You Haven't Done Everything Yet!
During a recent trip to the library, I picked up The Art & Craft of the Blacksmith: Techniques and Inspiration for the Modern Smith by Robert Thomas. I wanted to learn about something completely different from my daily experience. I know nothing about iron and steel, the only metal I understand is of the musical variety, so diving into this book opened my eyes to a new creative world.
Now, I understand that learning about blacksmithing by reading a book is a lot like learning to play guitar by looking at one through a pawn shop window, but the creative spark has to start somewhere. Even if I never wield a hammer in front of an inferno of fire and molten metal, I can learn something about the creative spirit.
“Blacksmiths have been forging metal for thousands of years, and we still haven’t done it all.” – Robert Thomas
I honestly get tired of the cynical people spouting Ecclesiastes like they are modern-day prophets. I get it, in our digital world, everything’s been done and “will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” But frankly, Thomas’s quote opens my mind to unlimited possibilities. Could it be that there is actually no end to what we can do?
“I will always be a student of the craft.” – Robert Thomas
When we approach our work from the perspective of a student, we must behave differently. It’s not about passing the test or proving we have the required set of skills, it’s about actively combining the pursuit of what we don’t know with what we understand and what we can do. It’s messy, sparks (and profanity) fly through the workshop, but that is the process built upon variability and adaptability, not certainty and rigidity.
“My career is not about attaining mastery—it’s about pursuing it.” – Robert Thomas
Spark Your Creativity!
When I sit with Thomas’s quotes, I feel a sense of relief. I don’t need perfect answers or original projects to prove my work is valuable. Instead, I can let those demands go and get to work.
What do you need to let go of to pursue mastery in your creative journey?
What does being a student look like for you?
What would happen if you believed “we still haven’t done it all”?
“Our Gift to the Universe” with Ashley Wren Collins & Jordan Rockwell (GWTW890)
Today’s guests couldn’t have said a more profound statement during our conversation: “Art is our gift to the universe.” Ashley Wren Collins and Jordan Rockwell are the co-authors of She Wrote, He Wrote: A New York Love Story, here to talk about their shared love for art and romantic comedies. In our conversation, they talk about their creative partnership, cracking jokes on the beach of St. Martin, and how they worked together to write a novel, record an audiobook, and produce a podcast. We also talk about the rules of romantic comedies, bringing personal experiences to fictional stories, seeing themselves in their characters, and how writing can heal ourselves. Most importantly, Ashley and Jordan are shining examples of why you explore creative projects outside of your preferred genre, you end up having a lot of fun telling good stories with great characters.
“Team Works” with Ryan Erlandsen (BYIS2E19)
In this episode, we explore team work and the many ways to build a cast and crew for independent projects. From gas station casting and coffee shop networking to bringing people of all skill levels together, Ryan shares his experiences of finding the right—and sometimes wrong—people for his projects. As someone who often approaches my own creative projects by myself, I also share how collaborating with Ryan has positively impacted my work.
Newsletter Notes:
Today’s sonic soundtrack is Quake by Nine Inch Nails.
The photo in the graphic above is Craftsman Shaping Metal on Anvil in Workshop from Envato Elements.
I set “Spark Your Creativity” in ITC Serif Gothic® and “On The Podcasts!” in Headline Gothic ATF Round.
Thank you to Deadbolt Design for designing the Chris Martin Studios 20th anniversary badge below.
