Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the "freakishly successful" novel, Eat Pray Love, spoke back in February of 2009 about the surprising potential origins of creative inspiration. She mentioned how back in Ancient Greece and Rome the artistic success was all thanks to your "daemon" or "genius" -- or as she put it, genie. Basically it was believed that some other entity, a "fairy" of some sort, took a moment to light up your work and you didn't really have anything to do with how good it was. She also mentioned how creative working people has such a rep for being "alcoholic manic depressives" and are often troubled buy their one success in their life that is sure to overshadow any work following it. This is something all creative people face, and Elizabeth knows firsthand with her huge novel that millions of people have read.
Then she goes into the possibility that maybe one shouldn't get down about how they'll never have a work as successful as that one was, rather feel honored that the invisible creative muse stopped by to see them and in turn lit up their life some. Putting that space between yourself and your work allows for some comfort to be salvaged if the piece happens to be disappointing and just plainly awful.
I completely identify with this presentation and feel like viewing it would truly be helpful for anyone who makes things in their life. There is a certain amount of comfort offered in the notion of separating oneself from the work when it is likely to be criticized by others. For instance, as a first year student at art school, critiques are a huge part of the learning process but that doesn't take away from the fact that they easily change confidence in a work into a pile of negativity. Thinking of the creative aspect as something that is loaned to you on occasion to assist you in creating something that will blow minds is a safe way to go about working creatively, but not necessary the best option for people who are just starting out on the voyage of their artistic growth.
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