MECHANICS

Pictured above is an nonsensical idea of just some of the things artist Brian Drake can use to create ...and none of them go together.

I am not sure that I will be able to articulate this very well, but at this point in my life, the mechanics of implementation are my biggest hurdles to creation. Not technique, but the physical requirements to turn energy into creative output.

Explain
There are about 10 things that have to happen in just about every discipline, before a single physical instance of energy becomes creation. When I am working on furniture, after the drawings are done, a material list is made and a cut list is developed, there comes a time to actually engage the tools and begin crafting. Technique, at least in my mind, is the way you work the material to realize the design. It’s the production and refinement of a creative idea in physical form. Thats not what I am writing about.

I am referring to the mechanics, before a single cut is made. It's the shop, the tables, the guides, the clamps, dust collection, power cable management, how you trigger the saws, what buttons are held in what combination on a CMS, the lift mechanism on the router table and so on. All of this is considered before a single item is cut and weeks before a piece of furniture is actually crafted. With this comes a certain muscle memory and pattern of work and movement. And it has a physical demand on the hands and body. Now, sit at a piano. Not an easy transition in the same day. At least for me.

More
It takes about 9 moves before you can trigger a photo in a typical large format photo shoot. And none of it got shit to do with being "creative". Compose the shot. Ground glass focus, applying swings/tilts and rise as needed. Take multiple meter readings, set the aperture and shutter speed based on the reading and your experience with film. Close the preview aperture or release the bulb timer and make sure to set the shutter speed and final f/stop correctly. Load the film holder, pull the dark slide .... trigger the shutter, push the dark slide in. You now have exposed one image to film. Depending on location and environment, this could take an hour, or a day. Then, do it agin for the next shot. Rinse and repeat for every other image. Now grab a paint brush and execute a fine line across the canvas, or render a piece of typography. For me, it is a tough transition.

What About Music?
Ugh. Actually playing multiple instruments and recording an idea for consumption? That is double the steps of everything above. I will skip all those steps …just know there is a lot. That's probably why half my house is wreck with the piano and drum set mic’d up 24/7 and rolling rack gear as furniture. For real, mic stands out, cables everywhere. It can be cool, to sit down and realize an idea ...but it 'anit easy on the eyes and it can be kind of daunting, just sitting there looking at it all.

So What?
Aside from having the space to record music, shoot film, paint and create furniture, there is just a large physical demand that is so different from each discipline, that my body almost gets confused. Sometimes I literally freeze up. For real. Just frozen for a few seconds, while my body tries to remember what it is supposed to do. Again ...none of this has shit to do with the actually being "creative". You may get all the above scenarios just right. That does not mean the idea was worth the effort. But that's a whole different post.

If you have solved this problem, let me know. I am getting more physically tied in knots every day. The obvious answer is to stop doing certain things. But that idea sucks …at least for now. Seriously, if you have ideas, reach out and share them. As an example, I am currently trying basic yoga poses and stretching to focus my mind and work my muscle groups differntly. It was this or take up drinking again. That's on the table too.