the language of the birds…

Writers write every day. Artists create all the time. That’s what I’m told – a real writer is compelled toward setting words in print, come foul or fair. In worst of times, the true writer will come up with just one word rather than fail to create.
Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way , insists that many self proclaimed ‘writers’ are in love with the idea of being a writer but when it comes down to it are without the drive or the stamina to do the work. Others possess talent but internal voices of critics past and present snuff out any sparks of motivation or inspiration.

There’s also a category of women, in Cameron’s Way, who produce baby after baby rather than show up at the page and answer an artistic call. Fruit of the womb as a substitute for real world success is the gist of that bit of pop-psychology.You can imagine that someone such as myself, who has indeed produced baby after baby and not much else (by some standards), who may well be one of those who are in love with the poetic image of the solitary but brilliant artist and who could just as well qualify for the other, would be suitably shamed and chastised by all of it and duly set a course of remedial action.

Actually, no.There comes a moment in a person’s life, hopefully for all of us, when the realisation dawns that enough means enough, that yes there are difficulties, possibly some cellulite (I jest!) or a lack of funds, but these needn’t be a reason not to accept oneself and one’s life completely as is. Exactly as is. Not the potential of oneself, not the idea of how one could be, and not the way one would be if all the problems were overcome. Yes, just like this.

There also comes a moment of reckoning (and I’m having one of these) – a kind of straighten-up-and-fly-right type message from the divine. It hasn’t escaped me that after over a year of drawing birds and working with words I’ve moved into a house where the previous occupant went to great measures to repel all things feathered. The now fully laden fruit trees in the back garden are enclosed in a gigantic metal cage – which at first glance looks like an aviary but is designed to keep birds out. Every now and then a cheeky little bowerbird will squeeze under the gate and help himself to some windfalls while I watch with admiration – with that much determination the little guy is welcome to anything he can get. Even with the limits set in a most obvious way, life thrives.

Work with what you’ve got, the signs all say, no remedial action required other than what it takes to move from stone-still to action – openness (and maybe a small measure of that little bird’s cheekiness).

So what if one isn’t built for creating epics – one can always come up with an haiku or two. If there’s only a small gap in a busy day (perhaps otherwise filled with nappy changing, runs to school and the market and the like) there’s still opportunity enough to look around and notice things – to see life in one’s own way – get under the fence and be inspired.

And if all else fails, take a look at what has been created so far.

In honour of Mercury’s retrograde phase, I’m doing a review of my work – including some of my favourite bird drawings.