when necessity breeds resolution

A stove, hot enough, becomes effortless. You rake the embers and a new rush of heat floods its belly, ready to consume without coaxing.

Lately I've pointed my camera at negative space. I've exaggerated the rule of thirds and contemplated emptiness. It's a new January of a new year. I've got eleven months to write a novel I've only started with napkin scribbles. I need emptiness. Emptiness makes every new thing possible.

Negative space lives in a hungry belly. That kind of flame eats the air—you can see it. In the vaccuum of the stove, at that degree of heat, the very lack of oxygen burns. Embers on the bottom. A log in its bed, almost superfluous. And a fire that swirls high above, licking its own cast-iron ceiling.

+++

The new years' resolutions of others put me in a quiet frame of mind. I never make them. I read about it from a distance as though the whole concept doesn't apply to me. Which could be a fancy way of saying I don't like publicly aspiring to stuff I might never achieve. Which is a fancy way of saying I am a noncommital chickenshit. Fair enough. For whatever reason, the new year has always meant more to me as the the beginning of winter's downhill slide towards spring than as the some new era of betterment.

This year feels different.

I've got a lot to do. I've got to shuffle my life around in order to do it. Issues of logistics and time and motivation aside, I'm in a state of waiting for the smiles and shoulder-taps of ghosts. That's how it feels, anyway. Muse-like whispers that crop up as soon as you get out of your own way. A story that begins to feed on its own without coaxing.

I'd grimace if you made me call it a resolution, but it's something to do with the word discipline. Which doesn’t play well with words like stuck or paralyzed or doughy or twitter. It's the discipline of prepping my creative belly. To get it as hot and as empty as I possibly can.

+++

If your creativity during the upcoming year could take shape—or if the space that accommodates it could take shape—what would it look like? Show us.

Comments

[bright and blithe]

Creating emptiness. When the words roll off my tongue they sound "do-able". When I look at my calendar, it seems unattainable. But what a necessity.

[Elizabeth Harper]

I'm busy helping to finish the space where my creative work will be done in 2010 and hopefully years to come.

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/my-room-of-ones-own-is-almost-ready/

I need a quiet place of my own and it's almost ready.

[Marcie]

Love the concept of carving out 'empty' space...'negative' space waiting to be filled with positive energy. I'm hoping to find focus and to find creativity in those negative..empty..quiet spaces:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1036

[Puna]

Oh, I don't know...I'm almost afraid to say it out loud but I hope to take my photography to new heights this year. I don't know what it will look like though, the vision is still fuzzy, so I'm just going with the flow.

Here's some negative space.
http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/12/december-31-snow-lace/

[kristin]

what a gorgeous image kate. i feel the passion burning in it. i know your creativity will swell and burn bright. it is just who you are at your core.
happy new year and new ventures. xo kristin

[mosey along]

As an animator, we were always looking for the silhouette of a character (empty space). It makes art/compositions/photography so much more interesting. Here's mine.... a tree *almost* silhouetted.
http://moseyalong.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see.html

And I love the idea of carving out a space for oneself. I will definitely be doing that this year as well.

[Kellee]

Beautiful, Kate. Just beautiful. I totally get why Neil was lovin' on you somethin' fierce. ;) I agree with you, I feel something different about this year. I am not one for resolutions. I am more of a "you can start changing today" person, rather than needing such a specific demarcation point. This year was different, I woke up New Years Day and was ready to roar. I insist this year be amazing, for all of us.

[Darlene]

This was definitely a thought provoking post. Kate, I don't think you'll have any problem writing your novel. You have a beautiful way with words.

Here's what I came up with:
http://www.whimsicalyearsphotography.com/blog/1204/the-shape-of-creativity-maine-lifestyle-photographer/

[Meg]

I love reading SS first thing in the morning b/c it really gives me something to think about throughout the day. Although I love still life, I hope that this year my photography brings me more towards people. My 365 shot(s) today are like faint whispers of what I hope will come...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7565577@N04/4244367759/

[Simon Lawrence]

Amazing, excellent, one of the best photographs I have seen for a while. Beautiful.

Si

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I know what I have to do in the year ahead, but somehow, I can't get started until I've taken a step back to reflect on what was previously achieved. It helps me to gain perspective!

~WW
http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2010/01/where-we-wandered-highlights-from-2009.html

Oh yeah, and if you're a noncommital chickenshit then so am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mel]

I need empty space. At the moment mainly to sleep and rest. And then to create and grow. Because of all this will bring me joy.

[cigi]

Beautifully-written post. And, yes, this year feels different!

[B Hockey J]

It would look like a broken vase on a hardwood floor and the water pooling out, searching for cracks.

[Amanda Z from NYC]

What a way to put it, honey!!
I want to copy and paste your words to my brain.
Can't though.
Can only comment and say, great picture, great post,
thanks for taking the time to write, and I identify. :)

[Alicia]

i would like to take more photos of people, portrait style. here are two photos i shot of my brother and my sweet future sister-in-law.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/4219030927/in/set-72157622956371583/

and she loves this one... playing on the trampoline. i love how she looks like she's a superhero and he's looks like he's getting ready to jump into his superhero pose!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/4219804014/in/set-72157622956371583/

[Gail]

My focus word for 2010 is "Restore"...and I hope to restore my urge for creativity... I received Photoshop Elements as a gift so I have some incentive to learn more! I do want to try to be as creative as my 4 year old grandson who loves to make maps with dominos...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/4246406448/

[June]

I loved this:

"...a fancy way of saying I don't like publicly aspiring to stuff I might never achieve. Which is a fancy way of saying I am a noncommital chickenshit."

And I have to admit I'm the same way. I think at the end of the year I want to see completed projects and results. Too often I get inspired and start on a project and never bring it to completion. I think I need discipline too.

[Jeanne]

I am looking for spaces too, not sure if I want to label them negative or positive or just beautiful in some way.

There is space in between everything else to always find beauty.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4246084555_a766da7d1c_b.jpg

[elk]

it is a stunning image filled with such truth...thank you

the space is right in front of me...the sound echos in my head:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/4226928107/

[jenn]

Mine is maybe a different sort of 'space'... but I've got a little something in the works. It's very "under construction" but I'm still pretty excited.

(sneak peak at http://www.starhunterphoto.com ... and I emphasize, <u>very</u> under construction)

[Aubrey]

Lovely post. I am focusing on something new this year. Not striving for perfect photography, but for EXPRESSION.
I guess you could say I failed at 365 last year when my camera died last June. I pouted. I wanted perfection. The camera phone just would not do. But I was wrong.
Now I want to express the "normal" things in my life beautifully. Wish me luck.

http://365daysofnormal.blogspot.com/

[traceyclark]

i have been thinking about this since I first read it. It's an awesome post kate.
http://traceyclark.squarespace.com/blog/2010/1/5/taking-shape.html

[ocean lotus]

i really am relating to the last part of your post...i have been often glimpsing ideas as they float about my heat but have not been the best at implementing much of those ideas...life and 'other things' get in the way and shoo them away...i want something different as i'm reaching middle age...something more for me and out of me...i appreciate your post and the words in it - this is lovely....