Gail Wendorf Studio

Before and After

2012-02-04T02:40:00.000-08:00

I've been absent for a number of months. 2011 was the year of tremendous ups and downs, most marked by, first of all, the final illness and death of my beloved Mother, which spanned about 4 months. I continued to work until I had to leave for the final visit, when she died; but haven't touched a brush or written since. It has felt right to sit in silence for awhile. But now, it seems, I may be ready to emerge once again. Now, I believe the painting will help the healing. And so we begin again - a different person than the one who sat at my Mom's bed.

Inspiration!

2011-03-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how long its been since I've written anything. All I can say is that the focus has been more visual than verbal! The painting has been flowing, and yet, there still seems to be so much effort in it that I just don't have the energy for anything else!

I think that the cure is a new point of view; a new vision so that I can look at where I am with new eyes! In that light, I'm heading to the South of France tomorrow morning. Just a week, of nothing but sketching, taking pictures, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, and very possibly, painting. Only a week, but enough to renew the inspiration! I'll come back to this then!

New Directions

2010-12-09T04:41:00.000-08:00

Hello again, after a bit of a writing holiday! No, the title doesn't yet mean I've found a new direction to paint in; instead, it means that I'm going to give the idea of producing a few limited edition Giclee prints of some of the bigger paintings. Initially, I'm going to start with Ceilidh! As well, I'm going to only produce limited editions of 50 worldwide. Hand signed, and on archival paper. I can start with Ceilidh! because I already have many of them professionally photographed. Again though, the main question is: will these wonderful images be of high enough resolution to do this without the initial outlay that has so long kept me from producing prints.

I've decided to do this because it will make it possible for people to have copies of images they may not have room for, or the funds to purchase an original.

I think the image here will be one of the first I offer. They'll sell for £200 each. So watch this space for more information as I get this ball rolling in this next week.

Inspired!

2010-09-15T00:29:00.001-07:00

I'm chuffed! My painting is flowing these days like water through my hands, and it feels good! But sometimes, in fear, we try to let a painting feel 'finished', because we want it to be ~ because we're afraid to ruin something that's 'nearly perfect'! A painting I posted on my website and Facebook of Ardnish was just such a painting. I kept looking at it, thinking, 'that's not right!', and trying to pretend I was leaving it because I wanted to 'keep it loose'! I'm always fighting the impulse to get tight in my work, and this time I wasn't going to let it happen! Funny how my words to my students come back to haunt me, and I'm required to live by my own statements! If somethings not right, its not right! The balance isn't right, its not resolved - doesn't matter if you're doing an abstract, a colorist, or an impressionist painting! I KNEW it wasn't right!

A dear friend stopped by the studio to see the new work, and while appreciating my prolific output in the past 8 weeks, he stopped at the problem child. 'This one's not right! The water's just not right!' The only thing he said! Then correcting himself to compliment the rest of the work in his usual, honest way, he came back to it, and repeated himself. I thanked him for his honesty, saying I'd thought the same thing but had been afraid to do the work. But his honesty made me find the courage to touch the painting again. An hours work later, and its finished. See what you think! go to http://www.gailwendorf.co.uk/ or my facebook page from the link here. And the funny thing is that I was able to leap forward again with my work, once I'd fixed the earlier one! Complete honesty is what I think the message is here; honesty and courage to leap!

New Inspiration

2010-09-02T00:47:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend one of Glenfinnan House Hotel's more legendary Thursday night sessions (ceilidhs)! Someone at the pub counted musicians, and there were, I believe , at least 14! Part of the excitement was the fact that half of these were members of the Blazin Fiddles band, but I won't drop names here! The music was incredible, the craik brilliant, and while I left before most (as usual), I managed to capture some great images of the night! Looking at them the next day on my computer (I STILL prefer film guys!), I was inspired again; and picked up my brushes and began a week of intense painting. Ahhh, inspiration! The result is now added to my website - so go along there and enjoy the new work, mingled in with the older work!

