How does or has GRIEF effected your creativity?

[Camille]

Many of us 'Spacers have been through painful periods of grieving, mourning and sorrowing.
Spacers write of loss of their pets, serious health challenges that debilitate, divorces, and loss of family or friends, and then there is catastrophic loss through natural disasters, car accidents, etc.

We grieve when we meet with these critical life challenges. I am grieving right now for the recent loss of a much loved soul-mate. It has made me wonder how our grief and sorrow effects our creativity...

Did you create during times of grieving or put it away?
Did sorrow change your creative habits?
Did you use sorrow as a starting point for a new inspiration?
Did it change the way you made art or the images you produced?

I would love to read of your experiences regarding how grief effected or is effecting your creative live...Please do share here!
Sincerely, Camille

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

My mother also spent a lot of time with us reading and both my older brother and I could read at a young age, before school. In fact, one of our "family stories" is that my brother fell out of a 2nd floor window and hit his head when he was a toddler, and my mother knew he would be okay when she took a book to him in the hospital, and he read it to her :)

[Lin Neiswender]

What a story! The bouncing baby!

[Camille]

Barbs, how fortunate that your mother nurtured you and your siblings with reading, so early in life! No wonder you have such great knowledge and abilities! Love and hugs from Dabs

[Alfredo]

Hi Camille,

Music has taken an even deeper meaning for me now. My nephew Philip passed away at 7:30 this morning. I was not there, but my mother was since she had traveled to be with my sister through this. They played my music for him all through the night and it was still playing when he left. At some point my other nephew said to Philip that it was my music he was hearing (since Philip was already not fully conscious, partly due to the morphine) and asked him "Do you like it?" He mutters: "yes." So, I was with Philip after all. It makes me think of my work very differently. I guess I cannot say composing music is a 'passion' as i go through hell when composing, but in many ways I guess it is. It is certainly a topic for discussion for sure.

[Valerie]

I'm so sorry Alfredo. But at least he is out of his pain, as they say. And he had family and your music to see him through. I'm glad your mother was able to be there with your sister. My heart goes out to all of you.

[Lin Neiswender]

Alfredo, my prayers are with you and your family over the loss of your nephew. I know words are inadequate at this time. God be with you.

Lin

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Bless you, Al ... your nephew is at peace and went peacefully listening to a piece of your soul speaking ... I feel very peaceful about it. I know he will always remain in your heart and this experience will be a great part of your inspiration for the music yet to come through you.

Hugs
Barb

[Camille]

"your nephew is at peace and went peacefully listening to a piece of your soul speaking .."
Barb, such beautiful words! They give me the tingles because deep down I know this is true for Alfredo and his nephew! Love Camille

[Camille]

Oh Alfredo...It is so very difficult to put into words, just how sorry I am to read about your nephew's passing! My prayers are with you, Philip, and all who were touched by his life!

Philip left with your beautiful blessings in his mind and heart. What a very special parting gift your music is!

That your loved one answered with a "yes" in response to hearing your music, was his parting gift to you, Alfredo!

You and Philip will continue to share that bond with your music...

Alfredo, you certainly were present at his bedside at this sacred time!

Many hugs and blessings to you, Alfredo, from Camille

[Julia]

I am so sad for you and your family Alfredo-to lose someone close to you is always so hard, seems so unfair.... What a lovely consolation it must be, to know that he passed over with music in his ears, and that he thought of you as if it was you there playing for him...

It sounds as though it may have been a long illness, to be at home and on morphine.
We have been away, so I don't know whether you have spoken before of him, or the circumstances...Please accept my sympathy, and if you ever need to talk about it, well of course we are all here and we all care hugs

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Interesting about your father, Camille! I think this is the first time I've ever read anything you've had to say about his creativity. My father was very much into creating miniature versions of radio controlled aircraft. His handwriting was a work of art in itself! And he was a talented artist, but most of his talent was focused on his passion for aircraft. My brother is also passionate about that. I went through a phase of building miniature furniture and enjoyed it immensely, but I moved on to other things ... miniature beads :)

[Camille]

Whoa Beader! That is an very interesting progression...from miniature furniture to miniature beads! LOL! From your art, I do see the handwriting influence...your line work is superb! No wonder your collages and bead works are impeccable! Thanks for sharing your childhood influences with us!
Did your Mom nurture your talents in any ways??? Love and hugs from Dabs