Letting go to move forward
Sometimes, you have to let go. It can be as simple as throwing out the pile of papers on your desk or as difficult as distancing yourself from someone that isn't good for you.
It's hard to let go. You have good reasons for hanging on to something; you might need it someday, someone else might need it someday, or you're going to finish it someday!
The problem comes when our stuff or our poor relationships start to become more than we can manage. And it's not just the physical manifestations but the mental heaviness it can cause. When we have too much stuff, we have to organize and manage it. We have to store it.
There isn't any room to breathe. You don't have the capacity to surround yourself with what really matters to you.
It's not just clutter in your space, it's clutter in your mind.
Let go of the guilt and shame of too much stuff. Sever the relationships with social vampires, even if it's family.
Or, tear up and burn unfinished artwork.
Release what is no longer serving you so you can breathe again and move forward.
Are you a collector or a purger?
I just discovered you through JD Hillberry’s promotion of past students. He is a great teacher! I told him he made me feel like a beginner – which is a good thing! If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll always get only what you’ve always gotten. I tell my high school students this all the time in class.
Your artwork is awesome. A lot of it really resonates with me. One question though, upon seeing you burn past works. Have you considered saving it in a portfolio, then in periods of creative drought (if you have them) go through those past “unsuccessful” pieces, and use them to recreate something else. Perhaps they become a collage background with new work on top. Or the torn or cut pieces become a new work in and of themselves such as a self portrait made up entirely of the pieces – a “rediscovery” if you will. Just a thought. At any rate, I’ll be following you and checking in on your work. Maybe we’ll meet someday at another JD workshop. Thank you for sharing so much!