Emerging from the Cave

2010-08-29T00:10:00.001-07:00

A few days ago, I woke and suddenly realized that I absolutely was going to pick up a paintbrush that morning and start to paint. Soon as I finished feeding my Bed & Breakfast guest, I was going to just pick up the brush. Knew it without a doubt. And I did. I stood there working, while my guest and a neighbor sat having coffee and conversation not two feet from my easel! I'd had a conversation with myself that went somewhat like this, "tough up girl, you need to work, and it doesn't matter who is standing nearby or not! You just go out there, put on your music, and DO IT!" Then, long after my friends had decamped into the brilliant day, I stopped for a latish lunch, then saddled Dancer, and we had a 6 mile ride in the hills. An absolutely BRILLIANT day; and I couldn't help but think, "this is how my life used to be, this is how it should be again - instead of filled with endless tasks to make enough money to live to the next day!"

I think part of this is also an emerging sense of finding myself once again. We artists have to go thru periods of intense self-analysis and re-creation, I think. And I've certainly been forced into mine, kicking and screaming! I liked the comfortable, secure (ish) life I've created for myself here in Glenfinnan. But it seems that I'd gotten too comfortable, to settled, and that it MAY be time to start stretching my wings again. No, I don't know just where, when, or how, but at least I can begin to see that the decision will soon be upon me, and I'm content with it. As a result, my creative juices have fired on all cylinders! I can hardly wait to share the results with you all!

Get ready for new work!

2010-08-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

I've been painting up a storm! I found a little pocket of cash in my budget and splurged on a small container of Gesso primer. As a result, I'm back in business for the time being! So be prepared, there will be more work to look at finally. The muse is upon me, and I'm feeling better than ever with the energy flowing though my hands. So bear with me friends! And check in again soon!

Adventures in Glenfinnan

2010-06-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, for this blog to be interesting at all, I've got to get online more than once a month! But its been an action packed month!

First of all, I spent 2 weeks in New Mexico and Arizona, visiting friends and familiy. I'm always so torn leaving the beautiful Southwestern US! But then I get home to Glenfinnan, and life takes on its rhythm and I don't miss the views because I'm continually inspired by this beautiful landscape and its people and music!

Secondly, in a response to a difficult recession time, I've opened my studio to take in Bed & Breakfast. I have a pleasant room to offer guests, and surprisingly, I've already had a few new clients! If you want to take advantage of my early low rate for the double room (same rate for single or double), just go to my website www.gailwendorf.co.uk and email me from there!

Third, as always, I am painting - alot! Running close to the edge with materials. There is always the need to trust that the people will start to come so that I can purchase more materials to work with! But no matter....I'm working, solidly, in a wonderfully focused way that has been escaping me lately!

I have work in 2 group exhibitions: Ealanta Lochabar at the Lime Tree Gallery in Ft. William ( www.limetreefortwilliam.co.uk/gallery ); Kranenburg Fine Art in Oban ( www.kranenburgfineart.com ) - both of which open this month and will be up for the summer. And of course, I've decided to produce a little exhibition of CEILIDH! at the Glenfinnan Pub (the site of many sources of inspiration for me!) www.glenfinnanhouse.com for more information! A busy summer - and great potential for so much more!

Making it!

2010-05-20T02:44:00.000-07:00

I've discovered new creative ways to keep body and soul together in these financially difficult times! Advertising for a roommate, looking for part-time work, and best yet, taking in B&B customers during this hectic summer season. All of these things are difficult at best for someone who values their quiet, creative time. Time so necessary for creating paintings for the public to see and purchase! I've always said that if I've time to work a job - even part-time, then that time should be used in my studio, or in the business side of being an artist. But sometimes we have to compromise! And so, while I've had painting sales, I've had to make the very difficult decision to do one or all of the above things in order to recover from the very difficult 18 months of this recession.

So, my studio will be come a bedroom for B&B (or the roommate - whichever comes first!), and I'll use my sitting room to paint in - which I'm doing anyway. Sometimes I just need to move myself around and paint WHERE I feel like painting, not just WHEN I feel the urge; and I found that I didn't want to work in my studio, and am currently happy with my easel in the sitting room. Perhaps it will add an element of exoticism to my little B&B!

