The need to create, to express myself and recreate the world around me, drives me constantly. The medium changes, but the need is everpresent. Whether it takes the form of paragraphs, poems, pixels, cloth or gardening, I am constantly catching myself at it. I can't put fruit in a bowl, words on paper or an afghan on a couch without stepping back critically, arranging and rearranging...looking for the form, picture or design that looks right to me. In the back of my mind, I'm attempting to come up to some standard, some haunting glimpse of beauty that I can only find beyond the realm of man...out in nature.
Feather hunting time is almost here...a major weakness of mine. Glossy, black raven primaries, soft misty mockingbird greys...brilliant blue jay tail feathers, with bold black and white bars...the occasional precious cardinal red, or sunlit goldfinch yellow...I collect these like some folks collect dresden china, to be gathered into bouquets in colored vases, or displayed proudly on shelves, or tied into string mobiles that drift and flutter on spring breezes.
Snakeskins, rocks, shells, and lichens...dried flowers, wasp nests, eggs and even bits of ancient, polished bone...all these things find their way into my home, to be displayed on thin shelves in odd corners, and on windowsills and bookcases. They speak to me...of beauty, life and mysterious forces...they remind me of my own small place in the greater pattern, beyond the makings of men. These were, after all, primitive man's decorations...their knickknacks and jewelry...and they are still the source of inspiration for modern man's most successful designs.
A delicate frond of fern, reflected along with a patch of sky and cloud in still black water cupped in a hollowed grey rock is a masterpiece. A glittering azure dragonfly, sitting motionless on a weathered gnarl of driftwood nestled within the swordlike leaves of a clump of yellow flag iris is breathtaking. Awesome "alien" worlds, inspirational thoughts and ideas, evocative color combinations and beautiful patterns can be found in any undisturbed section of earth, sky and water.
From these, I draw my inspiration most often, whether it spills out onto blank sheets of paper, or guides me through the latest computer graphic challenge. The wellspring of nature's creation is boundless...
Nature is the only true creator...I am but another of these creations...but I am truly thankful to be blessed with the ability to appreciate, and the desire to emulate...no matter how poorly...those incredible glories of life all around me.
Denise Ruiz
Editor - Seeker Magazine