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Dreaming is the Hard Part, Believe it or Not



"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious."
-Andrew Wyeth


I find this quip from Wyeth to be very true for me in the sense that when I'm painting there is that inherent bliss in the work. The continuity of the project, the brush to the paper, the dipping in water, the flow of the paint, finishing the line, seeing the form, finishing the next part etc.

When I'm not painting (or engaging in other hobbies/distractions) it's like my mind is constantly churning. I mean the action of the painting, can be considered the final part of the process. Everything I see, hear, etc. I am automatically influenced by, and the mind is constantly taking in and thinking, thinking, thinking; always thinking. It's hard to shut the damn thing off sometimes.

Even as a kid age seven or eight maybe, I remember thinking about my mind as being similar to some sort of separate muscle that moved on its own without my intending it too. I found it frustrating. Almost like it could process information faster than my conscious mind could work through. I guess that is what dreams are for. I have always been much more of a visual learner, then anything else. It took me a long time to start talking, but I always remember being comfortable drawing pictures.

So about dreaming specifically, it's an important part of my creative process. Dreaming can be like painting in the sense that you're working out aspects (trying to express and understand) of your daily life, inner fears, desires, emotions; through elements like visual symbols and various imagery, colors, and settings. Sometimes I'll get an idea for a painting from a dream and sometimes I will create a painting and then dream about the elements from it. Both are things that help me understand myself better.

 Anyways that is my thought for the day (well one at least). Just another attempt at understanding the creative process.

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