I had a jolt of recognition upon reading Adam Gopnik’s “Life Studies: What I Learned When I Learned to Draw,” in the June 27 issue of the New Yorker. It’s a great piece about the creative process and about being a beginner. I’m stumbling through a new project right now and this passage resonated for me.
It was the best thing I had ever drawn, and I realized that I hadn’t drawn it as I had imagined, God’s hand finally resting on mine to steal a true contour from the world. No, I had made it up out of small, stale parts and constant reapplications of energy and observation, back an forth.
No matter what I’m working on, I always feel like a beginner. I’m always piecing together fits of energy and awkward efforts and praying that in the end I’ll somehow give voice to something whole and true.
This is a pic of D.J. Mendel and me, from one of the Cattywampus rehearsals. I’m fortunate to spend my days surrounded by outrageously talented people.
One week until we open…
How’s the running going? You got great legs*
Aw thanks! Not much running getting done when Scott is out of town but now that he’s back I’m hitting the trails!