All true artists shed their hides.

All true artists refuse to comply with the language or behaviors of branding: all true artists shed their hides multiple times in their lives, letting any trace of a fixed mark fall away in the process.
      - David Whyte, Consolations II
. . .

We shed our hides in pursuit of vague images, half-understood stories right on the edge of our imagination, right on the edge of our skill set, our comfort zone. If a vision is clear, it’s not creative -- it is the execution of a skill. It is a task, a job. It is routine.

A couple of thoughts on the subject by Bob Dylan:

An artist has got to be careful never to arrive at a place where he thinks he’s AT somewhere. You always have to be  constantly in a state of becoming. 

I change during the course of a day. I wake and I’m one person, and when I go to sleep I know for certain I’m somebody else.

Video discussion of today’s post.

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Heron Dance Books

Creativity as a Way of Life: Journal Meditations of a Working Artist

Inspirational thoughts on the creative process and an exploration of journaling as a method of accessing inner worlds. Includes questions important to the creation of unique work and a quality life and journaling tools useful in uncovering the hidden currents of energy and inspiration that affect our lives, often without us realizing it.

To be published in February or March of 2025.

A PDF of this book will be included in Membership for all who support Heron Dance. Print copies, wire-o, lay flat binding will also be available.

There are still a few copies of the first edition of Nurturing the Song Within available. This is a premium art book with a Smyth-sewn lay flat binding printed by on high. quality art paper. It explores the inner work underlying creative work and the creation of a unique life.

Each day two-page spread includes a painting and journal notes on living a creative, meaningful life.

  • Hardcover first edition with dust jacket. $95 including shipping and taxes. Order here.

  • PDF $9.99 including tax. Order here.

  • More information here.

Below, two sample pages from my recent art journal, and the related diary/planner
Nurturing The Song Within

There are a few copies of the first edition (hardcover, dust jacket, premium art paper) still available. After they are sold out, we don’t plan to republish, at least in that format.

A mockup of the first two pages of the new book, Meditations on Gratitude, Beauty and Mystery. It is available now as a PDF, and in the next few days as a hardcover.

A mockup of the first two pages of the new book, Meditations on Gratitude, Beauty and Mystery. It is available now as a PDF, and in the next few days as a hardcover.

A mockup of two pages of the new book, Meditations on Gratitude, Beauty and Mystery.

Front cover, The Pausing For Beauty Poetry Diary. PDF and Softcover (Lay Flat, wire-o binding) versions available. Visit here.

Two interior pages, The Pausing For Beauty Poetry Diary. PDF and Softcover (Lay Flat, wire-o binding) versions available. Visit here.