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A co-worker recently asked me, “Do you paint?”
And
I replied, without hesitation, “Oh no.”
“Take
a Japanese watercolor painting class,” she encouraged. “Every
woman has a creative side to nurture.”
This
brief conversation inspired me to write this month’s review
on Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way (Penguin Putnam
Inc. $15.95). Ms.
Cameron is an active artist who teaches internationally.
Among her labels, she counts poet, playwright, fiction
writer, and essayist. She has credits in the theatre world
as well. Her
book is “a course in discovering your creative self, ” and
she fills the pages with inspirational quotes.
It was Picasso who said, “Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once [s]he grows
up.”
I
have had the privilege of indulging myself in a few creative
writing courses. The teachers usually start the class with
the same question, “Have you read The Artist’s Way?”
That stirs comments about Ms. Cameron’s “morning pages.” In
theory, Ms. Cameron says that every artist should set time
aside each morning to free write – at least three pages worth.
Now you may be saying, why should I buy this book? I have
no interest in becoming a writer.
The
art of journaling is one that helps keep a woman in touch
with her inner child--her artistic side, if you will. In this
process of disciplining yourself to write down what is on
your mind and in your heart, including your hopes and dreams--or
something as basic as your grocery list--you will be able
to learn what makes you tick. This process will open you up
to the creativity around and within you. Not limited to writing
or drawing, creativity can shine through gardening, cooking,
interior design, fashion or your career. Exercises in stream
of consciousness writing help to jump-start your thinking
processes.
Ms.
Cameron’s book is organized as a twelve-week program that
aids in recovering your creativity from a variety of roadblocks.
She states her case and shows how fear, self-limiting behavior
and procrastination are a few of the obstacles that keep aspiring
creatives from sitting at their desk to write, from picking
up a brush to paint, or from signing up for a pottery class.
As
Ms. Cameron explains, “One of our chief needs as creative
beings is support.” She continues by stressing that many artists
never receive critical early encouragement and therefore abandon
their true desires. They actually grow-up to be “shadow artists.”
For example, if your true dream was to be a photographer and
you find yourself selling cameras, then you may be a shadow
artist. Somewhere along the way, you lost your courage to
explore your artistic self and to endure the criticism that
often comes with self-expression.
If
you decide to purchase this book, invest the time over the
period of 12 weeks. If you are already too busy, then this
is all the more reason to make the time for yourself. Read
and learn about “the artist date.” Follow Ms. Cameron’s program
and ideally you will discover some virtues including strength,
abundance, possibility, integrity and a sense of connection.
You will uncover your creativity and learn about yourself.
Now that’s one class you should not miss.
Editors Note: Debra
Scala is the Director of Marketing at the East Meadow law
firm of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, and she teaches
“How to Market and Promote Your Business” at Hofstra University’s
School of Continuing Education.
Her email address is dscala@cbah.com.
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