The Not Yet {ENTRANCE}
The Come True Of Doing {Flamingo It!}
who does she think she is, a flamingo?
yep.
how dare she try something new!- the pigeons
The view up HERE is spectacular!
Yay, me!
I'm doing 'It'!- the Flamingo
If you are surrounded by pigeons, perhaps you're out of your flock.
in the studio
In the metaphorical landscape in our social existence, we often find ourselves navigating environments that feel gray, utilitarian, and suffocating-ly conformist. This is the “flock of pigeons” scenario—a life surrounded by relentless conformity, where survival often comes at the cost of individuality. To be surrounded by pigeons is to feel out of place, perhaps in a career, a community, or a relationship that requires you to mute your vibrant colors. Recognizing this environment is the first step toward reclaiming your identity and finding your true flock: the flamingoes.
Recognizing the Pigeons
Pigeons, while intelligent and persistent survivors, symbolize a herd mentality in this context—urban, adaptable, and often blending into the grey background. We know we are surrounded by pigeons when we feel that our uniqueness is seen as a nuisance rather than a gift. The signs are clear:
Conformity over Creativity: We are encouraged to follow rigid structures, where thinking differently is frowned upon.
The “Gray” Atmosphere: Conversations revolve around the mundane, and daring to be colorful is viewed as “too much”.
Constant Scrutiny: Our authenticity makes others uncomfortable, as pigeons prefer the safety of the group.
Pigeons thrive on predictability and the safety of the collective. In a social or professional setting, a “pigeon flock” is defined by:
The Pursuit of Crumbs: A focus on short-term, low-effort rewards rather than long-term vision.
Uniformity: Intense pressure to blend in and avoid standing out, often manifesting as a “gray” monotony in thought and action.
Ground-Level Perspective: A tendency to focus on immediate surroundings and petty competition rather than the broader horizon.
So let’s get some clarity! Being out of your flock means you are temporarily adopting these habits to survive, losing your own color in the process. Ask yourself if this is truly what you want, because what you settle for is what you get.
If your environment feels restrictive or if your unique “plumage” is viewed as a liability rather than an asset, you have likely outgrown your flock.
Identifying the Flamingoes
If you are searching for your tribe, you are looking for those who stand out—those who are “flame-colored” (derived from the Latin flamma). A flamingo in a flock of pigeons is not just someone who dresses differently; they are defined by their attributes of grace, confidence, and vibrant self-expression. I can already think of a few people I know that inspire me in this way, and I bet you know some as well. These are the people who have what we are missing in ourselves and hope to become.
Key Attributes of Flamingoes
Vibrant Individuality: They do not hide their true colors. They embrace bold self-expression, whether through creativity, career, or personal style. Finding one’s flamingos means seeking people who are unafraid to be conspicuous.
Unapologetic Presence: They “stand tall” and are comfortable being seen, turning the act of being unique into a form of art - without being a show-off.
Balanced Authenticity: Like a flamingo standing on one leg, they maintain balance between being part of a group and maintaining their individual identity. In a human context, this translates to poise and inner strength amidst external chaos, and actually is an act of energy conservation.
Resilience and Adaptability: They survive and thrive in challenging, sometimes harsh, environments without losing their brilliance. Beautiful, daring, and real.
Flamingos represent a shift from the mundane to the exceptional. They are not merely different; they are specialized. Their collective displays are not about conformity but about a shared, high-intensity standard of performance.
Finding Your Tribe
To move from the pigeons to the flamingoes, you must start by cultivating these attributes within yourself. Flamingoes are not just born; they become vibrant by eating the right “crustaceans”—metaphorically, this means nourishing your soul with things that resonate with your true self. Stop doing things that don’t fit you.
Finding Your Flock Requirements
Moving Beyond the Concrete: You must leave the urban, crowded spots where pigeons feel safe and search in “calm waters”. This means seeking out creative spaces, communities that value diversity, or pursuing passions that bring you joy.
Showing Your Color: You must take the risk of revealing your true, bright, and perhaps “too loud” personality. Flock toward those who are doing the same. “Flamingo” individuals are highly selective about the information, energy, and people they allow into their lives.
Connecting Through Substance: Flamingoes form strong, lasting bonds based on shared, authentic personalities rather than just proximity. Exercise your heart and soul because above all this is what is required in your transformation.
Collective Brilliance: While pigeons huddle for protection, flamingos gather in “flamboyances.” Their collective presence is not about hiding, but about creating a shared, high-energy ecosystem where everyone thrives.
heart & soul speak
Being a flamingo among pigeons is a profound, albeit exhausting, experience. It requires immense strength to resist the urge to blend in and if you do try to be a pigeon for a time, your very heart and soul rebel. However, recognizing the “pigeon” environment is the necessary catalyst for change. By embodying the grace, balance, and brilliant color of a flamingo, you will stop trying to fit into a flock that never meant to be your home. You will finally understand why it took so much effort to try to stay colorless.