I've also finally put up an exhibition of CEILIDH! at the Glenfinnan House Hotel. It made sense to finally bring it home, to allow people to see the work in the room than many of the paintings were inspired in! CEILIDH! AT GLENFINNAN HOUSE HOTEL will be up at least a month and possibly longer. You can learn more about the hotel and this exhibition at www.glenfinnanhouse.com Its my favorite place to have a pint or dram and watch the world go by, and now you can do it in the company of paintings depicting some of the best traditional musicians in Scotland!

Resipole South continues to make headway as a new virtual gallery, and I'm truly impressed with their drive, connections, and enthusiasm for the artists they've chosen to show! Don't forget to visit their site: www.resipolesouth.com

I've more work to show, new landscapes that I can't yet put online. However, rest assured, when I return from my trip to the US beginning the end of this month, I'll have my new computer and will be able to once again begin to share new work with the world. And perhaps, offering B&B to people traveling through will give me more quiet time during the day to do my work, rather than having to WASTE valuable creative time working for someone else!

Sometimes you just have to pitch in!

2010-04-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Newmarket has been an exciting, invigorating, and challenging time. The exhibition was a success for our dealers, and I've sold a painting, which is good for me. But now the real work begins - the follow up so necessary in the art game that is so often ignored!

I found when I arrived here, that all artists and dealers present for the Resipole South exhibition had a wonderful camaraderie; a real willingness to pitch in, help set up the exhibition, help talk to clients, etc. I found that because of a volcano eruption last week, I couldn't go home, and decided the best use of my time (beyond a trip to Nice which I REALLY need to do - but that's another story entirely!) was to pitch in and help in any way I could. So, I'm still here in Newmarket, because of the volcano, and because sometimes the artist has to get down off the pedestal they'd like to sit on.

Updates!

2010-04-10T03:25:00.000-07:00

I've been silent, but I've been painting.....that is always the way. When the creativity wells up inside me, the more worldly parts of my life tend to fall away and have to go on hold! I've finished my jaguar mask (photos to be uploaded soon), and have begun painting Scottish and Moroccan landscapes again. Always such a trip to find out I NEED to paint more to make up for the work taken out of my studio in March for exhibition! I'm working from my photos over the years, but am very much aware that it is time once again to 'hit the road' for new inspiration! The price of petrol this past year has kept me from going out and exploring new parts of Scotland, and I'm suddenly beginning to feel it! I'm also feeling the loss of my digital photos of the high country around Lochaber....means I'm going to have to just walk up to the tops again and reshoot it! Damn!!! But these are all easy problems if I'm creating. Creating also brings in new energy, and I find that people start to visit the studio again.

My next exhibition, with 5 other scottish artists @ Resipole South opens on Monday, 12th April @ The Palace House, Newmarket. I've 16 paintings in the show - a wide range of subjects - and I love the work of the other artists, so its well worth the visit if you happen to be in the south of England next week. The opening is April 13 from 6 - 9 pm, rsvp please. For more information: www.resipolesouth.com

Spring Enthusiasm!

2010-03-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

Well, things are heating up nicely now. I've finished some hard graft to make some old expenses, still have more to cover, but its time to begin to think creatively again! I can feel the itch in my hands as I type this!

First of all, the exhibition at MacGregor Fine Art (www.macgregorfineart.co.uk) is going to be at the Glasgow Art Fair, opening the 25th March (Thursday). That means two stands will be showing my work! One Ceilidh!, one landscapes (Duncan Miller Fine Art).

And now, announcing a new exhibition I've been asked to participate in: April 12 - 17, Resipole South will host an exhibition of six artists from Scotland (myself included), at Palace House, Palace Street, Newmarket, CB8 8EP www.resipolesouth.com The opening reception is April 13 from 6 - 9 pm. For more information, please go to the website, and if you're interested in attending the reception, please RSVP!

I'm excited and energized by the forward thinking and enthusiasm of my friends at Resipole South. So much depends on this exhibition for us all, as it always does with artists! Wish us all luck!

I'm also designing a mask of a Mexican Jaguar to be worn in a production of Noah's Fludd (produced by Loch Shiel Festival in Glenfinnan) this May. Artists from all over the world were asked to create a mask to be worn by children of an endangered animal from their neck of the woods. Since I come from the Southwest US, I chose the Mexican Jaguar. This is so much fun!

