Remember Venn diagrams? Those interlinked circles you used to have to draw in maths lessons at school? I can’t say I have ever consciously used one of those to illustrate anything since I put my O-Level days behind me, but I couldn’t help being reminded of them today, as I reflected on the relationships between what I now see as the two great interlinked circles of my life: Art and Motherhood. What is the overlap between these circles, these activities, these two essential parts of me? How much of one of them must inextricably be part of the other?
Knitting a tension square which becomes a hat when a small voice asks, “Is that for me, Mummy?” Is that about art (or is it “only” craft? … another discussion entirely, and not one that concerns me too much here) or is it more about being a mother to M? Or is it both in equal measure?
The overlap, the intersection, the shared space between Art and Motherhood: it’s a hard thing to calculate, and can often seem frustratingly non-existent. Once you start to notice and celebrate this kind of symbiotic creativity, though, it becomes a joy of huge proportions.
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Oct 28, 2009 @ 23:54:06
I'm sure you are way ahead of me, but I can't see why there has to be a separation between the two, or even a distinction. Art is simply what affects us expressed creatively in a way that conveys to others. They may not get it all, they may not even get it at all, but the simple endeavour of expressing your love and care and enthusiasm with that intention is enough. If art is to be about living life and how it affects us, how much more can you express than in the joy and love and frustration and wonder of motherhood? Your magical relationship with your child is a perfect subject that you can draw on (literally). You are an artist and mother, and you turn motherhood and childhood into art when you and M both sit down with creativity in mind and work and play and create something that expresses that growing together. How wonderful!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 00:32:40
you and she both entered into an artistic relationship the day you gave birth to her…it is only fitting your art (and hers) would intertwine and enrich each other…such a precious little smidgen she is! (Kip)
Oct 29, 2009 @ 00:45:53
I read the second comment thinking, "Damn! Whomever that is has such a more incisive and concise way of saying exactly the right things – who the bloody hell is that?" And then read it was Kip. Of course. 🙂 How lucky am I to know you people, eh?
Oct 29, 2009 @ 07:26:57
This makes me wonder how much of our artistic endeavors are intertwined with other aspects of "us" and our "outside" life. We don't create art in a vacuum but it's hard to tell how much we are in fact "collaborating" on with others in one way or the other. I guess that's why the idea of a "muse" came up in the first place. Love the mosaic. I so love what computers have done for photography!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 08:29:08
I don't think you need to separate the two – you're an artist, who became a mummy – so it's only natural you be an arty mummy who want to pass the joy onto your little girl.(Who really is absurdly photogenic by the way – the bubble mosaic is wonderful.)I hope to be that way too- just as soon as Dylan has the coordination for cutting & sticking 🙂
Oct 29, 2009 @ 10:36:20
All too easy to feel guilty about spending time away from art / work to be a Mum, and spending time away from being a Mum to work. Revel in this age when you can share your art so easily…It's a little harder when they're older (although a certain child wants to take on a certain CB website 'when we die'!!)
Oct 30, 2009 @ 00:53:45
Oh but you are so good at both…I'm glad you choose to marry them together
Oct 30, 2009 @ 19:20:21
yes! Venn diagram! of course!
Nov 01, 2009 @ 19:34:50
I love the Venn diagram idea. We're doing that with music.The bubble photographs are wonderful x
Nov 03, 2009 @ 13:54:05
Thanks for all your responses! Clare, essentially it's a distinction which came about in my mind the moment I decided that I wanted to have a child: as someone who had always loved to paint and draw, and who'd just recently started to define myself as "an artist" and to do it regularly and compulsively, I felt this vast amount of mental energy suddenly shift from my artmaking to this preoccupation with becoming a mother. And when motherhood finally struck, bringing with it sleeplessness and depression and overwhelming fear (as well, of course, as growing wonderment and joy) it really felt during those first few months as though the choice to be a mother had put a stop to my artmaking, forever.Though I'm in a very different place now, and have carved out time/space for sketching and painting, doing so while M is around is still pretty much impossible. The nature of time as a parent is very much piecemeal: the luxury of developing themes and ideas and approaches, and spending hours on a painting, isn't there anymore. Some days the impediment to painting is more about general tiredness, or my freelance work, as it can be with non-parents too, of course – and I procrastinate A LOT, which is almost (but not quite … Venn diagrams again!) another problem entirely. But the fact is that "Art" with a capital A isn't always being made now: it's become less about the process of making my own art, and more about creativity in the things that littl'un and I can do together, or that spring from our time together. It has taken me a long time to grasp the reality of this changed relationship to artmaking, and I am still trying to figure out what it all means for my future as someone who still wants to paint and would like to painting my business …
Nov 03, 2009 @ 16:06:53
beautifully eloquent assessment of art & life with art, as a mother. the things done prior to the birth of a child are completely different than what they are to become after; that is the beauty of art/life: it evolves, it has to, in order to remain a true and sincere mirror of the soul that is creating and living it everyday. it seems as though the "masterpiece" you brought into this world is proof of your talent and willingness to continue evolving as an artist. (well done…Kip)
Nov 10, 2009 @ 14:07:37
Interesting post and conversation. Motherhood is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, BUT I didn't start my creative pursuits until well after I became a mother, so for me, the challenges of motherhood fueled my need to express myself creatively.
Nov 18, 2009 @ 18:08:48
Well, art is creativity and spontenaity and adapting and feeling passionate and being messy and learning to let go. Or is that being a mother?Your artwork and daughter are beautiful. Thanks for sharing both.