Does anyone else struggle with the challenge of finding just the right balance between reading (learning, consuming, watching, absorbing, travel, conversation, generally being a sponge) and drawing (writing, quilting, composing, collaging, baking, creating)?
I find it hard to put a good book down (recent case in point, Cherries in Winter: My Family’s Recipe for Hope in Hard Times, by
who, btw, writes here on Substack and illustrates her work with comics). At the same time, as I am reading, some part of my brain is thinking about how to respond to the book (piece of art, stageplay, fabulous busker in the subway) by writing something, drawing, or dashing into the kitchen to make something yummy (Colón’s book is full of family recipes).It’s an ongoing struggle. When I’m making stuff (in whatever form the creative gush might glob out) I’m longing to get back to whatever great book I’m reading or thinking I should finish that movie on Netflix (it can take me weeks to finish a single movie and, yes, if you are wondering, I generally have a stack of books I’m reading simultaneously).
Sometimes, like right now as I’m writing and listening to music, I can sort of multitask. But most of the time, the brain gates are set for either inflow or outflow and not both at the same time.
Similarly, when I’m absorbed in a good book or lost in a museum, I oscillate between wanting to spend hours in one spot (rereading a line or two, or lingering in front of a particular piece of art) and drinking in all that great stimulation in wild gulps, racing from gallery to gallery or flipping through pages so fast I can hardly absorb what I’m reading.
One trick I use to fuse input and output is to take a moment with a favourite quote, mull it over, and write it down.
In the glorious, busy, overstimulating world out there, pulling out a sketchbook and doing a drawing is about the only way I know to really slow down and stay in a moment long enough to really take note of where I am.
Do I have a preference? In or out? Absorb or create?
Like breath, of course, we need both in equal measure. Without life experiences (good or bad), there isn’t much to write about (or sketch, or capture in film or mount on the stage). Without relevant life context, as an audience member/observer/reader our experience of art pales when compared to an encounter with a piece of art/writing/music that connects directly to some personal life event, particularly when emotions are involved.
As someone who processes the world by creating stuff, anything worth seeing/doing/feeling doesn’t seem complete before I’ve had a chance to transform it into something else - the weird creative alchemy that comes from our attempts to understand/capture and share ourselves by connecting through art.
I am curious, though, whether you are more an absorber/consumer or a producer/creator - or whether you are a finely balanced blend of both.
Do tell. We can chat about it here in the comments, over in the chat, or in Notes, the latest way to keep the conversation going here in Substack-land.
I love your perspective, as I often am full of ideas that really tickle me but then fade away when I dont pursue them. Thank you that this juggling act is possible. I've become more cognizant of acting on the moment, and " activating" the creativity when its present. At least that gives it some grounding instead of an idea that floats away or is written over and over again on another scrap of note paper. Thanks for letting me know that productive "juggling " is possible.( I've tried actual "juggling" too) and perhaps need to pick up the balls again and become more proficient at it so this Energy would carry into my Life ! All the best, keep it up!!
I love this post, Niki, especially the photo of all the books. I too do the same--and the Colón quote is priceless. Congrats on closing in on a hundred and I so look forward to your post on https://innerlifecollaborative.substack.com and would like you, as a paying subscriber to do a guest post for me on https://marytabor.substack.com aka "Only connect ..." I'll promote you big time. Write me at <mltabor@me.com> I know you have this address, but here it is again so I can tell you how I do that and then schedule you. Love what you're doing here. xo Mary