The Excitement of Not Knowing

I believe there is a thrill in not knowing what is going to happen or how something might turn out. Planning a vacation and leaving room for exploring and seeing what turns up in your path has brought me some really cool surprises. Watching a movie that you haven’t read the story line or watched the trailer helps hold your attention, especially if you have no idea how it ends. Putting fabric, paper, paint or any other art supply together with no defined direction creates opportunity for new inspirations. All of these things and so many more leave you open to the possibility of something new.

Decades ago I used to make my own clothes. I chose the pattern, picked the fabric and voila - I knew what it was going to be before I even started. Having the finished product was satisfying but after a while it wasn’t exciting. It was a process that left no room for exploration. I think that’s why I left that practice behind and started art quilting.

I knew how to sew and a little bit about quilting. I had some fabric scraps to play with. But, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. It added a little excitement to what was otherwise productivity. I became less productive but more curious. What if?

When I got several years of art quilting under my belt, I left it to the side (knowing I could always return) for collage. And then for painting. And now I add collage to my paintings and paper to my art quilts and the excitement is in the trying new things.

Some things work out, some don’t. But that’s not the point. Often the thing that doesn’t work out as I had hoped leads to something I hadn’t thought of. It’s a rabbit hole perhaps. But it is so much fun to go down that hole. Why? Because I don’t know where it will lead. The new ideas and inspiration can be at any turn.

If you are feeling bored with your art practice, (or any aspect of your life for that matter) try something else. Add something, take something away, change your setting or your color palette. Try out a new material and see what it can add to your work. If you’re really looking for inspiration pick up something you have never used before. Perhaps someone gave it to you or it was bestowed upon you from someone’s deceased relative. (I have had a lot of fabric and art supplies given to me this way) It gives you free materials to use in any way you choose without the concern of how much money it cost. That free freedom to play.

If you like what you do and it’s your groove, carry on. But, if you want to spice it up, I highly recommend you have a go at doing something for the first time. It will either confirm that you want to go back to what you did before (ie comfort zone) or it will open your creative mind to something new.

Either way, it’s about embracing the unexpected and being open to the thrill of not knowing.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment.