Today’s post is written by Kool Aid. No, that’s not her real name and no she isn’t going to share it with you. She only told me because I told her I don’t allow guest posts from giant pitchers of dyed sugar water that are likely to punch through one of my walls. Oh yeah.
It’s not too late to jump to Monday’s post and ask questions either about Vegas or questions for Max and Mia.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy!
The awesome photo is taken by Kool Aid of a knife she actually made.
Capturing an idea is often like gathering lightning, as Writer Dad once wrote so beautifully.
Developing that idea, however, is something else entirely. Sometimes it is a steel blank, forged in the flames of creativity; heated and hammered and pounded against the anvil through sweat, muscle and sometimes even crimson blood and salted tears.
That idea slowly surfaces over time as effort gives form to thought.
While working on my BFA in Metal Design, some creative ideas came quickly while others had to be coaxed. Sometimes putting pencil to paper to sketch those 3-dimensional designs of wood or metal was a challenge. We were taught to keep working, to think outside the box, to push an idea further and further. Often, these strategies led to an amazing piece of art; other times they were only exercises in frustration which never allowed me to leave the two dimensions of the doodled page.
I have boxes and drawers heaped with unfinished work; tarnished, scratched and waiting for that last bit of polish and gleam.
But then there’s a spark of an idea and the creative forge is built. Head, hands and heart team to breathe life and fire into the idea and a work of art, a fine metal blade, emerges.
The final stage of making a knife is sharpening that blade. Microscopic metal teeth align perfectly to cast a razor-sharp edge. Both the idea and the knife reach a point where the work is done; you just have to recognize when to stop.
It’s hard, sometimes, when you keep visualizing that last and final piece required to make it “perfect.” You keep pushing and pushing, adding, editing, making changes. You sharpen that blade long past the razor’s edge. The idea gets dragged out and you realize, at some point along the way, you pushed too far and perhaps stripped too much of the metal. You step back and see bits of shavings and dust littering the table and floor and discover that your work – that fantastic idea you’ve been so diligently working on – is losing itself in your quest for perfection.
That spark of creativity is a lifelong learning process. Knowing when to allow the idea to simply exist as a single bolt of lightning, take the time and effort to forge it into something else and then knowing when to rest are all skills developed over time and experience.
In your creativity, are you honing that fine edge or just shaving away bits of metal?
Drink more Kool Aid at Butterflies in my Hand
About Sean Platt
Thanks, KA – I loved this! I always enjoy folk who craft life metaphors from their passions. You shared such an important lesson here. I have an obsessive compulsive streak, so I'm often pretty rubbish at knowing when to stop. For example, it's taken me years to develop instincts around when I've over-edited and hacked out the heart and soul of a piece of writing or added too much detail to a painting and dulled its impact. As I was reading your piece, I thought of sharpening pencils, and how, whenever I give one just one last turn in the sharpener, I inevitably break the point and have to start from scratch.
I also have to remind myself to let go sooner as a parent and to bite my tongue when I'm tempted to talk too much in a coaching session or someone else's comments box. I don't always manage!
I love the design of that knife, by the way. It's a beauty and I bet its balance in the hand is as satisfying as the way it looks!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Janice. Your sharpening pencils example is also a perfect one. I have several pieces of art that are just too overdone but the knife is one of the few that I feel is just right. It was definitely a learning lesson!
Thanks, KA – I loved this! I always enjoy folk who craft life metaphors from their passions. You shared such an important lesson here. I have an obsessive compulsive streak, so I'm often pretty rubbish at knowing when to stop. For example, it's taken me years to develop instincts around when I've over-edited and hacked out the heart and soul of a piece of writing or added too much detail to a painting and dulled its impact. As I was reading your piece, I thought of sharpening pencils, and how, whenever I give one just one last turn in the sharpener, I inevitably break the point and have to start from scratch.
I also have to remind myself to let go sooner as a parent and to bite my tongue when I'm tempted to talk too much in a coaching session or someone else's comments box. I don't always manage!
I love the design of that knife, by the way. It's a beauty and I bet its balance in the hand is as satisfying as the way it looks!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Janice. Your sharpening pencils example is also a perfect one. I have several pieces of art that are just too overdone but the knife is one of the few that I feel is just right. It was definitely a learning lesson!
