Listening

I haven't been 'dolling' all week, but I worked some yesterday.  I wasn't really happy with anything I did, and was just about to shut down for the night when, for some reason, I suddenly decided to pull a book of poetry called Sacred Fire, by Nancy Wood.  Each poem is accompanied by a beautiful painting by Frank Howell, of a Native American.  I ended up selecting one of the images, and tried to duplicate it in clay.  My creation bears little resemblance to the painting, though to be fair, I was also trying a totally different technique from what I usually do.  It was an experiment all the way around.  But what was amazing was the experience.  At times, I wanted to cry; at other times I could have sworn one corner of his mouth turned turn up in a smile.  I plan to return to the experiment, this time using my usual sculpting technique, and will see what happens.  Whether the outcome resembles the painting or not, there's a spiritual experience that is more important.  SOMETHING beautiful will come of it, whether it's an amazing face or not.