Around the Edges

Dance of Life
Double page altered book spread 38.8 x 19.7cm
© Cherry Jeffs 2013

If you are looking to deepen your creative voice, the edges might be where you need to look.

Around the edges is where we often do our most authentic work. Here, away from the glare of inner and outer critics, we can relax and be ourselves; we can courageously experiment; we can carelessly play.

The edges contain our private musings; the work that is not intended for public consumption.

As artists our edges are in our sketchbooks, altered books or collaged journal pages. They are also in the other creative media we use which we don't quite view as 'work' and which we may label as hobbies or pastimes: Taking and altering photos, creating slideshows or videos, quilting, blogging, the list is endless.

As writers or creatives whose main 'work' involves different media our edges look a little different, but they are there.

So if the direction of your main creative work doesn't ring true just now, take a look at what's going on on the periphery – in the work you make when you say you're 'not working'. Be prepared for some surprising discoveries.

What's happening along your edges? Do share in the comments below.

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