Zen of Creativity

Book Review and Inspiration Derived from The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life by John Daido Loori

"Creativity is constantly evolving and inspiration is the artistic fuel that follows suit when the mind is quiet enough to listen." – Tiffany Bisconer

This book as a whole definitely reaffirmed my belief that creativity is both within us and inspired beyond us. Understanding that there needs to be some form of stillness in thought in order to truly access creative output was another point that resounded in the pages of this book. The Zen philosophy is a powerful reminder of how we become very attached at times to the concrete aspects of a superficial sense of life, without really seeing or absorbing the many inspiring elements of life around us. The same can apply to our own creative and artistic indulgences. We often get attached to the product, without allowing ourselves a pure sense of presence through the never-ending process of brewing, developing and releasing art.

Creativity is constantly evolving and inspiration is our necessary artistic fuel. In the moment where our internal creative vision is perched and ready to escape into external form, that transfer requires a specific mental atmosphere. A practical application of the lessons presented in this book is to create a personally ideal environment, both internally and externally, when engaging in the artistic process. This process would be similar to what Loori refers to as Hara, which is accessing the still place inside of us that allows an initial spark of inspiration to clarify itself and develop into creativity. The author's ideas and concepts help support the idea of facilitating a growth potential that already exists inside of each person. This can positively affect the role of an artist by remembering that a part of our role is to act as a facilitator and carrier of the underlying essence of inspiration. Inspiration thus becomes a bi-directional relationship.

In the book, I enjoyed the imagery of bi-directional energy being defined as chi within artist and subject separately that need to communicate in order to reach a platform of resonance in which the process of developing art can begin. I believe as artists we may tend to be more self-focused when creating art that we forget that there is a relationship we need to cultivate with our subject as well, what ever our chosen medium is. Just as we have a will to create the subject of our creation has its own will to either comply or deny us from manifesting it into a form of expression.

This book is also wonderful tool to remind us not to rush the creative process or the time it takes to first acquire skill, then to naturally develop original expression. Given that individuality is promoted in American culture, wanting to create original work is something that is often expressed. In my own experience I have witnessed artists who have just begun to learn a particular craft want to immediately create out of the box. Although I admire original thought, I also recognize without the proper technical base, originality may be lost to an undeveloped presentation of skill. Enhancing the concept of the process being the destination is an important lesson to remember and live by in order to reach the substantiated goal of original work. Only when skill and technical ability can be forgotten, does expression have a solid platform to begin. As Loori mentions, "Originality is born of craftsmanship, skill, and diligent practice, not trying to stand out in a crowd" (p.113).

Another important point that was brought up is the necessary release of attachment that an artist needs to allow with creations in order to provide a fresh platform for the next spark of inspiration. Holding onto a completed creation can hinder the continuation of the artistic process, thus stinting an artist's growth.

One of my favorite sections in the book had to do with confronting the barriers, feelings of predestined defeat and other forms of negativity we hold inside that manifest as walls to our personal growth and happiness. Being close to our enemies can be applied to being close with the dark spots inside of us that stop us from realizing our own artistic freedom. His approach was to, in a sense, exorcise our internal enemies by releasing them through our art and confronting them straight on. Of course, more so as an exercise, not as a public display, so the goal of shaving away the internal ties that bind us can be realized. One exercise of Loori's that I found particularly intriguing, which incorporated this concept, was the Art Koan Practice: Express Your Barrier. Given that barriers are a constant in the creative process, learning how to embody and express the source of your fears and various sources that ignite barriers inside of you. By expressing them through your chosen artistic medium seems to be a powerful way to face and dispel the hidden corners of negativity that hold us hostage dismissing the pursuit to our own creative potential. This can parallel the idea behind Loori's words of "give yourself permission to be yourself, and don't be frightened by the unknown". Even within the dark corners of our being we must face what resides within us if we are to continue forward unhindered by our own secret (or not so secret) negativities.

Loori introduced two terms, wabi and sabi. Wabi was described by Loori as being "a feeling of loneliness or solitude, reflecting a sense of nonattachment and appreciation for the spontaneous unfolding of circumstances" (p.152). The reason I feel this concept is applicable to artists is because of the tendency of artists to feel isolated, and that feeling of isolation leading to a sense of depression. Whereas being able to understand solitude as an important aspect of the creative process, in order to release attachment to invoke creative thought and action would be a positive shift in the isolated artist paradigm. Sabi was referred to as the "unmistakable uniqueness of a thing in and of itself" (p.153), which is an important concept because we are prone to perceive objects through automatic filters that define what we see by our own standards of reality. To truly accept and absorb an object or a person as a unique force, separate from a preconceived idea of what we think they are, would undoubtedly cause a shift in our version of reality that could develop into a fresh perspective within our art.

"The best we can do is always be open and receptive. Whether we're receiving Zen teachings, a work of art, or life itself, we can let it in, taste it, experience it, let it penetrate our cells, our pores, our breath, our being, and then leave it be."
-John Daido Loori

Continuous Growth

I believe that the artistic process is a lifelong venture of increasing ability and fortifying personal expression of depth through the inspiration of life's many experiences. Training to develop, maintain and increase skill serves as a foundation for artistic freedom and is a constant in any medium. What we begin with in our chosen artistic path only continues to grow with dedication and effort, and the commitment to expanding our vision and technical abilities should never cease, no matter how seasoned we may become. Technical training is a responsibility to the fortification of art. Adding in personal perspective and infusion of a deeper meaning is what gives technique life. Without depth, insight and a rooted message technique can be left meaningless, yet without strong technique, expression can lose impact as it falls short of the tools to bring vision to life.

I have encountered performers who believe that the gain of popularity is a substitute for continued personal artistic growth, believing that once a certain height of recognition has been reached it is their right to merely appear and gain applause. I realize this mentality will create a short shelf life for even the most popular stars of a certain field, yet beyond that, the quality of an art form can decrease through the representation of an individual's decrease in effort. To have the personal goal of releasing the process of artistic growth once you have caught the attention of your public is not only a let down to the public who has supported you, but more importantly it is a let down to the potential of an artist that was left behind inside of you.

When reading about the lives of many great artists in our history such as Beethoven (who’s hearing began to decline in his twenties), Frida Kahlo (who suffered through many physical injuries from the time she was a small child), Bruce Lee (who continued expanding his philosophies through critical periods of being bedridden) and many other astounding artists in our history who never quit giving back to their art even when they were past the point of “good enough”, it is hard not to take notice of the depth of dedication they had and be inspired. Of course these are extreme examples of overcoming life’s obstacles, but we all have battles we fight. The largest battle we will fight in our lifetime will undoubtedly be with ourselves to continue forward with hope and leave a positive mark on the world.

Though I recognize that the desire to feel as is the finish line has been crossed and the process of our efforts have now been completed is appealing, it contradicts a method of creating that is based off of a humble and continuous movement forward. Every completed project is in essence a relationship that took you on a ride of heartbreak and inspiration, hopefully wrought with passion, and then was released to stand on its own. Though there will always be a continuous flow of enrapture and release, it is important to keep focused on the core of how we want ourselves and our message to be represented and to stay connected to the reasons why we are drawn to create. We have an obligation to our art form. Just as it feeds and inspires us, we have the responsibility to fight to not fall short of our potential in giving back. As artists we should never be "finished" growing, until we take our last breath…….and even that moment of completion is debatable!