traditional role. Individuation and the internal push for sovereignty lead the way, setting the stage for rebirth. A renaissance is now in progress. From the chaos, humanity is building something new, and everyone is in on it.
Artists matter
The process-oriented life of an artist-creator defies logic. It is the epitome of long-term, cause-oriented stubbornness. Beauty, synonymous with truth, is healing. It is also dangerous because it tends to wake people up, which could start a revolution. Well, good. We’ve reached the end of an era that had a shelf life. It’s time to restore a healthy balance between logic and intuition.
Art imitates life.
The shift that’s happening asks questions such as: What is art? What is it for, and why does it matter? Aspirational pitches and programs range from good to terrible, offering advice that no one should take and everything in between. How to be a successful artist and get your work into a gallery: Do this one thing and [fill in the blank] for instant success.
But for artists, especially longtime creators, we do what we do because we have to. For us, it is an act of Love and a way of life. Impressing others and selling a product is not part of the picture. Being a successful artist takes high-quality attention, intention, and perseverance. I call it effortless, very hard work.
Got Talent?
In an industry that mirrors how the feminine aspect of life functions, creativity is a valuable commodity, something to be bought and sold. In the old paradigm, exploitation is perfectly acceptable. Well-meaning aspiring artists can get caught in its seductive vortex. The promise of pay conspires to use our creative nature to produce like a machine. It’s just blatant deception.
One hundred percent of the time, and without fail, disillusionment and burnout are the result. With an initial rush of energy, it’s off to the races as the creative process is replaced with shallow and unsustainable practices. It’s nothing new. Production line art has always been part of the art world. But it’s not what art is for or what drives us to create.
Personal rant
Artist materials and small industry producers of the things we love and use have been absorbed by huge conglomerates. The emphasis on quality is now secondary as the alliance between artists and the makers of materials continues to erode. Yet it’s the physical laws that dictate how paint and paper behave, how light refracts, and how materials perform, so we can achieve desired results. Sigh…
No matter
Increasingly, people want to live within the zone of creativity. It’s natural, it feels good, and we’re wired for it. It’s where our connection to all of life is. From here, it’s easy to know our place in the scheme of things. We feel more alive, and that’s worth chasing. Forget about the carrot.
Do what you love. Relearn to follow the prompts of your intuition.
By saying yes while in the zone of creativity, our physical reality is strengthened. We benefit in real and practical ways, and our loved ones catch the vibe. Creative pursuits like painting, drawing, and making music are always a way in. Enjoyment of the arts is another reliable on-ramp.
Hands are like computers, and they are designed for Love. Our physical existence is yoked to Love through what we do with our hands. No matter how skilled we are, it feels good to accomplish something with them.
As we practice our art, whatever it is, our bio-spiritual presence strengthens. Our precious human faculties must always be acknowledged, valued, and used for betterment. I think this is as real as it gets.
—Leslie