Do you ever take the time to look at what’s around you? I mean really look at the miraculous things that surround you? Chances are that you’re reading this on a phone. Even if not, you’ll have one. Imagine holding your phone and answer this question. When was the last time you stopped to consider how truly fantastic that is?
In the palm of your hand you hold a powerful computer that allows you to communicate with anyone on the planet! You can see what’s happening right now on the opposite side of the world. Without having to move from your chair!
Read that again and really think about what that means. It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?
I’m reminded of the miracle of technology when I take photographs of work in progress, like this one of St Pancras Station. I took the reference image with my phone, it wasn’t planned at all.
As an artist I’m constantly looking at details until I find something that sets off a cascade of ideas. It can be exhilarating and daunting at the same time. I know I can never realise a fraction of what I can imagine.
- Sometimes, it’s because I fail to capture it, I see something out and about but can’t stop.
- Others are not done, because I haven’t figured out how to make them work yet.
- Some, just don’t appeal
- But, mostly, I don’t have enough time on the earth to complete them, even if I worked 24/7
It’s another sobering thought but one I finds galvanises me into action.
Any artist will tell you, the hardest part of creating art is choosing what to focus on and sticking at it long enough to create art that delights you as an artist. It’s no good relying on other people, you have to figure it out for yourself. What it is you love to do and how to figure out when it’s ready to be seen by the world in general?
This one of St Pancras is from one of over 50 pictures I took on one day. It took me years to reach the decision, “This is the one!”. Now it’s finally coming to life.
