we will make art
“Henry Fonda was still throwing up before each stage performance, even when he was seventy-five. In other words, fear doesn’t go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.”
-Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
As the glitz and glitter of a tired December settles right behind us, it feels big and brave to write down a list of goals under a heading of 2011. And January comes with a gumption-filled heart, and I look at her both with narrow eyes and the tiniest glimmer of hope. We tend to dream big but live small. January is for dreaming, and it feels brave and right, because we glimpse our potential and we dare to believe in a God who can do big things through us.
But then the living barges in ruining all our good intentions. And so we settle. It’s because there is fear in art. But if we live to avoid the fear, we miss the art, too. Despite what I always believed, the closer you get to finding your art, the more fear will hound you.
Annie sent me an email on New Years Eve. It was an email of support and of love. And at the end, after she said some stuff and some things, she said this: “2011. We will make art.” Fear showed up when I read her words, but not the dark kind with the big teeth. Instead, I was backstage with a puking Henry Fonda, ready to head out on Broadway. The fear was big, but the art was bigger. He wouldn’t have rather been anywhere else. And of course, neither would I. What about you?
Comments
A lady I mentored under once told me that fear and excitement are physiologically the exact same thing – it’s just your perspective that’s different… That’s really helped me to not see fear as the big dark kind with teeth, but as something thrilling to be embraced. As for my dreams and art this year… well, I finally started that blog I wanted… and am trying to figure out how to listen to God when scared to hear what he might have to say. Ironic, given the quote that started this whole comment!
Natasha´s last blog post ..Ending Great and Beginning New
we will make art. i LOVE this. yes and yes and yes.
suzannah {so much shouting, so much laughter}´s last blog post ..birth of a new year when the time was fulfilled
Ugh. I am having such a difficult time being optimistic about 2011. My husband is in the military, and he has a year filled with schools and deployments and lots of time away from home ahead. I am having a hard time seeing anything BUT the bad in it right now. I needed to read this tonight.
Oh how I’ve missed your writing. Perhaps a temporary “fog”-lift between book writing, but I’m loving it. And this I loved: “January comes with a gumption-filled heart, and I look at her both with narrow eyes and the tiniest glimmer of hope. We tend to dream big but live small.” Especially the narrow eyed look. Laugh out loud good. And hope is that good.
Tammy@If Meadows Speak…´s last blog post ..Wiping The Tears-Life After Expectation
Beautiful!! Stepping out in faith in the midst of fear!
God is soooo stinkin’ good!
Happy Birthday Em!
(I say that as if i know you… the whole shortened/nick-name thing… sorry)
Megan´s last blog post ..Happy New Year
oh my gracious…. happy NEEEEEEEWWWW year… NOT birthday. oh help me. hahaha.
Megan´s last blog post ..Happy New Year
i love this because it makes it ok for me to be afraid. and i love that you call what we do making art. it sounds so fun and quite beautiful. who wouldn’t want to make art even in spite of the fear?
melissa stover´s last blog post ..New Year’s party
Oh i love this!! You have a way with writing that just resonates with my heart! I feel like we could be kindred spirits. I love that you said January is for dreaming. That makes me so excited. And I appreciate the ever present challenge of moving forward with faith despie the fear. love it!! Thank you so much.
Yes. YES. Me too. In fact talked similar things in my post last night!
melissafeddersen.com/2011/01/02/201/
Melissa@one thing´s last blog post ..Happy New Years!
Well, I’m doing two things this year that scare me to death…going to Blissdom and running a half marathon. Out of my comfort zone, I’ll definitely have to stretch myself but I’m doing it and there’s no looking back! I HEART Henry Fonda, what an amazing guy. Ever since I was a tiny girl he reminded me of my adorable dad…still does. Happy New Year and I look forward to meeting you at Blissdom!
Jessica @ These Are The Days´s last blog post ..Why I heart facebook
love it! let’s GO!
kendal´s last blog post ..3 goals- 2 questions- 1 goofy woman
“…the closer you get to finding your art, the more fear will hound you.” Wow.
I am strangely encouraged by this sentence because I have lived much of my life in the comfort zone and I am slowly being peeled up out of my comfy couch. When fear creeps in, I will draw on these good words and keep digging for my art! Thank you, Emily.
Tracey´s last blog post ..One Word 2011 Patience
i love this. very encouraging for those of us trying to make art in the everyday. so much fun to see you and your sweet fam yesterday. i posted about how i ignored the how old are you question! lol!
melissa´s last blog post ..30
LOVE your blog, Emily! And comforted to read your post on fear. It will help- me and many others- in the days ahead, I’m sure. A great start- on making art:)
I’m in!
We will make art. I think 2011 has found its perfect theme. It is – on the surface – so simple, but it is also confounding and complex. I am quite certain beautiful things will come of it.
Imperfect´s last blog post ..Thoughts on Moving On and my new spice rack
Emily, What a beautiful post. I am committing myself to facing my fears in 2011 because as big as I make the fear, I know that the art if bigger.
Your post so resonated with me, I can’t wait to read more of your writing. (Just found you and read 3 of your posts this morning before work.) Thank you for your inspiration!
YES!!!!!!!!!!! That is my goal for 2011… ART…
I love this quote from Ann Voskamp’s Relevent Keynote:
“Do you know that in Scripture the word for service, art, worship is the very same word: AVODAH…”
Sharon´s last blog post ..For Thou Wilt
Yes! We will move with the fear and do art. Love this!
Stacey´s last blog post ..Foodie Not really
From beginning to end, I love this post. What a fabulous tidbit about Henry Fonda. Completely inspiring.
In the next few months I am will be attempting to book my first Meet the Illustrator elementary school visits. One of my main challenges for the students is going to be “Never stop dreaming, creating, or learning — even when you’