I have a peculiar fascination with snails, and every morning when I walk out to get our newspapers I am sure to step carefully over the morning's last stragglers making their way to shaded areas before the sun is in full force. Last week I came across this little guy, who, believe it or not, was difficult to photograph because he wouldn't stay still. This photo does not give the perspective I was aiming for, but he was only a little over an inch long. I'm not sure what it is about these creatures, but I have always loved them and my husband always laughs at me when I pick up them up off of sidewalks and put them in a safe area so they won't get stepped on and squashed. Is it not the craziest coincidence that the Beanie Baby called Swirly was a snail?
I am, as they say, In The Zone, where creating, painting and writing my book are all happening in that magical, flowing space where I feel like the Creative Muses are singing their chorus wildly and passionately, and that energy is being swept directly from their voices, through my hands and onto paper. I am not always in this zone, and before too long I will have to shift gears entirely in order to scan, photograph and format more than 150 pages by the end of July, so for right now I am splashing about and laughing my head off as I ride these powerful waves to the horizon. I wake up and can't wait to get into my studio; at the end of each day my first few minutes in the shower are spent peeling paint off of my hands. In the middle of fixing dinner, I race to find a piece of paper to jot down a thought, a line or an idea and before I walk downstairs to fix my coffee I can't help but look at some of my latest creations to make sure I am still happy with them.
Whatever this magic combination of light, inspiration, passion and circumstance is, I'm going with it...trying to enjoy it rather than analyze it, trying to let it flow through me rather than clinging to it desperately.
You're so lovely to read... I am the EXACT same way with the snails. I live in SE England and constantly try to save them as there are LOADS of snails about.
I'm so happy to find a kindred snail lover!
Best,
KA
Posted by: KA Compson | July 06, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Imagining you floating from one creative page to the next...have fun! xx
Posted by: linni | April 22, 2008 at 01:22 PM
so beautiful to read that you and the universe are so in sync in this moment.
xoxo
Posted by: schmoops | April 22, 2008 at 12:00 PM
you go Swirly!!! So excited for your book and all your work..Can't wait to see you in Wisconsin! and those snails are good with garlic by the way..
ciao
Posted by: Justin Davanzo | April 22, 2008 at 08:09 AM
You go, Swirly Girl! I find that place hard to get to. Enjoy!
Posted by: ann | April 21, 2008 at 04:14 PM
My day has been a combination of being out of the zone and finally finding my way back into it, yet in reading your blog entry, I'm fully into it now - SMILING!
Enjoy the zone!
Posted by: attaining creativity | April 21, 2008 at 03:46 PM
you go girl!
Posted by: michelle/tangled wings | April 21, 2008 at 02:28 PM
dang....do you have a map to the zone. i am lost! is it like following the yellow brick road?
happy monday.
Posted by: kelly | April 21, 2008 at 12:24 PM
I'm so happy for you! It is indeed a glorious morning! Times like you're talking about make me wish I was two years old again, outside dancing in my diaper! :) Hugs!
www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com
Posted by: indigene | April 21, 2008 at 10:39 AM