White Canvas syndrome

Talking to my student writer we discussed the differences between different mediums of artistic expression comparing the visual arts to writing and the specific obstacles each one of them pose.

"For a writer there is nothing worse than white paper syndrome; for an artist there is indeed an equal frustration - White Canvas Syndrome! It is a malady we artists all suffer on occasion and when it strikes it surely puts one at a complete and disheartening loss. Motivation flies south for the winter, swiftly ensued by any wisp of desire left in one to do anything at all, let alone begin a new artwork! For this reason alone it is best to never even ponder an attempt at working cold onto a blank canvas."
http://tahala.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/got-white-canvas-syndrome/

This conversation brought back some of my old writings on the same topic;

A story teller,  is like a painter. He needs to patiently lay the background, add the right colors to set the mood and place. He needs to introduce the heroes, for every good story needs a hero, or two.  And so a fine story is about the right balance between background and participants.  It is about setting the tone by using the right colors. It is about weaving a plot with the utmost respect, stringing all the threads without losing any, to create a beautiful fabric.

And another time

"Creating something out of nothing is filling a void. Where there was nothing just a minute ago a building is now standing with all its grandeur. Where there was quiet, a song is now filling the emptiness, the picture on the empty wall, the story to capture our imagination in a long winter night. "

The reward though when finishing, any art work, a writing, a drawing, a sculpture...so big, so fulfilling