Wednesday, February 18, 2009

For the Artists I Love

Think what you like about Elizabeth Gilbert. This is like being tucked into a warm bed on a cold and trying night.

7 comments:

Cherie said...

Thanks for sharing that, Angela. While I'm not a writer I can see where her perspectives and experiences would be, indeed, very very comforting.

Anonymous said...

I'm crying. Oh how I'm crying. Even if there are no tears. Every discouraged, creative part of me is crying.

I hope I'm one of those artists that you love. I sure feel loved right now.

Angela said...

cherie,
this is a quote i have by my desk:

"no work of art is more important than the christians own life, and every christian is called upon to be an artist in this sense. [s]he may have no gift of writing, no gift of composing or singing, but each [one] has the gift of creativity in terms of the way [s]he lives her life. in this sense, the christian's life is to be an art work. the christian's life is to be a thing of truth and also a thing of beauty in the midst of a lost and despairing world.
- francis schaeffer

it's a good one. i think what resonates in gilbert's talk is that it's a truth that goes beyond writing, and really, just out into day to day living. show up for life, hey?

shannon,
damn, tootin' straight.

Angela said...

andrew! i was just thinking about you last night. i was going through my, ahem, manuscript, trying to decide if i should toss the whole kit and caboodle and there were your notes and drawings for that essay you helped me with. i love it when you pop up here.

Andrew Crick said...

Ah, I'm a regular Cinnamon Nest reader! Smiles and sucker-punches, it's all here :)

The video was very helpful. I've had the feeling that being creative for the last however long, has been like finding a tree trunk and floating down an alien river.

I find what Elizabeth says helpful, particularly when she talks about how the idea of creativity for the last 500 years has as a corollary the idea that you also need to fit the world inside your head to do it.

So now I float down my river, cheered by assorted Romans and Grecians :)

I've been working on a manuscript, too. I've sent you a Facebook link...

Angela said...

hey, andrew, nice stuff. the cover's really pretty.
so do you think you'll be done writing on time for the print date?

Cherie said...

Thanks, Angela. Schaeffer's quote is familiar to me and one that has inspired art in the every day for me - as a lifestyle. Thanks for putting it together with Elizabeth's talk. You are good for me. I'm a bit of a thick skull, I'm afraid.

I'm going to watch the video of Liz again. (I bought one of her books and am thoroughly enjoying it currently.)