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Making Art and Being in the Moment...A Risky Business


I get lost in a painting.  The more I do it, the more dramatically my perception of time alters.  The other day, I'd started on a new painting and, as usual, about 11 a.m. I went into the kitchen and put a pot of water on for more French Press coffee.  My studio is a small bedroom around the corner and and past the dining room from the kitchen.  Well, I got so absorbed in my artwork that all of a sudden I began to smell a funny odor and it hit me that I'd put water on a few minutes before.  When I got to the kettle it was starting to crust with no water left!!  I couldn't believe that I'd been painting for more than 10 minutes.  I checked my watch and it was noon!

 

There is something rather quantum theory about art making.  Time either slows down or speeds up as we get lost in the moment.  Anyway, it surely creates experiences of flow that get suspended in time.  This is rather risky as that level of living deeply in a moment of creativity can make us...late for appointments.....overcook the dinner....or burn the pot!  I'm sure you've experienced this.  In some ways, these times of flow are what we look for to bypass the boredom that can happen in work or daily life when we must do things in a rote way.  It is a blessing to have time to lose myself in these moments, even though I am reminded to step out of the flow and watch the clock now and then.  

 

What floats your boat that you are grateful for??  By the way, here's a sweet website a friend of mine began all about "gratitude" - something to consider as we enjoy our "flow" moments:  http://thegratitudehouse.org/blog/

 

 


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