Goodbye David Bowie

When I heard this morning that David Bowie had transitioned, my heart hurt.  My heart chakra literally hurt inside my chest because I knew the world had truly lost a soul whose impact 
upon the lives of others, during this lifetime, had been immense.

The intelligent art, music, fashion and style of David Bowie touched the masses in many different ways.  It was because of his ability as an artist to transform himself so strongly through the creative process.  Every time he changed, he found a different set of people to relate to his new being.  

For as much as he was able to brighten and add color into the lives of others, Bowie's personal struggles and pain must have been immense.  A lot of this born out through the 12th house placement in his chart, which you can read more about in this wonderfully written article.

I recently saw an old interview with Bowie by Charlie Rose where he talked about the "violent" and difficult process he always experienced while bringing his painting and art into the world. 

 I think all artists experience this to some extent or another.  Physical birth is violent and painful.

 Creative birth is as well.   The extent of pain and struggle varies from person to person depending on what they are trying to create, their life lessons and their karma during this lifetime.

The creative birth process was something Bowie said he personally did not enjoy doing.  Considering his ability to absorb the culture around him and then transform himself again and again, it must have been an extremely difficult experience for him each time.

All souls who are born into this world leave ripples in their path.  Others produce tidal waves whose reach is far and long lasting.  There were so many facets to this man, people will
write about him forever.

David Bowie, your time here is over.

Thank you for everything.

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 The Chariot, courtesy of Adam Fergurson.

I chose to include this image to be portrayed in this piece because to me it symbolizes the process of transformation, going forward, and bursting into the unknown 
(which I'm sure Bowie is doing right about now).

The Artist Awakens

Dispersing New Flavor by Adam Fergurson

The artist knows, up to a point, what he or she wishes to express but also feels it, senses it - feels and senses it so strongly that something like awakening has occurred.  The ordinary self that entered the studio is still there, but there is someone else in there as well.

...The theme, the task at hand, is clear and unclear.  The mind may conceive it precisely or, on the contrary, feelings and the body in motion may have a sense of direction that the mind hardly knows.  The forces must come together to serve the theme:  the sheer energy and closeness to materials dwelling in the body, the sensitivity to small differences dwelling in the feelings, the organizational clarity and the critical capacity of the thought.

...Entering more deeply into the creative process, the artist begins to receive spontaneous gifts; signs and meanings suggest themselves "from nowhere" - forms previously unimagined, new themes or motifs that seem remarkably fertile.  The working faculties and the companion self have come to life, shedding seeds with abandon and generosity....A degree of spontaneous ability has made itself known, always a gift however one reaches for it.

  ~  Roger Lipsey, from the book

"An Artist's Book of Inspiration"

Compiled and Edited by Astrid Fitzgerald



Artwork courtesy of Adam Fergurson

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What Motivates an Artist?

I originally published this piece on my blog "In A Creative Context" a few months ago.  I thought I would share it with the Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.  Great food for thought for those who create art as well as those who view it. enjoy!
~ diane fergurson

I was looking through my sometimes mysterious, almost always captivating "keep" drawer the other day and I ran across an interesting handout that had been distributed years ago in an art workshop I attended.  It was titled "Artists Motivation".  I have no idea who wrote it, or what book it may have been copied from.  The premise of the article is that when working in the area of artist development, there are core commonalities that underlay the creative impulse.  Most artist's choose to express themselves for a reason and the reasons coalesce into specific creative motivations.

Of course I recognized where I was on this list right away.  What fascinates me, however, is that I can think of specific artist friends that I have who would slot right into each one of these categories.  A few people may blur between a couple of motivations, but for the most part it seems to be pretty cut and dried.  This seems to somewhat contradict the belief, by some, that we don't necessarily peg ourselves one way or another in what we create....we just let it happen.  I guess though, we just "let it happen" from a more common place then we would like to think.  As explained at the end, these motivations can also been viewed as stepping stones taken through one's creative development.

Below is a revised synopsis of the list.  Do you know what motivates you when you create?

-  Artist-scientists:  These artists have a personal mission that is similar to scientists.  They attempt to make the unknown, unseen word...real.  They experiment with art simply for the sake of inquiry.  Many times they have no interest in finishing what they begin....especially if they have found the answer along the way.  Like Einstein, they also believe that whatever the ultimate answer... it must be beautiful.

-  Artist-mathematicians:  Precision and the harmony of perfection is sought by this group of artists.  They often engage themselves through a different language to other artists-mathematicians.  Kind of like an art shorthand, similar to mathematicians speaking in formulas.  I imagine those artists interested in Sacred Geometry would find motivation in this grouping.

-  Artist-explorers:  Innovators on a quest to find the new and different.  The cannot stand to duplicate or replicate.  Their truly original expression has ultimate value and they constantly sharpen and hone that singularity.

-  Artist-activists:  The creative impulse of these artists stem from the need to rectify an unfair situation or even the playing field.  Examples of their causes include the environment, gender or racial equality, reproductive rights, poverty or homelessness.

-  Artist missionaries:  Artists lit with an inner fire.  They have found some sort of answer through their art and need to share it with others.

-  Artist-warriors:  Artists who take the activist role to an extreme by using their art form to combat forces that they find unreasonable. The artist-warrior is often on a crusade to fight with personal demons or forces.  Whereas the activist-artist grapples with external forces, the artist-warrior battles internal ones.

-  Artist-healers:  Artists who are healers feel that their art can actually mend the mind, body and spirit of an individual.  They have a revered way of referring to their art form.

-  Artist-mystics:  Artists who believe that a higher force is working through them.  They believe they are a conduit for the universal power of spirituality, love and enlightenment.

The article then goes on to say that an artist who works in education may combine many of these motivations.  Also that these motivations can be seen as developmental steps on the way to full creative blossoming.

Working with students actually facilitates artistic development through many of these motivations.  For example an artist-warrior, missionary or healer would be a good choice to work with at-risk populations.  The scientist and mathematician artist is often brilliant in creating new curriculum programs.  Artist-explorers work wonders on new classroom projects.  Of course the mystics and healers would be good working with people in art therapy and situations with divine inspiration.

Artwork:  Mandala #3 Illusion by Diane Fergurson 
http://www.dianefergurson.etsy.com
http://www.dianefergurson.artfire.com

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