I have a sheet of paper on the wall in my studio – its a sheet of newsprint that I tore out of the sketch pad because I was in a hurry to write something down before it left my aging, leaky brain.
I have meant to write it all out again on some 300 gsm Watercolour Arches paper with a fancy brush, rich calligraphy writing and make it all pretty. But somehow the scratchy scrawl with a felt tip marker seems more appropriate.
The first two words are “show up” … just that. No inspiring quote distilled from Socrates, no lyrical sonnet from Shakespeare and not even a pithy phrase from my favourite, TS Eliot. Just two words that ask very little from me. Nothing that says get busy, get painting or get stitching. No, just simply to be there – not thinking about what to make, not planning future art. No – just Show Up
With those two words I am asking myself to be, in my studio, present, in the moment and to simply show up.
At this time of year, we are busy with the holiday season, planning for the new year, writing out our art goals, figuring out social media posts and any manner of busy-ness. I admit that I am part of all of those tasks and goals and if I am completely honest, I like that stuff. But it’s not the making of my art, it’s the peripheral, fluffy, but necessary stuff.
I’ve been busy building my online residency workshop Artists Deep Dive and I’ve loved every minute of it…except for the computer/website glitches. But today I showed up in my studio and stood still for a few minutes and just looked around at the fabrics, sewing machine, paints, threads and the blooming Christmas cactus on the window sill. It caught me unawares, the feelings of love, passion, frustration, excitement and more that flowed through me and I realized that I am so fortunate to be there. And it all happens because I show up.
Just before Christmas I lost a dear friend very unexpectedly. Later that week I went into the studio and just showed up. I didn’t work, I sat, I puttered, I looked out the window and somehow I felt just a little bit healed.Sometimes I enter the studio and am lost for choice – too much, too many. Sometimes I just can’t settle my mind. Sometimes I don’t want to work on that piece, especially if I know there’s still hours of stitching to be done.
When we are frozen by inertia – just show up
When we don’t know the next step – just show up
When it seems too hard – just show up
When our art is shit – just show up
Because sometimes it’s enough to just show up.
Can so relate. Your post and my post make a nice pair LOL
Very timely post .
Happy New Year Susan. Love this post.
I love this! I am going to do this, on as many days as I am able. Thanks for this and wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Yes! I agree. I was blocked for about 6 months once. It was horrible. A friend of mine told me to just go into my studio and touch and look at my fabrics. It worked! Thank you for this inspirational post. I, indeed, will show up. Happy New Year!
For all your own reasons and each of our own individual variations, this seems as good a mantra for the coming year as any …
Thank you everyone for the comments and emails you have sent me. I had no idea that this would resonate so strongly! Blessings to all.
So true Susan – I'm always in awe of how a simply phrase can be so powerful! Thank you for sharing here with us.
Ive been doing the "Show Up" thing over a year now. Even heard that voice saying "you'er not an artist", not too long ago. I knew better. I create "something" everyday now, not to prove what I am, but, just because i can.
Thanks Susan you are truly a gift.
Yes I do show up everyday . Will do something today . Showed up early . Looking forward to new adventures.
Thanks Susan. Sorry for your loss. Can’t tell you how reassuring that a talented artist like yourself struggles like the rest of us. My challenge of late is to explore all the reasons I don’t show up more often, then find a way to address them. Thanks for the encouragement and Happy New Year to all.