Stuff

Whenever I work in my studio, I light some incense. This reminds me that no matter how mundane my activities, what I do is sacred. The smell of incense (green tea or lavender) keeps me focused on beauty.

My studio has for several years been piled high with stuff. Because I paint (acrylic on canvas), dye silk and other fibers, sew, embroider, draw, linoleum cut printmaking, and run a business selling my things, I have an enormous amount of stuff. I have a love / hate relationship with stuff. If I'm inspired to work, I want my materials NOW. But it takes a lot of energy to keep track of it all. In the next weeks I will be going through everything in my studio with one word on my mind -- ruthless. I want to go into my studio stripped of oughts and shoulds, of sentimentality, and remove everything that is holding me back from creating.

There are times when it is appropriate to strip down to the basics. There is a truth in simplicity -- in pruning back for new growth. Several years ago I had an art burning. I went through all of my art and pulled everything I hated, thought was amateurish, was unfinished. My friends who live in the country let me use their burn pile and I burned it all. The beauty of the flames licking then consuming my art was incredibly freeing.

Life is transient. Nothing we have will last, so why hold so tight to it now? I struggle to not be identified by my stuff. We receive a lot of messages about how what we own tells who we are, and I'm easily swayed. I like my collections, I like my art, I like my house, I like my machines (sewing, ipod, computer), I like stuff. What I don't like is the energy it takes to maintain all my stuff. And my energy (life force) is much more important than my stuff, so, in my search of beauty, truth, simplicity, sacredness, creativity, and all that truly lasts, I will be ruthless in my studio. And I will light incense to remind myself of the beauty of ruthlessness.