When the work takes over, then the artist is enabled to get out of the way, not to interfere. When the work takes over, then the artist listens.

Madeleine LEngle
About This Quote

When the work takes over, then the artist is enabled to get out of the way, not to interfere. When the work takes over, then the artist listens. This quote comes from a poem by Robert Bly, "Howling with Laughter." In this piece, Bly says that the most important thing an artist can do is to allow his or her work to take charge and become the most important thing in his or her life. Essentially, this means that when you are creating you must allow your work to drive you. If you try to control your creation it will never be as successful as it could have been.

Source: Walking On Water: Reflections On Faith And Art

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