[Today’s featured artwork for Day 8 of the 365 Days Project is by Brenda McMahon]
Getting into The Zone is not a conscious act.
#8 – The Zone is a sweet state of flow that arrives when talent and technique are in synch with the artwork being produced and the Artist is wise enough to simply let go.
Working in my studio is one of the most peaceful things I do all day. When I’m in “the zone,” nothing else exists except the artwork in my hands. My surroundings disappear. I am Nobody. It’s an experience that stays with me, in a good way, long after I’ve returned to the world.
I’ve not only experienced this as an artist, but I’ve witnessed it as an observer. I’ve been in studios, quietly watching while an artist works intensely. Their energy changes and a certain sense of order settles in the studio, as if everything in the universe finally finds its proper place. I see them working, but they are not really “present” and they often seem to be vibrating at a higher level.
“When you start working, everyone is in your studio – the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas – all are there. But as you start painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you’re lucky, even you leave.”
John Cage
Brenda McMahon’s portfolio can be viewed on her website: Brenda McMahon
The 365 Days Project
In 2012, Serena Kovalosky committed to writing an article a day for 365 days as an exploration into the lives of artists and the value of creative thinking in our society.
Experience the full evolution of the project! Click below to read the entire collection of articles.
Descriptions of the images included in this post:
Mesopotamian Two-Step
Brenda McMahon, Florida, USA
Carved ceramic tile mural
Two Vessels
Brenda McMahon, Florida, USA
Saggar fired clay
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