Oh Em, this is everything this amateur wanted to write but couldn't because the heat and dust in this relentless wind are suffocating me of all creativity.
"The word amateur traces its roots to the Latin amare, “to love”.
It is difficult to imagine a better word for this ancient longing to create."
Hence the word 'amour' in French also meaning to have 'a relationship' with something or someone... In this case to create for the sake of love. Gorgeous... I am now going to crawl back into my shady corner and try again...
Long live the longing of amateurs !
Sending love and very warm hugs from my hill where at least this Bastille Day holiday is very quiet... 💛xx
Thank you Kay. I think that the concepts of amateur and professional can live peacefully together when considering the etymology of both words. Whatever happens in terms of publication or other measures of 'success', which I do very much hope for too, I never want it to eclipse the reason for doing it in the first place. xx
Love this Emily! Thank you for being our Creativity cheerleader!
"Why willingly devote hundreds of hours to a story that may never be published, a drawing that may never be sold, artwork that may never be exhibited?"
Of course out of love! yes yes yes. And we share too, out of love. Because love naturally reaches outward and we want to share what we love with those that we love. Thank you for reading Jo, always lovely to chat with you here xx
Gosh how I needed to read this today Emily. Feeling the self imposed pressure to produce, to create, to offer, and all the while I feel myself sometimes slipping away from what drew me to creation in the first place: awe, wonder, curiosity. This felt like a letter from one's child self to one's adult self, whispering "Remember? Let's play!"
I will forever embrace the word amateur from now on as some cherished way of being. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this lovely reminder.
I understand completely, Sabrina. We love to share what we make, because love reaches outwards, but you are so right - the pressure to produce can eclipse the original longing. Thank you so much for reading x
What a wonderful post Emily! I’m going to have to print that last paragraph out and put it my wall as a reminder, that before all this, there was a need to create out of love💛
Thank you Gabby. I have found it to be such a comfort to learn the etymology of the word - I think that it also explains why we long to share our art with others too - because love naturally reaches outward. Thank you for reading and for your kind comments x
"How do you measure the value of that which asks so much and promises so little?''
By wearing your heart so openly and honestly on your sleeve for all to see my dearest Emily.
By putting into the softest words the descriptions of ordinary things in this beautiful world that so many humans take for granted and do not see. Maybe a glance, but never as truly as you. And then....to take and make them even more beautiful and share them as someone who has learned so professionally, gained only through dedicated years of loving. Priceless. 🧡
A lifetime seems so little time to notice and fall in love with everything this beautiful planet and the beautiful souls within it have to offer. Thank you for your kind words Sally xx
BLOWN away by this: "The word amateur traces its roots to the Latin amare, 'to love'." Thank you Emily for this precious gift of understanding. And the photo of the swallows who have my heart for all time. <3
I love the etymology of the word, Stephanie - it felt like a revelation and I'm glad to share it. Thank you for your kindness in reading and your thoughtful words. The swallows are magical - I love to watch them x
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words Sumaya. I feel that when we create from love, the opinions of others cannot touch it, and when we share, we share too from love, because we love it and we think others might love it too. It explains so much to me of how I feel inside when I create and share.
Thank you so much Julia, your words are always so encouraging. I have come to love the word since learning of its origins - there feels so much pressure to value art in modern terms of productivity and recognition and payback and the cost in terms of time and money and energy and put a price tag on it, to deem it unworthy or wasteful if there's no financial payback. But if the reason is that we create because for the love, then whatever follows, 'success or failure', cannot touch it.
What a beautiful essay! It made my day. Loved reading every word of it. Was reminded of Feynman's thoughts about why awards carry no meaning for him.
Thank you for reading and your kind words. Yes, it feels very similar. Art for arts sake!
Oh Em, this is everything this amateur wanted to write but couldn't because the heat and dust in this relentless wind are suffocating me of all creativity.
"The word amateur traces its roots to the Latin amare, “to love”.
It is difficult to imagine a better word for this ancient longing to create."
Hence the word 'amour' in French also meaning to have 'a relationship' with something or someone... In this case to create for the sake of love. Gorgeous... I am now going to crawl back into my shady corner and try again...
