Another day, three weeks into carving this piece.
I am carving on the work that eventually evolved into “Confirmation.”
Inspired today to work on “Cedar and Granite.” Although I haven’t visualized anything specific that I am inspired with, I am aware that there is a lot of wood that just isn’t supposed to be there. I worked away at that wood while at the same time desired to get to a deeper essence of the piece. It has been about three weeks of carving and contemplation. So far, with my current approach I haven’t been getting to the essence.
I thought, “Why don’t I visualize the work as finished, and in an appropriate setting?”…well voila!..not a totally clear image yet it appeared to be suspended and in balance, feathers in balance with the stone…white feathers, overflowing with white feathers. I am not visualizing the details of how it would look but the general essence feels good. Until I feel otherwise I will focus on that direction. I feel inspired to grind, to sculpt with my power tools again tonight.
I am glad that I, at the time of the sculpting wrote these comments down as I have no recollection of these particular visualizations taking place. I feel a little embarrassed to include this writing as I was in those moments stretching the tether of reason particularly thin. I do understand that this exposure comes with the territory of providing accurate descriptions of the process. I was doing this journaling to assist myself in seeing and in understanding my own process as I was experiencing it. Verbalizing and writing has been very useful in my personal process.
Another day
Making lots of sawdust fly again this weekend. The vision continues to alter, to morph and remains elusive. As I visualize the rectangular granite rocks, I visualize placing round granite stones toward the other end of the piece. That visualization feels good. As I think about that image, the symbolism tends to indicate transformation. In this instance I refer to the transformation of round features to rectangular features, or vice versa. It is no wonder that that image feels right. The transformation continues. Now to visualize a setting for the transformation. I have plenty of visualized ideas; they look good to my mind…yet not the visualization where I feel a definite “Yes!” that continues to hold. There will be a definite, confident “Yes!” I am confident of that! I do want it to happen. I am pleased so far. I anticipate a wonderful piece. I am thinking, I am feeling how fortunate I am to have an occupation such as this.
Flash! An Insight? Maybe a rib cage is to be carved.