“Take your broken heart, make it into art.” – Carrie Fisher

For today’s Saturday Life Quote I decided to post the final Creative Spirits artwork I did. I used the quote above but now realize I didn’t get it exactly right… and its upside-down… and hard to read… in my messy creation.

A broken heart is not, of course, the only inspiration for art. Sometimes it is a heart full of good things. But Fisher’s statement has more to do with art as therapy. Whatever it is that you do that is creative, lean on that when you are down, discouraged, sad.

I’m not particularly proud of this artwork posted here but it did come from a genuine place. I am not particularly happy right now with the state of my life. But I can make some of that discouragement and disillusionment into art. It is difficult for me to see right now how that works as therapy, but I do know that my brain and spirit are in an entirely different place when I take up a pencil or pen, when I paint or draw, than during the bulk of my day. Art has helped me find some solace and beat back some depression. That is enough.

I want to encourage you all to promote the creative spirit in your own lives, whatever shape that takes. It is not a frivolous or useless thing. It is something in you that can be the means to carry you through all the ridiculous crap life slings at you. That, most certainly, makes it enough.