An Original Vision

Susan Sontag, as photographed by Annie Leibovitz

I won't front with you; I've been struggling with my art.

It seems that everything I do is derivative. I know that's probably not true, but I'm feeling deja-vu, even though I am absolutely certain that I started something from scratch. How can something I started from a blank canvas look like I've already done it?, I ask myself. But it does. This blog break was taken partly to try to work through that. What can I say, except that it hasn't.

I won't belabor that point, because we probably all go through it. But I mention it by way of contrast with the sense I get when I look at this woman's work.

I recently saw this documentary, and I encourage you to watch it, too. I think it's an accompaniment to her huge, expensive, biography in photos. While I'm still saving up for the book, I was happy to be able to see this film. I don't compare my work to hers, because that would be silly. But I use her work and the work of others, among whom are many fellow bloggers, as touchstones.

Rock on, my generous, kind, and talented friends in creativity!