My husband’s office needed a valance above the windows. I bought simple pre made valances at Target six months ago, and I had an idea to decorate them with a graphic calligraphy design. The blank panels sat on a table for months collecting dust. I had a great idea and no real clue how to execute it. So I put it off, and put it off, and put it off. The guilt was killing me. Every time I saw the panels I got more frustrated with my fear of moving forward. I wasn’t EXACTLY sure how to make the idea in my head turn into reality on the fabric, so I procrastinated more and more. This past weekend I attended a workshop about using words to add texture…BINGO! I was now armed and dangerous. I had the spark that moved my original curtain idea from nebulous form into reality.
I spent today in the studio writing on the fabric. I tested each paint, ink, and pen to see how it would interact with the fabric…then it was off to the races. I covered two panels with words, the same portion of a poem over and over and over again. I must have written it over five hundred times in the course of about four hours. Here you can see the panels in process. I must admit I started off a bit shaky then once I gained a little confidence it went rather quickly. My husband loves the final result and we plan to hang them up this weekend. (I’ll post a shot once they are installed!)
Have you ever had this happen to you? You have an inventive or creative idea, begin to execute then stall out. You quickly realize you are not sure how to get the uniqueness in your head out into the real world. So you ponder, stew, avoid, maybe even forget for what seems like a long period of time. Then – BAM! – something changes. You learn a skill or technique that ignites the idea back into your head and the energy and creativity pours out. Without realizing it you have finished your original idea and have moved onto five or six more.
Ideas are like children, they take time and energy to grow. Some ideas need maturity on your part and the part of your skills to get you where you want them to shine. Until the ‘right’ time comes it can be frustrating and downright annoying. Ideas also need to be nurtured and maybe even need to grow into larger versions of themselves, which also takes time. But when you have a great idea you want to work on it now…so slow down Tex. Give yourself and your idea room to breathe in order to reach the place when all the cylinders are clicking and everything comes together to support perfect execution. Be patient, your idea’s time will come.
Ann Art Gallery Blog 