New Possibilities!

2010-02-23T09:48:00.000-08:00

After a tough beginning to 2010 - a crashed hard drive, frozen pipes, bad back, and of course the neverending financial challenges we're all faced with right now - I've got some real news and something to say!

First of all, I have 19 CEILIDH! paintings in an exhibit opening March 5 at MacGregor Fine Art, 34 West George St., Glasgow www.macgregorfineart.co.uk . there is an opening reception on March 5, from 4:30 - 8:30 pm. the exhibition will be up from March 5 through the 27th. Other artists in this exhibit are: Callum MacFarlane-Barrow, Victoria Maxwell MacDonald, and Jonathan Shearer. All welcome!

I've also made it back to the easel after discovering that the best of my Moroccan digital photos were saved for posterity in facebook (thank you!!!), and was able to finish a lovely little painting of a berber shepherd and his youngest son. Its always such a relief to again pick up the brush and find out that yes, I CAN still put paint to canvas and come out with a good painting! But you'll have to wait until I have my computer back to see the work! Challenges keep getting in the way of this creative life I've chosen, but I know from long experience that nothing else will serve me. And so I keep putting one foot in front of the other and hold high expectations for this little exhibition coming up. Wish me luck!

Soaking up the sun!

2010-01-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, as artists, we have to take time - time off from the process of painting, of constantly seeing the world with the eyes of a possible painting, or meeting someone with the idea of "is this a possible client?" I don't do this easily. My creativity is hardwired into my very being, and I can't help but look at everything with an eye that says "is this a painting, or a client?" But I'm here in Dallas, Texas, trying to find the right mix of relax vs make the trip count! It helps that the sun is out and its warm and I have running water and am surrounded by people I love and who love me!

Next stop, Tucson, Arizona.

News

2010-01-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Heading to the US for some R& R, and to perhaps do a little marketing of paintings. Alas, thus is the life of an artist; every trip has to involve the potential of sales or paintings. Hopefully by the time I return, my computer problem will be sorted out, and I'll have water in my house so that I can finish the latest oil painting from Morocco, and start another!

Trouble in Computerland

2010-01-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well friends, please bear with me for awhile. My trusty old laptop developed a fatal hardware error and my hard drive has crashed. While I scramble to find the means and/or funds to recover the data (most important!), and also to purchase a new laptop (I hope against hope that I by some miracle won't have to), it's going to be difficult to keep up with my blog and website. I have only one word of advise, no matter how many problems you may be having, DON'T FORGET TO BACK UP EVERYTHING! I did, but usually once every 6 months or year. This time it was a year.....I say no more!

I've a beautiful little Moroccan painting on the easel at the moment. A portrait of a Berber nomad and his youngest son (18 months). The challenge now is this: can I finish it without the photograph I took last winter? The photo is on my hard drive....

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-26T06:06:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been awhile! Not a week after my last entry, I slipped on some frosty grass on a slope and there you go, my back went into spasm from which I am only now climbing out! But I have been able to work in my studio!

I have a winner for the Draw on Dec. 12: Glenn Lehman from West Australia. A dear friend and long-time supporter in my life. Well done, Glenn, and thank you!!!

As I said, I'm back in my studio - painting a Moroccan landscape or two - because that seems to be where my focus is these days. I KNOW its my next big project! NO that doesn't mean I'm moving from Glenfinnan, which everyone seems to want to know. It means that I'll spend some time traveling in the desert south of the Atlas with a Tuareg guide, painting pleinaire as I can, and sketching and taking as many photos as I am allowed. Then, returning home to Glenfinnan and painting my little heart out in preparation for an exhibition of these paintings as yet to be arranged.

Yep, I truly believe 2010 is going to turn the corner and be happy, creative, and successful! I truly hope yours is as well.....Happy New Year!

