Chapter 1.9
Good evening strangers in the dark! I thought that a suitable follow-up from the last post about having what you do be a daily practice would be to talk briefly about various sources of motivation, drive, and yes (because inspiration is not necessarily just for amateurs), inspiration.
One of the most important things in life no matter who you are, where you live, or what your profession may be is to be well-rounded. Putting oneself in the path of as many experiences as possible is essential, for creativity is not fostered without it. So therefore first on the list of sources should be that which is around you. The Bohemian recently returned from a visit to London, England and was served with a reminder as to just how important travel is to inspiration. Sure, there are examples of many well known creative spirits who stayed in the same city most of their lives and were content and successful at what they did. Nevertheless more often than not is it through experiencing the sites and sounds of the world, close and afar, that new ideas begin to form. They say that inspiration can often be found in the most unexpected places. Did Picasso expect to find and be influenced by the African masks and images he saw at the Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro (now the Musée de l'Homme)? Possibly not. But what he saw there went on to be one of the defining influences on his work throughout the rest of his career. You cannot in one place. Open your senses to the world, even the smallest bits are important in some way. Nothing is entirely devoid of meaning if the mind is kept open.
It is equally important to have figures of prominence in your life that can help you to understand what you're trying to achieve and why. Look to those around you in your everyday life that can provide your endeavors with a meaning you hadn't thought of before. Look to those that have prominence in the world, someone that has found success.
These do not need to be people you know, or even people that are alive. The arts do not evolve from lower to higher states. This is something that at times has been believed (see: abstraction), as the power of the new tends to overpower honest reflection. Anyway, I digress. Art changes, but it is not any better now than it was 200 years ago (some might say it has in fact devolved, but that's a matter for another day). No matter what creative endeavor is pursued, looking back and absorbing as much from the figures of the past as possible is vital to knowing the path ahead. Everything is built on a foundation, even something as personal as thoughts and ideas.
Of course, the most important source is yourself. This may not be surprising coming from someone with the name "Bohemian", but I believe it holds true for everyone. It may take time to develop that inner fire, but rest assured that it can be achieved. Take encouragement from all victories, big or small. These victories are the proof that you're on the right track. The key is to never give up, to take great consideration in the smallest parts of life as well as the biggest parts. To demonstrate, lets bring in the Bower bird:
-The male bower bird of New Guinea and Australia creates elaborate nests during breeding season to attract a mate. These nests serve only as areas for courtship display and are used and improved for several years. The bower bird chooses an open site among the base area of a tree, and sweeps it clear of leaves. The bird then builds the structure (bower) from carefully chosen twigs that he sticks firmly in the ground. The bowers floor is decorated with brightly colored flowers and fruit. More often than not he fails to attract a mate in the first few attempts. He notices what didn't work and attempts to make it better. It never gives up.
Like the Bower bird, a creative person must always always push forward. Like a high quality sponge, a creative person must absorb everything and hold it in. There's nothing outside the realm of inspiration. I'd like to end this evening with a cliche. Everyone, the world is your oyster.
ns)
