creativity quotes | The Inner Path of Photography

November 9, 2016

“How to Trick the Muse – Sting”

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Photo © 2016 Eric Ryan Anderson, New York Times
From the New York Times, ‘A Word: Sting’
“With ‘57th and 9th,’ Sting Changes His Mind About Rock”

An interesting interview with musician Sting – thoughts about how he creates music, his most recent album, “The Last Ship” opera, and reflections on living life to the fullest.

I liked the end of this little story about how he created the songs for “57th and 9th:”

“And then I’d play a trick on myself. I’d lock myself out of my apartment, on the terrace in the cold, and not come in until I’d finished a lyric. I had a cup of coffee and a coat. It was one of those things to put myself out of my comfort zone in order to trick the muse into playing ball with me.”

Always open to new tricks to engage the muse…

March 4, 2014

Patti Smith on Creating/Staying with Your Work

Recommended Video for Today:

An inspiring talk by the musician/poet/artist Patti Smith at the Louisiana Literature Festival, August 2012. Experience only the first 2 minutes – and easily take heart. Listen to the total 6 – and say “yes” to life.

“One does their work for the people.
And the more people you can touch, the more wonderful it is.

You don’t do your work and say ‘I only want the cool people to read it.’
You want everyone to be transported or hopefully inspired by it.”

“Be concerned with doing good work.”

*****

“Life is like a roller coaster ride. It is never going to be perfect.”

May you honor that deepest part of you that naturally transports and inspires.

July 6, 2011

“It’s more like I’m having an experience than making a picture.” -Cy Twombly

From the New York Times obituary upon the death of Cy Twombly, July 5, 2011:

“In the only written statement that Mr. Twombly ever made about his work, a short essay in an Italian art journal in 1957, he tried to make clear that his intentions were not subversive but elementally human.

Each line he made, he said, was “the actual experience” of making the line, adding: “It does not illustrate. It is the sensation of its own realization.” Years later he described this more plainly. “It’s more like I’m having an experience than making a picture.”

The process stood in stark contrast to the detached, effete image that often clung to Mr. Twombly. After completing a work, in a kind of ecstatic state, it was as if the painting existed and he barely did anymore: “I usually have to go to bed for a couple of days.”

Amen. Exactly.

RIP, Cy. I’ll miss you.

(Italics mine)

(Full article here)