PS I hope the new comment widget is working for you, Sean. It's not as pleasant to use as the last one, but it's worth it if it helps you. I miss the comments editor. I just realised it definitely is a knife KoolAid made and wish I could go back and change my comment.
PS I hope the new comment widget is working for you, Sean. It's not as pleasant to use as the last one, but it's worth it if it helps you. I miss the comments editor. I just realised it definitely is a knife KoolAid made and wish I could go back and change my comment.
Hi Janice,So far I LOVE the new comment system. Being able to answer comments from email makes all the difference in the world. Yeah, I'm sad to lose Ajax, but so far I think the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.
Hi Janice,
So far I LOVE the new comment system. Being able to answer comments from email makes all the difference in the world. Yeah, I'm sad to lose Ajax, but so far I think the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.
Enjoyable read Kool Aid, very kool craftsmanship too – on all levels. Occasionally I see too many shavings on the floor, if they were truly metal I could just reshape them. Sometimes the shavings are a sign to change the way I do something. Applying the analogy to life, I look at the shavings as an opportunity to turn the lemons into lemonade.
Hi TrinaMb, your comment reminded me of when working in ceramics, the scraps of one piece are often used to build another. I love the thought of looking at the shavings as an opportunity for improvement. Thanks for your comment :)
Enjoyable read Kool Aid, very kool craftsmanship too – on all levels. Occasionally I see too many shavings on the floor, if they were truly metal I could just reshape them. Sometimes the shavings are a sign to change the way I do something. Applying the analogy to life, I look at the shavings as an opportunity to turn the lemons into lemonade.
Hi TrinaMb, your comment reminded me of when working in ceramics, the scraps of one piece are often used to build another. I love the thought of looking at the shavings as an opportunity for improvement. Thanks for your comment :)
oh lordy Sean, are you planning to pre-approve all comments before they appear publicly? I guess it is one way to protect your site from spam – were you have that issue?
No, I have to fix it in the settings. There is a small learning curve here for sure. I'm actually having to deal with spam now more than I did before, but I think that as soon as the rough edges are smoothed, it should be a great system for all.Hopefully. : > )
oh lordy Sean, are you planning to pre-approve all comments before they appear publicly? I guess it is one way to protect your site from spam – were you have that issue?
No, I have to fix it in the settings. There is a small learning curve here for sure. I'm actually having to deal with spam now more than I did before, but I think that as soon as the rough edges are smoothed, it should be a great system for all.
Hopefully. : > )
Hi Janice, thanks for reading and responding, but I wasn't sure what your comment was? All that posted was the PS. I'm curious about what you said/meant to say about the knife?
It should be good to go now Kool Aid!
yep – thanks! :)
Hi Janice, thanks for reading and responding, but I wasn't sure what your comment was? All that posted was the PS. I'm curious about what you said/meant to say about the knife?
It should be good to go now Kool Aid!
yep – thanks! :)
"BFA in Metal Design"
Ok, WOW. That knife is gorgeous, I can't believe you are the Mistress of the Forge!!!
I've noticed I have the most problem writing (creating) when I want to do one thing but I force myself to work on something else. It tends to flow organically when I allow myself to 'forge' what's in my mind instead of what I think should be in my mind.
I would hardly call myself a Mistress of the Forge! Most of my work is in smaller pieces, made from silver or copper. The knife is the result of a week-long class I took at Penland School of Crafts while still in college. Quite an awesome experience and thank you for the compliment.
And I totally agree with what you say about writing about what is in your mind instead of what you *think* should be.
"BFA in Metal Design"
Ok, WOW. That knife is gorgeous, I can't believe you are the Mistress of the Forge!!!
I've noticed I have the most problem writing (creating) when I want to do one thing but I force myself to work on something else. It tends to flow organically when I allow myself to 'forge' what's in my mind instead of what I think should be in my mind.
I would hardly call myself a Mistress of the Forge! Most of my work is in smaller pieces, made from silver or copper. The knife is the result of a week-long class I took at Penland School of Crafts while still in college. Quite an awesome experience and thank you for the compliment.
And I totally agree with what you say about writing about what is in your mind instead of what you *think* should be.
I LOVE answering by email, but the spam filters are TERRIBLE. The new comment system might be the old comment system by this time tomorrow. Thanks for your patience everyone!
I LOVE answering by email, but the spam filters are TERRIBLE. The new comment system might be the old comment system by this time tomorrow. Thanks for your patience everyone!