Your Bank Holiday Monday mote
Finding your voice: from mess to masterpiece
Recently, I was introduced to Picasso’s artwork Boy Leading a Horse, and it struck an immediate chord.
The painting, which I’d never set eyes on before is, well, not quite Picasso - and yet, most definitely is.
At first glance, the image of a naked boy leading a horse is jarring, as most of us know Picasso for his Cubism, Neo-classical and Surrealist works. What you’re looking at here is ‘early draft’ Picasso.
He created this piece in 1905, when he was in his mid-twenties and still learning, and searching, for his own artistic expression. To put it into perspective, one of his most famous works, Guernica, was painted 32 years later, in 1937.
It’s a reminder that every artist starts somewhere, often with influences and styles that may not fully reflect their true voice. But where they end up is down to persistence, resilience and consistency. (It’s those 10,000 hours all over again). Okay, and in Picasso’s case, maybe a dab or two of genius.
Progression in art (and writing) isn’t always smooth. Just like that studious boy guiding the horse, we can often find ourselves trying to steer ideas in different directions. Sometimes it’s a graceful trot and other times the horse refuses to budge. Ultimately, it’s essential to recognise that every brushstroke, or plot twist, is part of our growth.
Picasso’s journey from traditional representation to Cubism is a perfect example of how experimentation can lead to wonderful discoveries. He didn’t shy away from change, he embraced it. More than that, he wanted to challenge himself. Drawing people in the same way everyone else did bored him, so he found another way.
And that’s a valuable lesson for us all: the road to finding our unique expression may require stepping outside of our hygge worlds in order to challenge what we know.
Get it right, get it wrong, just get it done.
If I look back at my earlier attempts at novel writing there are parallels, notably with theme and arcs, in terms of what I’m currently writing but how I’m approaching this novel is different to anything I’ve created before. I’m allowing myself to go places I didn’t think were possible. Or viable. Or potentially, saleable.
The magnificent thing is that I’m not trying to be, or sound, like anyone else. I have a clear vision of what this story is, and it’s not something I want to articulate here as it’s all going on the page of the book. This may or may not be a good thing but I don’t care. I finally feel free.
Boy Leading a Horse reminded me that discovering my voice has been an ongoing process that has required trust, patience, dedication and a willingness to explore.
So I say to you - and I’m sure Pablo would agree - that we should wholly embrace the journey, knowing that every gnarly twist and turn will bring us closer to our unique expression and goals.
Saddle up, scribes, there’s still a long way to go…
Lisa
Want to know why I started a writers group? Find out here.
The thrill of joining a writers group (Part 1)
A few days after landing in Los Angeles, in January 2007, I drove myself in a hastily-purchased beat-up white Ford Taurus to a screenwriting class, in Santa Monica.