Long live the longing of amateurs !
Sending love and very warm hugs from my hill where at least this Bastille Day holiday is very quiet... 💛xx
I love this, Emily. Yes!
We follow the longing to create in response to a call from our hearts. As you say - out of need, out of wonder, out of love.
That’s the important thing - not the notion that the value of a piece comes only from external validation.
(This of course may help pay the bills - but it is the act of creating that feeds our hearts!)
Thank you Kay. I think that the concepts of amateur and professional can live peacefully together when considering the etymology of both words. Whatever happens in terms of publication or other measures of 'success', which I do very much hope for too, I never want it to eclipse the reason for doing it in the first place. xx
Yes. xx
Love this Emily! Thank you for being our Creativity cheerleader!
"Why willingly devote hundreds of hours to a story that may never be published, a drawing that may never be sold, artwork that may never be exhibited?"
Why?
Out of Love of course! Long live the amateurs!
Of course out of love! yes yes yes. And we share too, out of love. Because love naturally reaches outward and we want to share what we love with those that we love. Thank you for reading Jo, always lovely to chat with you here xx
Gosh how I needed to read this today Emily. Feeling the self imposed pressure to produce, to create, to offer, and all the while I feel myself sometimes slipping away from what drew me to creation in the first place: awe, wonder, curiosity. This felt like a letter from one's child self to one's adult self, whispering "Remember? Let's play!"
I will forever embrace the word amateur from now on as some cherished way of being. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this lovely reminder.
I understand completely, Sabrina. We love to share what we make, because love reaches outwards, but you are so right - the pressure to produce can eclipse the original longing. Thank you so much for reading x
Ohhhhh this made me so happy. In defense of, in reverent bow, to the amateur. ❤️
In defence of being an amateur - yes! Thank you so much Kimberly. xx
What a wonderful post Emily! I’m going to have to print that last paragraph out and put it my wall as a reminder, that before all this, there was a need to create out of love💛
Thank you Gabby. I have found it to be such a comfort to learn the etymology of the word - I think that it also explains why we long to share our art with others too - because love naturally reaches outward. Thank you for reading and for your kind comments x
"How do you measure the value of that which asks so much and promises so little?''
By wearing your heart so openly and honestly on your sleeve for all to see my dearest Emily.
By putting into the softest words the descriptions of ordinary things in this beautiful world that so many humans take for granted and do not see. Maybe a glance, but never as truly as you. And then....to take and make them even more beautiful and share them as someone who has learned so professionally, gained only through dedicated years of loving. Priceless. 🧡
A lifetime seems so little time to notice and fall in love with everything this beautiful planet and the beautiful souls within it have to offer. Thank you for your kind words Sally xx
BLOWN away by this: "The word amateur traces its roots to the Latin amare, 'to love'." Thank you Emily for this precious gift of understanding. And the photo of the swallows who have my heart for all time. <3
I love the etymology of the word, Stephanie - it felt like a revelation and I'm glad to share it. Thank you for your kindness in reading and your thoughtful words. The swallows are magical - I love to watch them x
I love this so much, Emily. Such a beautiful reminder that we’re not made to create for anything or anyone but simply to create. Thank you ♥️
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words Sumaya. I feel that when we create from love, the opinions of others cannot touch it, and when we share, we share too from love, because we love it and we think others might love it too. It explains so much to me of how I feel inside when I create and share.
I feel that too, Emily. It helps me to remember it again and again and stay rooted in that feeling as I create and share.
Your description of the swifts was magical Emily and I know that your art is no way 'amateur' in the definition of modern language
Thank you so much Julia, your words are always so encouraging. I have come to love the word since learning of its origins - there feels so much pressure to value art in modern terms of productivity and recognition and payback and the cost in terms of time and money and energy and put a price tag on it, to deem it unworthy or wasteful if there's no financial payback. But if the reason is that we create because for the love, then whatever follows, 'success or failure', cannot touch it.
Totally agree Emily. I think the same applies to the word 'learner'. I hope to always be able to wear the L with pride
Totally. and hobby xx