Money…

This week’s calligraphy prompt was ‘money’ in honor of tax day next week. We could do anything inspired by the word or concept of money. I created this one using craft paper, a white gel pen, colored pencils and a parallel 1.5 nib pen. I used the words from the song Money Makes the World Go Around from the broadway show Cabaret. My husband and I then looked up all the types of currencies there are around the globe. The circles are the words from the show and the names for the global currencies. The black text is comprised of quotes and phrases about money. This first photo is what my idea originally produced. And to be honest, it left me wanting. I didn’t like it and was disappointed in what I had created.

In this original piece the black words overwhelmed the lighter circles and there was no point of focus. As I had a few choice words with myself while I sat in the studio, I wasn’t sure I had the energy to start over and execute my idea in a better manner. My initial response was that there was too much there, then I had a thought. What if instead of doing it with less I added more? We are told to edit and reduce, and not over work things; but what if this time that is exactly what needed to happen? So I began the job of salvaging the piece and adding more.

THIS is the final piece I was excited to produce. I wrote more black text, three lines worth. I created more circles, I added color to some, and I wrote a center text. This is not the idea I had in my head when I started, but I like it. I am proud of it, and when I posted it to the Facebook group, I shared my process and thoughts about adding more to make it better. In this case more really did make it better.

Sometimes we have to let the original idea die to a better one. We have to be willing to think, and then work it out to make things better. Sometimes once we get the idea out of out head and out into reality we can see where it lacks what we hoped. Creating this work reminded me that for some ideas to morph and work, we have to work more. We have to create more, work harder, and even give up the idea that traditional methods always work. We have to be willing to test the idea further and let go of convention.

So this week when the topic was money most people want more, and my idea needed more. Fortunately for me I had the courage to give it more. I encourage you to work hard, and let your ideas lead you to a better version. Sometimes more is better. It doesn’t solve everything, but in this case it made a huge difference…and I hope your taxes go well.