Flow

I'm very interested in the idea of flow. At the end of the day, I think its presence or absence defines our lives on some fundamental level. But what causes it? As an artist, it feels like performing a dance between gaining control and losing it, both of which are equally desirable. The control part is obvious enough (the pen is in your hand, the words come from your fingertips), what's less obvious is the lack of control. This part may be best expressed by the concept of a muse; an outside source of inspiration. No one controls the muse. Hence the dilemma, but also the fun. Creation becomes a hairy business. Unpredictable. Reactive as well as active. Yes, it's reactive because you're reacting to yourself, but the "you" may be the muse talking through you, which is not really "you." If you know what I mean. In any case, I suspect flow works best when we enter a delicate state of dynamic negotiation between control and surrender, between action and reaction. Sweet surrender really is sweet. When it creates flow. And it won't rot your teeth! (may even put money in the bank!)

Anyway, those are my random thoughts on this particular Monday, the twentieth day of July in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine. I'll update my comic later this evening.