Coming Out of the Shadow

2009-12-04T01:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally did it. I finally just picked up a brush, loaded it with paint, and put it to board. Not for long, mind you, but the point is that the block is broken. I'm doing a nice little landscape of upper Glen Finnan, the drainage coming down from the Allt Thuim. I began by looking at lots of images of the hills, sketching it onto the board, and then, unusually for me, put down an under painting of yellow ochre. Usually, with these hills, I use alizarin crimson. But this time the hills seemed more golden underneath the green. I really do see the color underneath, and believe me, I've usually begun with crimson. Then I began blocking in the shadows.

But, I had to stop. I decided that it was time to go out and enjoy the day, not worry about my horse, my cat, my budget, etc.; just go out and walk up Glen Dhually (I'm not sure of the spelling here), in search of the perfect Christmas tree. I found it! A lovely little white fir. To be cut closer to the day. But the views from up top, down the glen, across to a glimpse of Guibhaschain and Bein Odhar Beag, the colors of sunset rimming the clouds, mist climbing up the hills. A really wonderful day. And made even better by the fact that I'm back in the studio.

Inspiration

2009-11-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

My sale is now half over, and I've not yet put paint brush to canvas. Oil paintings have sold overseas, people are talking about possibilities of purchase, but here in my studio, I feel a stagnation. I always do when its been awhile since I've put oil on a canvas. There is a painting sketched in, ready to start on the easel, but I've not been able to even turn on the light in the studio.

What kind of things hinder inspiration? Why can some kinds of life challenges spur you on, and others, sometimes equally as dark or seemingly hopeless (offering fodder for the artistic temperment), just stop you dead in your tracks.

I walk around the highlands where I live, and see the beauty, see the passion that I've always seen in this landscape. I attend ceilidh's and concerts and am moved by the passion in the musicians. But it seems that the turmoil and fear that is in my heart (even as I try to ignore it), has this time stopped me dead in my tracks. What kinds of tools do we as artists have in our arsenal to get us through times such as these? For me, its mostly finally getting so sick of wandering in circles that I just turn on the music, pick up a brush, and start - on anything. Or I'll be so inspired (like I was in Morocco) that nothing short of picking up the loaded brush and starting an oil painting of whatever it was that moved me. But sometimes, it takes awhile to push aside the voices of fear, business, monetary worries, sales, so that I can feel what it is I see.

I hope that by the next time I have something to say, I'll have gotten to that point.

EXPANDED SALE!!!

2009-11-04T00:11:00.001-08:00

I have decided to include all available work in my little sale. That is a nearly 50% discount (depending on exchange rate, etc.) on all available work. Paintings with galleries, in exhibitions, etc. are not included, and SHIPPING AND FRAMING are NOT INCLUDED as well at this price.

This is only until December 15, at that time all work will revert to retail price. As I said previously, "sometimes we have to reach out and ask for help in order to keep moving ahead, in order to pay old debts.....this time, I'm asking for help for both reasons! That's the thing about abing an artist; it's continually humbling. I have expenses left over from my last museum exhibition, and want to start working on my newest project - Morocco...."

Baby Steps

2009-11-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

Today, I managed to finally take the first baby steps back to my easel. After putting so much into creating the little watercolor, I found it absolutely impossible to think about what's next until today - even with a painting sketched and ready to go on the easel! I got caught up in the voice that said, "you don't have enough, you're not gonna make it, etc., etc., moan, moan, moan..." Its so easy to do - especially right now when the economy is making us all feel fear and panic about our basic well-being!

I was talking to a friend today about the way my creativity works. That my whole life is represented in the ebb and flow of tides rather than a constant river of creativity. The trick is to relax into the moment and accept what phase I am in, trusting. Its the trusting I have trouble with when I'm in the ebb phase.....will I ever be able to paint again; I must be sooooo lazy, all I can do is wander or read or sit and think. The monkey inside my head tries to get me into the fearful, judgemental part. It only traps me if I let it!

How do I find the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even if I don't have enough cash to pay my rent, buy groceries, much less paints? By finding one little thing, one little job that helps me think about painting, even if its not picking up a brush with color! Sometimes its very physical.....like cutting up boards into squares that I can use. Sometimes its just rifling through photos, taking a walk, picking up my sketchbook and writing, THEN starting to draw.

