Hand Crafted
I believe in things that are hand crafted.
I value the skill and time it takes to make something by hand, maybe because I am so inept at making things with my own hands.
I do not really know much about art and design; I know what I like, which is usually what I have taken the time to recognize and appreciate. I do know that the most important thing about making art is actually making it.
Creativity is not so much about coming up with the idea for me. I can understand things conceptually. The challenge for me is turning my concepts and ideas into something real.
It may be that I am not patient enough. It may be that I am too much of a perfectionist. It may be that I am afraid of committing myself. The process of getting what I see in my heart and mind out into the world through my hands is a real challenge for me.
I appreciate people who are better at it than I am, who can express their ideas and feelings in tangible, sensual ways. It is as though they see or hear, or taste or feel, more clearly or deeply than the rest of us, and then clear away the things that distract other people.
The monks I know have lives which seek a balance that includes prayer, reflection, and labor. Like Medieval monks who illuminated manuscripts, monks today create works of art that share their true selves. These works include painting and musical compostions, baking bread, and even brewing beer. The art, and the way they create it, reflects the clarity of their lives. They craft things by hand to shape their life in the monastery, and share that life with the rest of us.
What is the last thing you made with your own hands?
[Image by wolfgangfoto]
6 Comments
Tanner Colton
July 26, 2012Wow, this is so cool. I believe that what you say about the monks and their practice of creating new things as a way of finding and recognizing the clarity in their lives can be true for all of us. Creativity is so much more than just producing aesthetically pleasing works, it is about tapping into something that we are trained to leave behind. It is about finding a place in our minds and hearts where something is born, where our soul rests and releasing that into the world. Whether it is considered “art” does not fundamentally matter. The act of finding it and just being in that creative space is what it is about. I feel we can all benefit from more creativity in our lives. Thanks so much for this post!
Strategic Monk
July 27, 2012Thank you, Tanner!
I agree that creativity is about recognizing your true self and sharing your truth with the people around you.
I look forward to your next creation!
Ani
July 27, 2012I think that there is something deeply spiritual about making things with your own hands. The patience it takes to see things fom beginning to end. The forgiveness for your own mistakes and the perseverance to begin again. I’ve been crocheting for nearly two decades and having that space to go to, separate from the world but contributing to the world, has kept me balanced through some very difficult times. I believe that everyone should know how to make something. Even if it’s something as plebian as a loaf of bread.
Namaste.
Strategic Monk
July 27, 2012Thank you, Ani!
I agree, and find wonder in how creativity turns “mistakes” into new discoveries.
Namaste.
elizabeth traub
July 30, 2012I am always working on something with my hands. Sewing, painting, evening gardening is an art. I have done all of the above this past week and this kind of work always brings me balance, producing deeper perspectives and confidences.
Strategic Monk
July 30, 2012Thank you, Elizabeth.
I wish I were more like you; I tend to talk with my hands, and I write on keyboards. I hope that my words are as handcrafted as your art.