The Joy of Being Quiet
- bbridget2
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Contributed by
Anne Bowers
Basket Maker and Teacher
March 2026
As we can see the cold of this winter fading into a long-anticipated spring, this has, hopefully, been a special time for those who call themselves ‘creatives’. The silence outdoors gives us opportunity to turn to an inner silence inside our minds that leads to reflection, to reconnect and take stock of where we are in our creative journey. For members of the Over the Mountain Studio Tour, it can be a time to look back on the past year and envision the how’s and whys of what we still yearn to create.
The snow and short daylight hours and low temperatures lead one to a peaceful mental state that some call ‘flow’. Flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does. It can result in a person being unaware of the passage of time as they find that delicate balance of using skills that have been acquired over a long period of time to produce what that individual is especially skilled at making or doing.
The best way to achieve that flow state is when we are well rested, comfortable and our minds can think unhindered. (For the author, it also includes a good cup of coffee!) Quiet time lets us realize that we can’t dip our creativity out of an empty bucket – we need time to recharge. With time to wander mentally, we tend to envision new ideas. Our hands begin to feel more limber, and we become reinspired with materials at hand, interesting found items, or using old techniques in a new way.
This peaceful feeling is available to all and only requires that we invest ourselves in quiet. It isn’t a secret, reserved only for those who create with their hands. But for the artisans on the studio tour, it is anticipated. And it is necessary. We find ourselves more focused, more self-aware with the result being our enhanced creativity.
The members of the Over the Mountain Studio Tour invite you to join us in being mindful, peaceful and creative. Then come and see us during our Summer Show and the Studio Tour in November to see what our recharged spirits have generated!
LOVELY Blog!! Artists and the people who relate to artists, who go to them are so important in this world. You don't have to BE an artist to relate to creativity. It belongs to all of us. I am so impressed with the blog, and pleased it continues and dances through the soul of the OTMST.
Anne.....
I read, with interest, your post which arrived in my e-mail today. Though I'm not a creative artist, your message resonates with me, especially in the winter when the cold quiet directs our energy in a more internalized way.
I tried to contact you in the fall to see if you were part of the November Studio Tour. I didn't see you listed. Let me know if you're still planning to be a part of the fall studio tour. You're certainly one of the main attractions in the tour. Your creative soul and skill are reflected in each basket.
I hope all is going well for you as we begin to see some early signs of spring. …
Well said Anne! That exactly describes the state I'm in whether practicing music or carving wood, or any other creative endeavor. It's meditative and simultaneously productive. Some might say I'm in that state a bit too much of the time (LOL).