The Space of No Idea

A lot of the times when I’m making art, I feel like I don’t have any ideas and the vault just has flies coming out of it. I feel uninspired, no fire in my belly, no grand vision that is bursting at the seams to get out onto the page. I overthink what medium to use, where to go, what direction to turn in. I don’t even have a hunch of what to make!

I used to allow this space of no ideas to make me feel really insecure and scared. Scared that I’m not creative enough to come up with something and even more scared that I don’t have the skills or the talent to bring it to life. So when my professor told me to come up with a project that included 5 pieces of ceramic items that have a link between them and a meaning behind the collection, I decided to try a different thought process.

I still felt the fear, but instead of feeding it, I decided to get curious about this unknown space that I always run in to. What happens if I just allow myself to ruminate instead of forcing and rushing to find a plan of action? What would happen if I trusted that there was an infinite amount of ideas out there and that I’m worthy of receiving one of them? Better yet, I am GOING to receive one. So I sat down and did nothing. I didn’t rush to the clay bin, I didn’t snatch up my sketchpad, I didn’t have a big “aha” moment. I sat in stillness and waited.

Then a question came to mind: “What area of my life would I love to deepen?”

And then another question: “Is there any area of my life that I could make sacred? Could I create a new ritual somewhere that connects me to myself and my desires more?”

I immediately thought of how much I love Chinese tea trays. The ritual, the connection, the intention, the ceremony. It not only looks beautiful, but it’s a sacred practice.

So that’s where I started. My inspiration is the beautiful Chinese tea tray. So that led me to my next question: “How can I make this unique and mine?”

I started thinking about what I would use a tray for.

I knew it was my writing and study practice. I knew it was my self-expression and my craft. The space where ideas are born could be a deeper, more sacred practice with this tray. It’s at the center of the most important thing that I’m building right now; my creative identity and community.

I thought of everything I love that brings me into the present moment. These items are: hot coffee (or tea), candles, incense, and a nice pen or whatever I’m using to create. So there were my five items.

A coffee cup, a candle holder, a pen holder, an incense holder, and a tray…

But then my professor asked me how are they all connected? They could all be used individually so how can you create a piece that’s all connected?

Thank you Professor Komatsu, because that question pushed me and my project a bit further and I came up with the idea to make each piece reliant on the tray to be functional. The ceramic cup’s handle is too long and has a slot that it must go in to be able to be held upright. The candle holder’s design is imbalanced on its own and must be put in its slot in the tray to be used; I did this for each piece and created a unique ceremonial study and drafting tray. I even made the incense holder a detachable leg for the tray., so the tray relies on one of the pieces to be complete and usable as well.

I have not finished the piece quite yet, and it has been challenging to say the least.

But, I accomplished coming into a beautiful and brilliant idea that makes me proud, all from thin air.

From nothing; and if I can do it once, I can do it again.

It was so easy when I just trusted that I am worthy of making great things and creating beautiful pieces that have sustenance and connection.

I was always taught to work harder, to push more, even when you’re exhausted. I can’t function like that, ideas don’t come to me like that. I was always taught to work that way.. but when I tried a different way, a better idea came with a lot more ease.

Anything you want to do, you are meant to do. It may just be a matter of figuring out how to do it in the best way that works for you. I implore you to experiment in the empty space between where you are now and where you want to be, it might just bring up new facets of capability and identity that you didn’t know were capable of being.