Deeply Seeing was the title of the text for this week’s assignment. Grey lays out the steps of the creative process below:

1) formulation

2) saturation

3) incubation

4) inspiration

5) translation

6) integration

Although these are all integral in creating artwork, inspiration is the one that is most emphasized in this week’s discussion.

Grey says, “For artists, the goal is to reach a state of mind where art flows irresistably through them” (p. 80). Spirituality is something that is unseen, and extremely difficult to describe, but it is not difficult at all to feel or experience, you know when you have reach that deeper connection. Grey specifically focuses on inspiration, as it is experienced and developed in an infinite number of ways by artists.

“Inspiration is the most mysterious step in the creative process. The artist is possessed by a creative force, overtaken by a vision and driven to create. Inspiration is beyond reason” (p. 81).

Regarding creative spirituality, Grey gives an example of how many artist must physically draw a masterpiece that has previously been created by an artist themselves, so that they can fully and completely “see” it. It is difficult to wrap my head around interpreting creative spirituality from an artists perspective, simply because I think each individual has their own version of what that looks like. The main goal I think of creating art though, is as mentioned in the text, to fulfill your inspiration. That is the true goal in what constitutes ones art as successful. Money, fame, and friends approval are all other qualifications of success, but I think the most true and one that will mean the most to the artist is fulfilling your inspiration.

“To in-spire is to be in-spirit”. Inspiration means access to spirit” (p. 82).

Bibliography:

Grey, A. (2001). Art as Spiritual Practice. The Mission of Art (1st ed., pp. 205-233). Boston & London: Shambhala.