Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

I was away from home, visiting much loved family, reading late at night "The Long Way Home" by Louise Penny. I was about three quarters of the way through the book,these words leapt out at me. 

    "By offering a second chance. One last chance. Don't get me wrong, I believe in using your head. But not in spending too much time in there.  Fear lives in the head. And courage lives in the heart. The job is to get from one to the other.

    "And between the two is the lump in the throat" said Gamache.

(Ruth and Inspector Gamache,  two of the books main characters discussing the creative crisis that Peter, a successful artist, is having.)

Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of reading most of what Ms. Penny has published. She has a unique and, in my way of thinking, an incredible gift of developing characters from the 'inside out'. Meaning that each individual written about has their inner-most motivations respectfully and thoughtfully revealed. The results are that, as a reader, you not only get to know her characters, you get to feel her characters.

My heart sort of went ker-thump when I read this. Every word so related to me and my artistic experience. At thirty I chose to play it safe with a traditional career rather that following my heart that said "move to Santa Fe and paint". But at forty some odd, I was given a second- and what I believed to be- one last chance to pursue my dream. AND I TOOK IT! I finally let the courage of my heart overrule the fear that lived in my head. But that was only the first step. For me, it is a battle that must be re-fought on occasions, but the first battle was by far the most difficult. No, I did not move to Santa Fe, but I did start -and do- practice my craft everyday here in Colorado. (Heck, I'm only a five hour drive from Santa Fe, and I25 have become great friends over the years!)

Oh, and that lump in the throat feeling? Well, that comes and goes. Oddly, it's when I am not feeling any lump there that I now pay attention to what I am painting and how I am artistically growing. You see, only when I am pushing my limits- my creative boundaries, does that old lump in the throat reappears. So, when it gets hard for me to swallow, I now know to listen closely to what my heart is telling me and to balance that with the wisdom stashed in my head...... not with the fear that apparently still has an apartment there.

Summation?? Every artist knows that the path chosen is not an easy one. BUT THE REWARDS?????? Life experienced at if fullest!

Do I hear an amen?

Inspiration comes, inspiration goes. That's a reality for the vast majority people regardless of gender or occupation.

However, we who call ourselves artists are usually far more sensitive to the ebb and flow of our inspiration than most others. Since beginning my love affair with the arts....age 2, I think it was....I have always seen, heard and talked of the artist's muse, but I have to admit I really didn't have any identifiable experience with a personal one! In fact, I remember thinking that a muse had to be (a) female (b) a live model (c) sexy, sexy, sexy, and (d) the sole property of male artists. (Of course, it was all so true that all I ever read about and heard about were MALE artists........women artists were, well, left out of important art histories and relegated to footnotes, if they even got that!)

But this inequity is not what I am here to talk about......

I am here to introduce you to my first muse!  She made her appearance in my studio via an abstract painting. Others saw her there before I did, but once I recognized her, I've allowed her to give me a true inspirational push......

                                     .... so, please meet Tula.

                                                                                                                   "Tula Brings Tea" 20"x 24"

Now, I always thought that a muse would have to be on the same plain of reality that I exist on, but surprise! Tula isn't.  I also thought she might just be a straightforward 'character' that would appear in one painting, then leave without further musings.  However, I was very wrong! Tula has very much taken on a life of her own and has apparently tapped into my subconscious being to become an enjoyable and inspiring entity in her own right. Now, you may ask, "Do I talk to her?" My answer is, " YOU BETYA!". Now, before you begin to wonder about what 'home' to put me in, know that I don't hear a voice answering me.  But on some unique level, I do get an answer. 

The question has been asked: Is Tula really me? Or am I really Tula? Hmmmm.....well, I do know that she has many of my qualities and attitudes, but I also know that she challenges many of my here-to-for practices as an artist. SUCH AS "I will never do illustrative type art"! (How narrow minded of me.) Tula also challenges me to relax and tag along on a delightful ride of creativity. She is helping me tap into what I most value and enjoy about my family and my on-going life experience. Tula, in a very Nordic tradition, wants the best of me!  I just hope I can give it to her in the series of paintings she has prompted me to complete.

It is so nice to know that we women artists also can have muses. (Hey, maybe some art historian will mention mine in the distant future!) And, that said, muses can be presented to us various contexts! They can be sexy, demanding, funny, or just a pain in the rear, but know that if you should be blessed with a muse, you should never ignore it's promptings!  

Do you now, or have you ever had a muse? TELL ME ( AND TULA) ALL!