Heartsong Studio

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“Do You Rage Against the Dying of the Light ?”

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Do you swear you won’t get caught up in the force

of consumerism every year, and then you’re swept

along in the holiday mood once again ?

As we move towards Winter Solstice, darkness

inches earlier and earlier and lasts longer and longer.

At least in the Northern hemisphere, north of the 49^{th parallel.}

 

Most religious traditions celebrate some kind of festival

with lights featured large. It’s as if we need reassuring

that the sun will return. How many times have you

witnessed the sun’s return ?

Dylan Thomas, Welsh poet wrote: “Rage, rage against

the dying of the light”. He was talking about old age, and

the approach of death. Could this be what drives us to

holiday madness, to chase away the hidden certainty of

our mortal lives ?

Dylan Thomas wasn’t writing about raging against death.

He meant that old men shouldn’t give up wholehearted

living because they are old, but should rage on until the

very end.

The sure and certain finite nature of life is one thing we

seldom confront willingly. But it shows in our artwork.

Sometimes by omission. Do you tend to avoid darl

colours, and utilize lots of light, bright colour ? Or do

you use dark as contrast ?

Light plays an indispensable role even for colour blind

artists. Maybe especially for those who work in contrast

of values, like charcoal, graphite, clay, wood, stone or

metal sculpture.

Sometimes you just need a little break from the business

of making art. The darkest time of year seems ideal.

Good time to clear your pallet and recharge your batteries.

But some artists are the opposite in this regard. They find

this the ideal time to get their creative juices flowing, when

the demands of summer activities don’t interfere with

prolonged, intense work time.

If you do need a break from your usual routine, how do you

handle the New Year ? As a chance to start fresh ? Do you

make resolutions, then promptly forget them in a couple

of weeks ?

Not wishing to be a wet blanket, you might resolve to do

some concentrated artwork at a regular time daily, or weekly.

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What’s that ?

You mean you only make art when the Muse is upon you ?

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Artists can’t wait around for beautiful inspiration to sweep

them along. They apply themselves to their art with discipline

if they are at all serious.

Masterpieces and even everyday, meaningful art don’t

descend from Heaven every once in awhile like a rare

snowflake for the lucky few.

Successful art is the result of long, steady work. It’s built on

lots of ‘unsuccessful’ works which pointed the way.

It isn’t the result of old artists who gave up working because

they were old.

You’ve probably heard fables of long-suffering artists who

could only work well in abject poverty and uncomfortable

conditions. This is like the one about ‘creative types’

being disorganized.

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Ya, right. Don’t you believe it.

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Like old-fashioned water pumps, your art-making talents,

if used regularly, and kept in good repair, will flow with very

little priming. You will rage on until the very end.

So take a well-deserved break if you feel the need.

Celebrate the returning of the light as the days slowly

grow longer.

And never doubt, that in the darkest night, the sun is always

shining somewhere.

Just as certain as it will return, so will your creative momentum.

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Your art work will still be wanting to be found.

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Every artist’s job is to find your own work over and over again.

Then, with an intrepid spirit, follow your heart’s calling with

due diligence. Go out raging with creativity to the very end !

What will feel right for you come January ? You might be in

need of fresh inspiration. Or you might decide it’s time to

chase that unresolved new direction you ignored recently.

Whether you do or not, you can trust your heart to never lead

you astray. Here’s to an even more meaningful year ahead,

filled with your totally unique contributions to art !

Whether they are paintings, carvings, sculpture, cooking,

child-rearing, music, dance, writing, cleaning, knitting, or

loving, may you emerge and soar with living, breathing art.

When you were born, you were crying and all those around

you were smiling. Here’s to living your life so that when you

die, you’ll be smiling and all those around you will be crying !

 

All the best for a splendid Holiday Season to you and your art.

Celeste Varley

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