The Art of Puttering And Other Potions For Empowered Artists
It’s funny how often our conversations in my Embodied Artist support group, Tuning In, have come around to cleaning and clearing, more specifically puttering. However, puttering often brings with it slightly negative connotations that can make people feel guilty and or embarrassed for engaging with it. It suggests the person is wasting time, aimless, unfocused. Yet, I would argue that there is actually great, creative purpose in puttering.
I often tell people many years ago I used to think that being a composer had a set definition. No one person sat me down and gave me a definition of a composer but I absorbed it from the world I grew up in and the higher education music training I received. Being a composer meant sitting for hours on end at one’s piano with pencil and paper gradually generating notes of music to form a composition. Similarly I thought being a music producer meant sitting in a dark, often dusty room for 10-16 hours or more staring at a screen as groups of musicians (primarily of the male gender) would gather, smoke, talk and eat as music was arranged and mixed and then this formula would repeat itself. I never realized in my late 20’s that neither of these visions fully lived up to what I wanted although I was aiming my arrow towards both of them.
Instead, what appeals to me is creating in a large space, with lots of natural light, having the ability to play piano, move on the floor, sing, record, walk around, dance, meditate, research online, in books and in films, sit and sing in nature. I define this as “studio time” and you can see it allows for an ebb and flow of output and input, stillness and movement. What I produce is a combination of songs, spoken word, video and sound installations. This is very different from what I originally defined as a legit “songwriter”/”composer”. Yet, this is generally how I work.
But before I can conjure that kind of work I too often need puttering time. Puttering time is woven in and around my “studio time”. It is the time that my brain is thinking, digesting, processing, coming up with new ideas as well as developing musical ideas I have already started. I have systems and community for keeping me accountable to my artistic goals but I believe puttering is some of the most potent and magical problem solving time and it shouldn’t be written off. Dismissing puttering is yet another way Capitalist, white supremacist, patriarchy teaches professional, aspiring and hobby artists to deny their full selves (body, voice, heart, mind). To work hard (not smart), always be on call, deny your body’s needs for sleep, healthy food, healthy relationships, time off and movement.
But I think the last year has highlighted many habits and systems which don’t best serve people, including art makers. So when does puttering enhance your mental clarity? How can you use it to transition from one activity to another? Everyday I take little moments to clear my piano, nightstand, water my plants and it helps me to be more fully present in the next thing I need to do. If you are wanting to set new definitions for what it means to be an Empowered Artist creating a sustainable and thriving life, then you are in the right place. To find out more about my offerings like next week’s monthly vocal warmup (just one way to maintain your vocal health and creativity) called Community Vocal Gym. I would love to see you!