Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Maybe if I Philip Glass this enough, I will get it through my thick skull.
Riding high on my recent success of writing four five new songs, I've desperately wanted to record them and share them on bandcamp / social media.
Yesterday evening at twilight I went into my backyard, armed with my notebook, "Bearded Man" (named for a pattern in the wood grain) Alvarez AF60CK, and a high quality recording app on my phone, DETERMINED to get at least one good take of one song, and to continue the process each night until I had a lo-fi EP ready to launch.
Well, first of all I broke a string. Mid strum, on a mid-tempo song. Come to think of it, *the universe* broke the string, not me. *side eye at my Comfort Queen* *
* Jennifer Louden's book "The Comfort Queen's Guide to Life: Create All that You Need with Just what You've Got" has been a game changer for me. Maybe I'll post about it soon.
To my relief, "Mama Lion" (my first full size guitar, another Alvarez, golden and loud!) was recently restrung (I'd forgotten that) and ready to play. So back outside I went... to provide a full-service buffet for an army of mosquitoes. Needless to say, I didn't last long. I probably have 3-4 takes that send with a naughty word and a smack.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
Art is a process, not a product.
I was dealing with an especially vicious bout of depression yesterday -- and honestly I think it was partially due to trying to "force" more art. There's something to be said for maintaining momentum, but on the other hand, once the tap is on, you can't force the water to flow any faster. You've just got to let it flow. And once your kettle is full, you've got to wait for the water to boil. Then you have to wait for the tea to steep... I guess what I'm trying to say with this metaphor is that not only is art a process, art is a multi-step process. And you can't hurry any part of it. You've just got to let it go, and let it flow, baby.
Not to mention, the only reason I was trying to hurry out a new release was 1) to appease impatient fans (and seriously? am I so vain that I actually think I have impatient fans?!) and 2) money... I'm a starving artist, honestly guys... And neither of those are good reasons. In fact, they are decidedly bad reasons.
So I'll be over here "arting" (art is a verb?) away, at my own pace, be that slow and steady or quick and heady... and when I reach the point in the process where I'm ready to share my new songs with the world, you'll be the first to know.