Does depth matter?

Spontaneity is really key for an artist. Being able to halt thinking and just let the voice within express itself freely is fundamental.

When it comes time to put paint on canvas or fingers on keyboard or pen on paper, an artist lets the creative juices flow unhindered.

I followed that process during song-writing and recently, as I’ve written blog posts.

Tonight, I had dinner with a friend, a celebrated journalist, who was explaining her role and responsibility as a journalist who digs “deep” into a story and writes stories that make people think. That made me think about my own blogging process.  If I trust and value the voice within me, should I not let it express itself unhindered? Or should I pause, “think” about what my creative expression means and what other deeper meanings it might convey, research the subject, analyze how it might be received, etc. But wouldn’t the mere act of halting the creative flow to determine any underlying meaning or undiscovered depth, completely stop the process?

A simplistic way of posing that question is: “Do I trust my head or my heart” when it comes to art creation? Is “trusting my head” anathema to the spirit of being a true artist? Wouldn’t paying the dues to become an artist (putting the hard work of practicing and exposing myself to multitude of influences) have already built a mechanism in me that takes me to a deeper and more meaningful place? Or does is simply depend on type of art created?

What I do know is that we generally discount the powerful unspoken voice and creative energy inside of us.  We tend to be over-analytical and over-critical of ourselves and tend to focus on what’s not there rather than what is there.

So I would say that “yes”, I have to go deep. But not deep in the sense of analyzing and synthesizing my creative expression. I have to go deep and truly dive into that vulnerable and authentic side of me. I have to shine a huge flashlight on all the hidden thoughts, feelings and expressions that are too shy to show their face. I should take a big bucket of paint and splash it on the canvas with the energy of my heart. I should strum the guitar so hard as to loosens and free those feelings. I should blog carelessly and boldly with thoughts that magically find their way to the tips of my fingers. I should honor those thoughts and words as they come from an unedited and illogical side of me.

Shawn