Thursday, August 27, 2009

Evoking the muse, naming her and letting her fly!



The muse.

Recently, the concept of creating for one’s muse or with one’s muse has come up in several intriguing interviews I have heard and loved. Also, a few musical acts I have discovered recently have adopted an alter-ego for the purpose of creating music (Bat for Lashes, St. Vincent... you get the idea). The synchronicity of it all made me think it was high time for me to get in touch with my own muse and work with her to make beautiful things.

What is a muse?

The concept of a muse originated in ancient Greece and evolved through the telling of myths over time. Essentially, the muses are goddesses or spirits of sorts who inspire creation. The number of classical muses grew from three to nine, one for each of their respective disciplines: epic poetry, history, lyrical poetry, music, tragedy, choral poetry, dance, comedy, and astronomy.

This classical concept of the muse has changed over time to embody an artist’s source of inspiration or the ideal for whom an artist creates his or her masterpiece. I recall when Sofia Coppola was the muse for the brilliant fashion designer Marc Jacobs. I LOVED it.

Who is my muse?

Her name is Ruby Leona Oceanblue. Her hair is electric blond, brown, strawberry gold. She piles on jewelry and wears caftans over cut-offs. She works as a medium. A reader of the cards, the palms, the energy. She inhabits her senses. She lives out in the woods by the ocean in a geodesic dome where she meditates and makes music. Her clients visit her in a tipi on the edge of her property. She has a big, red dog and a husband who cooks. {Okay, that might be a bit of truth and wish from my own life!}

How to find the muse?

This is the fun part! There are all kinds of methods to getting in touch with the muse. I found mine by first taking a meditative seat, getting very quiet, and then visualizing this energy I wanted to create for. After meditating, I collaged and collaged, pulling colors and textures that drew me in. Honestly, there is no “wrong” way to find your muse and your muse will evolve just as you do. Next week or month I could be creating for a completely different character than Ruby Leona!

What to do with the muse?

Create for your muse.
Draw or paint the likeness of your muse in a style she would appreciate.
Dress for your muse.
Play music your muse would dig.
Do something that your muse would do.
The sky is truly the limit.

Have you a muse? Tell us!
All good things,
k
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{photo credit: self-portrait by Courtney Brooke.}

More muse resources:
Craftcast interview with Susan Tuttle.
Susan Tuttle's blog: Ilka's Attic.
Tranquility du Jour interview with Jennifer Lee.
Jennifer Lee's website.

6 comments:

  1. Hi Kelly,

    How fun to meet Ruby Leona Oceanblue. She sounds delightful! Thanks for mentioning my site and my podcast with Kimberly Wilson. I loved how you shared your process here of meeting your inner muse. BTW, I love Bat for Lashes!!

    Jenn

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  2. Ooh what a great post and what a delicious description of your muse! I love it!

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  3. *)
    thank you both so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments!

    Jenn, my pleasure! I loved the interview and hope to check out your kit.

    Danette, *))) thank you! and i LOVE the word "delicious!"

    all good things,
    k

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  4. I have always liked this way of playing with creative energy; and Ruby sounds lovely.

    Of course, the persona who can be experienced a bit through the window of this blog is an intriguing and quite beautiful muse as well...

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  5. this is such an amazing post! I will have to think about who I write for/who my muse is... maybe I have many muses, multiple sources of inspiration.

    much love!

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  6. I love the name of your muse :) and i agree - Jennifer's work is very, very muse-worthy!

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