But now, you will attract your own kind—those who, like you, choose to stand out, live boldly, and shine brightly in a world that often prefers to stay gray. Moving from the pigeon flock to the flamingo colony requires a "migration of the mind." You must stop competing for crumbs and start seeking the environments—often more challenging or niche—where even "pink" is the standard.
If this resonates with you, then you are indeed a Flamingo like me!
{ HEART & SOUL SPEAK }
The door is the sky, the future is a song,
The world is wide, and I, a flamingo belong.
~ {Flamingo It!}
the not yet of doing it
Has anyone ever asked if you will start doing your art again? your music? or whatever your ability and gifting is? And you have said: “I will someday, but not yet.”
Ask yourself: “Why wait?”
The creative process within an artist's studio is often a dynamic interplay between seemingly separate disciplines that, in reality, foster a symbiotic relationship, guiding the artist's overall direction and flow. This is particularly evident when an artist juggles the performing arts of music and composition with visual art for gallery shows. By actively engaging in one endeavor, the other "works itself out," creating a harmonious creative flow that makes sense of the artist's dual passions.
As a writer, a musician, an artist, and 3-D product designer I find if one course of creativity flow is stopped, the other creative flows soon stop as well. I cannot compartmentalize my creativity. I tried following the popular reasoning: ‘One Band, One Sound’ or ‘An Artist’s Work Must Be Recognized For The Artist’s Style’. No.
To maintain the balance of flows is often as simple as incorporating all flows into a themed project that support all aspects of the artist. This will take some thought and self-reflection and self-honesty, but it is better than filled with doubt and do-nothings.
In a creative studio where a musician, an artist, and a writer collaborate simultaneously, a unique “multisensory environment” is formed, driving innovation through the interplay of sight, sound, and semantics. This collaborative synergy, often resembling the mechanism of synesthesia, allows each creator to use another’s medium as a catalyst for their own work. I find this is what I am exploring and hoping for as I set-up my art studio {WINGS}. Where my disciplines of art- music- writing-3D project design can support each other in close proximity and creativity. This will require good outline and project flows to keep one from getting lost.
The Mechanics of Simultaneous Creation
Working in the same physical space allows for real-time feedback loops that differ from traditional, sequential collaboration. As the artist, this means entering one arena and exiting another - but keeping the macro view lens open.
Musician to Artist (Vibration to Vision). As the musician explores melodies, the artist may translate these auditory vibrations into specific colors and brushstrokes. Multisensory stimulation—where sound guides movement and rhythm—can evoke deeper emotional meaning in visual work.
Artist to Writer (Imagery to Narrative). Visual stimuli act as “pre-invented structures” for the writer. A developing mural or sculpture provides an immediate anchor for world-building, helping the writer visualize solutions and reframe narrative challenges through observed textures and shapes.
Writer to Musician (Words to Soundscapes). Lyrical concepts or rhythmic prose provide a structural “grammar” for the musician to follow. Good music paired with even early-stage lyrics can be more effective than music composed in a vacuum, as the “poetry in melody” helps convey complex emotions.
The Dual Creative Landscape
In the art maker's studio, the artist establishes a unique ecosystem. A large canvas project, for instance, might be "built in the background" – a visual anchor that slowly evolves with each passing day. Simultaneously, a new musical composition project might take the foreground, demanding immediate attention and focus. This separation, while appearing counterintuitive, is the artist’s method for maintaining sanity and momentum. The avenue to release creative emotions and figuring out next steps can be found in writing and journaling about the art project path.
The Paradox of Focus: One In Front, One Behind
The most fascinating aspect of this process is the paradox that focusing on one creative process allows the other to resolve itself. Writers experience this is the wee hours of the quiet morning where thoughts flow and work out plot lines, form characters in their stories, the ‘pow!’ of sudden inspirational new ideas, etc.
Background Processing. When the artist shifts focus to the active musical composition, the visual art project moves to the subconscious. The mind continues to work on the painting or sculpture in the background, mulling over solutions to compositional challenges, color choices, or thematic directions without conscious effort.
A "Fresh Eye" for Both. Returning to the background project with a mind refreshed by musical engagement provides a "fresh eye" and new perspectives, making seemingly difficult choices sudden and clear.
This method allows the artist to leverage different parts of their brain, preventing creative burnout and fostering a consistent, fulfilling creative direction. The studio becomes a space where music and art dance together, each contributing to a unified vision and flow, making perfect sense of the artist's multifaceted creative life. And there is no reason to live any longer in ‘the not yet’.
Maker | Performer | The Right Time
"Aging is a privilege." - Lindsey Stirling.
So own your awesomeness!
Not to puff up.
Not to shrink from.
But to stand your sacred ground.
Flamingo It
Being a flamingo is not super flounce or parade. Not squawking or shrieking. It’s solid footing and finding balance and being together. Masterpieces just don't happen. We stand on the shoulders of those who inspired us. As the artist must be present and become proficient with their skills, the imaginaire must show up, the writer must write, the musician must practice then perform.
Solo flights happen, but flocks of flamingoes are always greater.
"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man or God."
A re-balance of life, destination, and the journey of HERE.
{ A Place to Be Brave & To Try New Things }