What a lovely piece Christina! I too am slightly obsessed with the topic of making art and exploring the feelings that can go along with it, whether it might be feeling guilty, loving it, needing it, and then there are the “frozen” issues that can ooze into and around one’s life which I experienced. Some refer to this phenomena as being "blocked". And it was maddening. I’m happy to say I finally moved out of that state and have claimed, openly, that I feel like I am officially unstuck but it took a very long time (a few years) to get to this place. Now I’ve been retracing my steps to figure out exactly how that happened, lol. Lots to think about here and I love the photo of the vintage books! What an exquisite addition to your library. I too will be tracking down this documentary. xx 💜
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful response, Rhaine. "Frozen" is exactly the word I've been using in relation to my own block about a big creative endeavour for the past four years. And yes, it was absolutely maddening. I'm so pleased to hear that you have moved out of that state and are now officially unstuck. I think I am also moving into this space, but it's too early to say (and life is very good at getting in the way). I'm not sure if you'll be able to access the BBC series in the US, but hope you can. Here's to us both getting on with the art/writing we want to do. xx 🤞🍀
I know when I read one of your pieces that I will learn something interesting about the world and probably about myself. The BBC program sounds wonderful, and I’m definitely going to track that down. And I am fascinated by the question of whether we need permission to make art. The answer, of course, is no. We don’t. And yet … perhaps we need permission to admit to making art? To take time to make art? To have the audacity to call what we make art? So many layers to the question. Thanks for getting my wheels spinning this s morning. 💜
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful response, Jamie. I'm not sure if you can get the BBC series in the US, but I hope you can. Your point about whether we dare call what we make "art" cuts to the heart of the issue. We can't ever know, can we? But we'll kick ourselves if we don't try. I loved your post today. Very relevant to this. Will reply to it and restack. (Currently knackered after a long but wonderful day of looking at art.) xx
I have just stumbled upon you on Substack and have a bit of a writer’s crush. I love this place as well.
As far as permission, the world of newsletters was the dubbing on the shoulder with a pen that I needed to think of myself as creative. Before that, I’ve always been creative-adjacent—filmmaker husband, founding an agency that produces brand content, but me always in the strategic role, artist mother. Before this sandbox I always felt like the bar was too high. But now I am having fun and seeing where the muse leads. And enjoying it. Glad I am now one of your readers.
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much, Nancy. I'm so pleased to hear that you've finally made the shift from "creative-adjacent" to following the muse. I was a "handmaiden" to writers for many years and felt I'd won the lottery when I was finally "allowed" to write myself. But giving myself permission remains an ongoing battle in all kinds of ways.
I see you're in Tuscany. Do you mind me asking where? I had a tiny flat near Ponsacco for many years (about half an hour from Pisa) and we now have a house in Umbria and spend a lot of time there. Italy is wonderful, of course.
"We need it to tell us who we are." Yes, indeed. I've been thinking about this rather a lot of late. We need writing, art, creativity - to tell us who we are, and to imagine and envisage other paths and possibilities for us, for the world. Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful take on the state of things
Thank you for your kind words, Rachel. We absolutely do need art to imagine other paths and possibilities. That's so beautifully put. It takes courage - but not as much courage as it takes to fight in a war. So let's get on with it! And I say that to myself more than anyone else...
What a lovely piece Christina! I too am slightly obsessed with the topic of making art and exploring the feelings that can go along with it, whether it might be feeling guilty, loving it, needing it, and then there are the “frozen” issues that can ooze into and around one’s life which I experienced. Some refer to this phenomena as being "blocked". And it was maddening. I’m happy to say I finally moved out of that state and have claimed, openly, that I feel like I am officially unstuck but it took a very long time (a few years) to get to this place. Now I’ve been retracing my steps to figure out exactly how that happened, lol. Lots to think about here and I love the photo of the vintage books! What an exquisite addition to your library. I too will be tracking down this documentary. xx 💜
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful response, Rhaine. "Frozen" is exactly the word I've been using in relation to my own block about a big creative endeavour for the past four years. And yes, it was absolutely maddening. I'm so pleased to hear that you have moved out of that state and are now officially unstuck. I think I am also moving into this space, but it's too early to say (and life is very good at getting in the way). I'm not sure if you'll be able to access the BBC series in the US, but hope you can. Here's to us both getting on with the art/writing we want to do. xx 🤞🍀
I know when I read one of your pieces that I will learn something interesting about the world and probably about myself. The BBC program sounds wonderful, and I’m definitely going to track that down. And I am fascinated by the question of whether we need permission to make art. The answer, of course, is no. We don’t. And yet … perhaps we need permission to admit to making art? To take time to make art? To have the audacity to call what we make art? So many layers to the question. Thanks for getting my wheels spinning this s morning. 💜
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful response, Jamie. I'm not sure if you can get the BBC series in the US, but I hope you can. Your point about whether we dare call what we make "art" cuts to the heart of the issue. We can't ever know, can we? But we'll kick ourselves if we don't try. I loved your post today. Very relevant to this. Will reply to it and restack. (Currently knackered after a long but wonderful day of looking at art.) xx
Thoughtful and lovely, thank you!
Thank you!
I have just stumbled upon you on Substack and have a bit of a writer’s crush. I love this place as well.
As far as permission, the world of newsletters was the dubbing on the shoulder with a pen that I needed to think of myself as creative. Before that, I’ve always been creative-adjacent—filmmaker husband, founding an agency that produces brand content, but me always in the strategic role, artist mother. Before this sandbox I always felt like the bar was too high. But now I am having fun and seeing where the muse leads. And enjoying it. Glad I am now one of your readers.
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much, Nancy. I'm so pleased to hear that you've finally made the shift from "creative-adjacent" to following the muse. I was a "handmaiden" to writers for many years and felt I'd won the lottery when I was finally "allowed" to write myself. But giving myself permission remains an ongoing battle in all kinds of ways.
I see you're in Tuscany. Do you mind me asking where? I had a tiny flat near Ponsacco for many years (about half an hour from Pisa) and we now have a house in Umbria and spend a lot of time there. Italy is wonderful, of course.
We are in Anghiari, near Arezzo/Sansepolcro. Where are you in Umbria?
We aren’t far away. A village about 20 mins from Citta di Castelli!
Monte Santa Maria Tiburina? One of your bar shots looks like the one at the top.
"We need it to tell us who we are." Yes, indeed. I've been thinking about this rather a lot of late. We need writing, art, creativity - to tell us who we are, and to imagine and envisage other paths and possibilities for us, for the world. Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful take on the state of things
Thank you for your kind words, Rachel. We absolutely do need art to imagine other paths and possibilities. That's so beautifully put. It takes courage - but not as much courage as it takes to fight in a war. So let's get on with it! And I say that to myself more than anyone else...