This passage is from the book, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. She’s a wonderful writer whose work I very much enjoy. This particular book is a manual on writing, but I’ve applied all of her lessons to painting:
Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. [It] was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”
Love to you all,
Jeane
I love this Jeane! In the movie, “Contact” (which I love), Jodie Foster’s father says to her (when she’s discouraged that she not making the contacts on her radio set that she was hoping for) …”Baby steps…baby steps”. I tell my staff when something isn’t working…”just put one foot in front of the other…then another one”. Its something I learned late in life, but it works…so I’m glad I DID learn it! I’ll remember this one “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.” ;o)
Yes, it’s a great one to help us remember. It’s funny, sweet and profound all at the same time. Adam, who does all the technical stuff for the blog, is in Italy right now. Because he was going to be gone for a couple of weeks, he had to post a ton of pieces in advance to cover his being gone. It was quite a daunting task. He told me that posting Bird by Bird helped him do what he had to do. That made me smile.
Jeane, I love Anne Lamotts books. They always strike some truth deep in our hearts and the stories are so well written and with alot of humor. I love your photo’s…Blessings Marilyn
Yes, she’s wonderful. I believe next Wednesday there will be another post by her, if I’m remembering my dates. I got to see her in person in Seattle once and, if it’s possible to believe, she was even better speaking than she is in her writing. Thank you for the nice compliment about my photos. My sweet old camera just died and I’m having to learn to use a new one so it’s a little rocky right now–like losing an old friend.
Love that little quote! Sounds better than one step at a time! It just has more of a whimsical meaning behind it; The whole story and all. I will definitely remember this: “Bird by Bird, Just take it bird by bird!” when persuing my art and feel I am not getting it done in the timely manner I want to get it done in. I will just remember this quote and think to myself: “Painting by painting, just take painting by painting!” and before I know it I will be where I want to be! Love it, just love it! Thanks Jeane. Take Care, Cin =)
Or take it brush stroke by brush stroke. AND try to be present with your painting. Rather than looking to being finished, or where you want to be, let each stroke be that for you. As someone once said, “The journey is the only destination.” (I can’t remember who said it)
Yes! That sounds like great advice! It is better to concentrate on brush stroke by brush stroke cause like someone once said which makes total sense “The journey is the only destination.” Much better way of looking at it for it will produce a much better painting! Thank you for your different way of looking at it; much appreciated! Take Care, Cin =)
I’m pushing you a little bit but I’d like to encourage you to try to focus on the process of creating, not so much because it will produce a better painting but because, I believe, the connection we feel when we are in the act of creating, the ACTION of painting, is the whole point in making art. I see the finished piece as a happy eventuality, but not the real reason for creating. You might want to go back and read Art As Process Not Product in the Artistic Process category. I just think when we concern ourselves with the finished piece before we even begin, it can stop us from starting.
You are just “suggesting” Jeane….lol. Bird by Bird….
Yes! Glad you see that 🙂