at some point every artist knows well the moment. that point in time when a piece has reached a point of no return. that split second of realization. when the canvas is spent. the clay dry and unyielding. the watercolour paper melted, the knitting in tight tangled knots. the art is overworked. overwhelmed. too many layers of thick paint. too many mistakes. the canvas can only accept but so much new paint. at some certain time and place it can not contain anything else new. the canvas becomes heavy. tired. spent. unusable.
so then the decision. much has been invested in this work. there is a twining of the artist and the canvas that is real. palpable. there has been much time, cost, energy, emotion sown into this canvas. but that time is over.
it is not a rejection of the canvas, though the canvas never, ever understands. it is not a rejection by the artist, but rather, it is an understanding of the canvas. a realization of the qualities of the canvas. that the canvas does indeed have limitations. that there is only so much change a canvas can tolerate. it is but cloth.
so the artist must determine a course of action. in order to go forward and be free to create that which is in Him, there must be a choice. to move forward is liberty. to remain chained to an old exhausted canvas death. there are but these two options, life or death. there is no unhappy medium, no earthly limbo of nothingness in which to dwell. the wise artist knows well to leave that which can no longer bring joy. the joy is in the creating, not in the complacent acceptance of the inability to create.
so the old is put away. a new canvas is purchased. this is also costly. a first, cutting investment. a conscious decision. but everything has its price. everything must or there is no appreciation. no value. no love. no lust. no opening of oneself to new journeys of ecstasy, pleasure, pain and discovery.
so then the decision. much has been invested in this work. there is a twining of the artist and the canvas that is real. palpable. there has been much time, cost, energy, emotion sown into this canvas. but that time is over.
it is not a rejection of the canvas, though the canvas never, ever understands. it is not a rejection by the artist, but rather, it is an understanding of the canvas. a realization of the qualities of the canvas. that the canvas does indeed have limitations. that there is only so much change a canvas can tolerate. it is but cloth.
so the artist must determine a course of action. in order to go forward and be free to create that which is in Him, there must be a choice. to move forward is liberty. to remain chained to an old exhausted canvas death. there are but these two options, life or death. there is no unhappy medium, no earthly limbo of nothingness in which to dwell. the wise artist knows well to leave that which can no longer bring joy. the joy is in the creating, not in the complacent acceptance of the inability to create.
so the old is put away. a new canvas is purchased. this is also costly. a first, cutting investment. a conscious decision. but everything has its price. everything must or there is no appreciation. no value. no love. no lust. no opening of oneself to new journeys of ecstasy, pleasure, pain and discovery.
i get in the car and drive
stop the vehicle at the first art supply store
i hesitate a moment
then with all i am
run for the door
money in hand
to choose my canvas
giddy in the freedom
of the art
within me
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