Thursday, November 18, 2010

Phil Hansen has got it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tncwN7Hdyeg
Stumbled upon this video of Phil Hansen and he just blew my brains.  The dude's got it.  I mean talent, complex ideas and the ability to produce something fresh.   This humbles me.  Could make me jealous but that's just silly, so instead I salute him.  BRAVO Phil!you deserve all the recognition you receive and I shall be an admirer of what you do.....
It's funny about art.  It's so personal and specific to the artist, like Phil's work is what is important to him.  I like to think I'm an artist and yet I still get blocked on how to convey what is important to me in my work.  I opt for what pleases me instead.  I opt for visually interesting instead of sending a message. Sometimes I capture a moment that was particularly poignant, and this feels good. Yet I aim to put complex messages into my art and to do it in a fresh way.  That's a tall order and the key is in not pressuring myself.  That's a real buzz kill, "PRESSURE", a creative fire extinguisher....It's a trap and I am tuned in to it which helps me to sidestep it if I'm lucky...By suiting up and showing up, my art will evolve and go where it's meant to.  It's always changing and growing and I just have to get my ego outta the way.  My ego tells me it sucks, it's been done, what's the point, I should be doing something more pertinent, yatta yatta...real friendly stuff like that.  It never says, "Gee Carrie you are learning and trying new things, good for you.  Who cares if it isn't perfect, pretty and 'sale able"....I have to train my brain against the ego's negativism...it's like a bad guy with the dark suit and hat who creeps out from the dark alley and says I'm gonna get ya...the good news is I won't let him get me, I'm always just a few steps ahead of him,yet he's lurking and if I'm not careful he could grab me and then , "poof", I'm screwed....ok this sounds very mellow dramatic but it FEELS very real.  Those who create, understand the nerve wracking that goes along with the joy, the angst and the ecstasy...the creative blocks and the breakthroughs, it's all part of the creative process, and there's no better ride I'd rather be on........