Saturday, June 27, 2009

Feeding the Volcano


It is probably the same for linear people, bless em... actually I have no idea. But for me anyway, I need ebb and flow to do my best creative work. I am about to begin the final painting phase of my next book, and I will be in an all consuming state of dream-walking, brush strokes, gum turpentine, and the interplay of light and dark.


When I am in this zone, I am in a bit of a social torpor. I don't think I drool, but I do look through people. I study their anatomy rather than listen to what they are saying. I imagine them in various poses in my book while saying, "Oh yeah? That's really interesting...".




In between creative eruptions, the volcano needs to eat. So I graze with Father Time and the Earth Shapers: Wind, Water, Tide, Fire... I dance with the dryads, and fly with Icarus ("Hey, Ic, maybe not so high, how about over here instead...").


















Dryad (sweet Susi) and Father Time's brother ( Father Timeless a.k.a. Larry) in Balancing Land.
























My grandson, Fin, and buddy Larry, warming their backs on the sand at Fort Flagler. Fin said, "If you put a rock on your stomach, it will hold you down."

That makes sense. When you are feeding your volcano, if you are not grounded, you might just float away.

4 comments:

Molly/Cece said...

Love, love, love this post. Thank you. :) Molly

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Thanks, Molly. You are always such a great encourager.

tlchang said...

Heh - I love this (I need more rocks on my stomach apparently!!). Kids are so great.

And balancing rocks is one of my favorite things to do/see. I have pictures of myriads of stacks we made off the coast of Maine at a family reunion awhile back. One of my clearest memories of the trip...

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Tara, I would love to see those pics. Rocks have a mind of their own, don't they? Yet there is something so soothing about balancing and stacking rocks.