Today though, it was physical. I had cut up boards while waiting for DHL last week. And today, I found just enough Gesso to ground them so that tomorrow, if possible, I can begin to work. This made today a good day. Small blessings. a little bit at a time, and soon I'm back in the flow.

Commissions

2009-10-27T07:39:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things is to do commissions for clients. Its a wonderful thing to try to bring their vision to life, and in your own way, and so that they love the finished painting! This time, I stretched myself, working in a medium I'd not touched in years.....and am so happy to say they love it! I was asked by http://www.no1ladieswebsiteagency.com/ to do this illustration for clients with a shop in St. Paul de Vence. I think, besides getting the watercolor under control again, that the biggest challenge was putting myself into the warmth and light of the Cote d'Azur, in the middle of a very wet, typical Glenfinnan autumn - complete with rapidly failing light! I put on movies about or taking place in Provence, looked at as many photos of the area as I could, and tortured myself by "living" in the Cote d'Azur when outside it was raining cats and dogs! Ah well....its a good thing I've a very vivid imagination!

HELP

2009-10-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

I'm having a big sale of WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS paintings. From now til November 29, certain paintings from WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS are about 50% off. Check out my website, www.gailwendorf.co.uk (WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS SALE) for details. Sometimes we have to reach out and ask for help in order to keep moving ahead, in order to pay old debts.....this time, I'm asking for help for both reasons! That's the thing about being an artist. Its continually humbling. I have expenses left over from my last museum exhibition, and want to start working on my newest project - Morocco!

While you're there, look at the new work, but this time, pay attention to Waltz Across Texas.

2009-10-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

At the moment, I'm practicing diligently at watercolor - something I've not used in a very long time, and certainly not for public consumption. But I've been asked by the No. 1 Ladies Website Agency to create a little illustration for a website, in watercolor, and have accepted the challenge. Watercolor is so different, and much less forgiving than oil paint! But I'm getting further and further into each illustration before I ruin it with mud, or a poorly placed splot of water, or using the wrong color for shadow - which I find difficult in this medium by the way! But I also look at this as somthing that may loosen up the oil painting too....

By the way, check out new work (oil paintings) displayed on my website (www.gailwendorf.co.uk) and/or my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/gail.wendorf

There are more than I've shown, but as many these past few months have been cathartic and not for public consumption....Not everything is for sale! Anybody else out there that uses their work to help process deep feelings or to keep them flowing, no matter how painful, just to keep painting? I find that if I try to ignore some feeling, to put it into a box and keep it closed up, then I can't work either....so I must go thru life sometimes feeling like I'm bleeding from every pore.

Tough

2009-09-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

Last night, the hard side of being out there as an artist hit home. As I sat there at 2am then 3, then 4 before I finally went in search of something to ease what even meditation/contemplation couldn't shift - a cup of camomille tea and a small glass of wine - I decided that this too is part of the journey, and needed to be told. Sometimes it becomes so scary, this creative and financial knife's edge I walk on a daily basis, that I feel like I have to give up. But then I think about what then....this is who/what I am. I refuse to quit when it would trivialize every sacrifice I've made to get to this point! Fear not, we all hit this, and more often than we like to admit. And I always, always manage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and picking up the brush loaded with paint again.

Other Artist's Pursuits

2009-09-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to share with you all the creation of a new business by my friend, Alice Barker. The www.no1ladieswebsiteagency.com is now open for business. I particularly am excited by the idea that Alice suggests, that a website is a reflection of our personality, as well as what information we want to get out to the rest of the world! Alice is an artist in her own right, with a very different medium to mine. Well done, Alice!

conflicting urges

2009-09-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those beautiful highland days.....blue sky, brilliant autumn color starting to appear, and a soft breeze. Sometimes its impossible to achieve anything when its like this; when you need to pick up a brush - there is a live painting on the easel that just cries out to you to "finish me!" and needs the light of a day like today....but because its so achingly beautiful outside, you can't start anything, and spend time just moving between the studio and outdoors, achieving nothing. Some days are just like that.

2009-09-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm new to this, but there are so many things to say....just being an artist is a challenge, but today, we have to be able to talk about ourselves, what we're looking at, how we do what we do, (I paint), our "process". As if its not enough to just be able to create, or to need to create!