Thursday Thoughts...

“A bird gets up every morning and sings its song. It does not wait to hear what other birds are singing, nor does it look to see if another bird is getting more notice. It knows its song innately and sings. This is nature: knowing your own song.” 

Michele Oka Doner

A little bit late to the party of Michele Oka Doner whose work I have just discovered and am intrigued by.  Having first read her words, then sought her out, her art reflects this quote perfectly.

"Knowing your own song" seems a really joyous and confirming way in which to describe your own artwork and the way you go about it and how you have travelled to be here. I love the connection to nature and birds here, and feel it is ever so true to say that we may not know what we sing, or why - we probably shouldn't compare our song to others, we should simply sing our song - our own personal creative expression.

Whenever comparison comes into play I know I am in trouble.  

Whatever else age and experience bring, I am forever grateful that they have brought me the understanding that my work is my work. 

It is work only I can make. 

And it is the only work that I can make.

And if you have ever listened to a kookaburra laugh, you know that nobody else could do that; their laugh is their song, and theirs alone.