The following short story is inspired by a thought experiment that seeks to solve the question of what I truly want to make; the creative expression that would satisfy on a soul level.

***

Dawn creeps down from the treetop canopy to dapple my Studio Cottage in the forest; surrounded by large old growth trees, a rippling creek tumbles over moss covered rocks, gently glinting with sunlight and moonlight.

I’m sculpting the wild spirit of horses and the life-force, mystical calling they have upon the human heart. My heart is lifted beyond the mundane, elevated by the sheer power and beauty of horses at play or at peace. Sculpting them expresses a secret language of longing and fulfillment.

Sculpting in earth-born clay, at once tender, soft and strong; viscerally communicating my love for the form and energy of my subjects, my days are filled with the push-pull rhythms of my arms and hands. A wooden tray holds a variety of metal and wood tools beside the simple turntable that holds the current project on my work bench. I delight in seeking just the right tool to achieve my desired effect on the clay form before me.

Power, exhilaration, serenity and tenderness emanate from the forms that come to life at my work bench.

I’m surrounded by the patina of dark, aged wood, stone foundations and textured plaster walls in time-worn white. The gentle creak of floor and singing kettle offer accompaniment to my motions. Light slants inward from large windows, glowing golden in the afternoon and evening, sparkling with silver in the morning. Soothing moody shadows soften the corners of the studio while the window light bathes my work table.

My studio space is large enough to accommodate my need to step back and contemplate my work from various angles. There’s a soft chair in the gentle shadows that comforts my tired body after a day of work, yet lets me observe the work table as the shadows grow over the forms of horses, wild and free that come to life there.

I sip my hot tea and eat a small meal while contentment and wonder fill my heart, grateful for this oasis of creativity.

***

The question now becomes what are my first steps in making this vision come true?

It would appear that pursuing making sculpted jewelry is not the right next move. In fact, pursuing small sculpture in clay is probably what I will be doing.

This slow approach to exploring sculpture in cost approachable media will fit the constraints of my life at this time.

We are currently in the process of preparing to sell our home of the last 20+ years and finding a home more suitable to our needs as a family. We need a home that offers our mobility challenged daughter more freedom, more wholeness.

This will be a big undertaking and, God willing, we will be in a good position to house hunt in a timely manner. The process will take a lot of energy that I will not then have to spend in the studio. So be it.

What does this make possible?

I can focus on translating my heart into sculpture, and in the process dwell in peace amidst the chaos.

Good goals I think.

~ Renée