We'd laugh. Because beyond the comprehension of the casual observer lied a complex system of controlled, well-organized chaos as far as we were concerned. And I think most people our age would agree with this argument. It's true. Or, at least we used to think so.
Recently, I've found that nearly every time I'm in my bedroom with intentions of creating - whether it be paintings, poster designs, music mixes, blog postings, illustrations, what have you - I usually spend the majority of my time organizing and consolidating my possessions, my overabundance of "stuff," instead.
I have stuff everywhere and every time I turn around it seems as though it reproduces like a family of bunnies. It's crazy. And as a result I can't focus on my original intentions for stepping foot into my room. Instead, I'll spend hours consolidating old hand-outs from classes and art supplies and books and...miscellaneous "stuff." I don't even know what kind of stuff, just stuff. A random abundance of stuff. Before you know it, the afternoon has metamorphosed into evening, or evening has transferred into night, and my drive to create has dwindled because I've just spent my energies tidying my stuff. For instance, I spent two hours this afternoon reorganizing my chest of drawers containing most of my art supplies...and rearranging all of my nicknacks around my room.
Now I'm tired. I just want to throw Forgetting Sarah Marshall in, or turn the Science channel on, and fall asleep. But I won't. I'll continue to write until I feel like I've sufficiently made my point about having too much stuff and then I'll doodle until I fall asleep with my pen still in hand. Around three in the morning. Because that's what I always do.
But I think I've reached a comfortable point where things are consolidated and there is more breathing room in my room. More blank floor space. More empty air. And I feel like peace is starting to infiltrate these areas, areas where there was once "stuff." Papers, clothing, art supplies (predominantly), books, sketches, photographs...They are all seeking shelter in their rightful homes and I feel like I can once again carry about my business of creating.
Finally, thankfully.
It's strange how this transition from taking comfort in an organized mess to feeling an intense desire to have more breathing room has happened over time. I blame the abundance of negative space I often utilize in my design work. The contents of the page need breathing room, what can I say?
And I guess I do too.
I've recently found that it's significantly easier to focus on a task when my surroundings are neater, tidier. Especially if this task is creative in nature. If I'm surrounded by clutter, my ability to work becomes severely hindered.
And regardless of how much stuff I've kept from my various studio classes in college, and how much of this stuff I eventually find the strength to part ways with, I refuse to ever, ever, ever rid my life of the cardboard Jimmy Neutron bust I built in my 3D design class freshman year of college...
