I said after returning from our vacation that I was going to start taking more artist dates, and so far this has been working really well. The point of the artist date, according to Julia Cameron (who articulated the concept in her Artist’s Way books), is to provide the creative inputs necessary to allow us to keep producing our outputs. In other words, you can’t make stuff up unless you’re taking stuff in. It’s really easy to shove these artist dates aside — “I don’t have time,” “I’m too busy,” “I don’t know what this would accomplish” — but I am finally coming to believe that they really are vital tools for creative health. Just as we need to stretch and strengthen our muscles to maintain bodily health, our creative muscles also need to be taken for a walk from time to time. And the more we use them, the more they need to be stretched.
Young Dancer, May 2009
Last week, I took my artist date in the Mission district of San Francisco, and it was fun. This week I ended up there again. I took another dance class, then I met Erik for a date-date. We had a delicious dinner at Mission Beach Cafe (this may be the first restaurant I’ve ever been to whose pies are up to my standard!) before heading over to the YBCA to watch the Smuin Ballet. I enjoyed the show, though I couldn’t help comparing it to the vibrant Última Vez performance I attended two years ago. (Wait, seriously, I haven’t gone to a dance show in two years? Yeesh!) But that was modern, and this was ballet, so I don’t really know if I can compare the two fairly. At any rate, as an artist date, it sufficed magnificently.
Julia Cameron says we need artist dates more when we are in the middle of creating. I’ve been writing a lot in preparation for VONA — 19 pages in the last week! — so I’m grateful to myself for seeing to it that I get this creativity-nurturing time. I’m behind on a lot of other things, but I’m not even close to burning out on the writing, and I think I have the artist dates to thank for this.
satsumabug.com | Lisa Hsia 
Wow, congrats on your amazing productivity with the writing! And your artist date (and date-date) sounds fab. 🙂 Thanks for reminding me that I should be doing the same!
Okay, I know I just need to get over the new look of your blog already, but I even love the formatting of the comments. The little dialogue bubbles make it look as if Peep is the one doing the commenting. 😉
Thank you! 😀 I can’t recommend the artist dates highly enough, but it certainly took me a long time to appreciate them — I think I’ve been trying for three years to make a habit of them. ;b It took a trip across the Pacific to knock into my head that taking breaks is good for creativity!!!
And ha! You’re totally right about the comment boxes/word balloons! Peep is so articulate for an infant. 😉
After reading your post, I started thinking about when would be a good time for me to take a break, and it occurred to me that over Memorial Day weekend, after we tie the knot, we’re going to head down to southern Missouri into Ozark country where the landscape is just beautiful, and we’re planning on visiting a number of springs, bogs, and other unique natural areas. I. Can’t. Wait. A nature weekend is just what I need!
That sounds beautiful!! I’ve always wanted to visit the Ozarks, because Laura Ingalls Wilder spent the latter part of her life there. 🙂
Artist date sound so good .First time I hear it. I guess I really need it . May be that the reason I feel constant creativity block
In the book, it says that sometimes we think we are blocked when actually we just need to go out and play. She compares it to having a well full of water. When you create, you keep drawing from the well, so that sooner or later it will be empty. But when you take an artist date, your experiences will fill the well back up. 🙂 Then you can keep creating!