On Brewing Ideas, and Much Else.

I love to brew things. Tea, coffee, herbs, spices. To have a great variety of blends, with ingredients from near and afar, from local shops and from my own travels. Flavours and fragrances that can transport you to faraway places you may miss in a cup, one that ought to have a story behind it, perhaps one that matches the drink. I even like to brew myself in scented hot baths. 

The act of brewing is considered almost a ritual in many cases, and it is indeed, but for me a good part of it feels like playing (with a spoonful of curiosity. No sugar, please). 

Through watercolour I brew colours too. It is the best technique for it.

When I was a child, an adult told me that if I put the broken tips from coloured pencils in water they would become little birds. I collected many pieces and hid myself in the bathroom, put them on the sink (of the same height as me, almost couldn’t reach the water) and waited for something to happen. And that’s probably the reason I don’t paint with coloured pencils much. What a brewing disappointment.

…But most importantly, I love to brew ideas. 

To be honest, this wasn't always the case. I used to picture the appearance of an almost finished idea, a revelation, just some missing details that could be added on the go. No sketches, but direct to the final piece. 

Now instead I see it more dreamlike, misty, and continuously mutating. And I become curious about its essence, what could be, what would show me if I leave it a little longer. Like a sunset that you thought showed you its more beautiful colours and surprised you with a magnificent intense line of colour just before the sun goes.

How could I be sure of its authentic form? Does it need more time to crystallise?

I am conscious that social media pushes you to the opposite of the crystallisation of an idea. It becomes a kaleidoscopic experience, not yours at all, it distracts and demotivates most of the time, paralysing your ideas, undervaluing your memories, feelings and own way of expression. 

Scrolling past patience as useless, you get instant mass-consumed ideas, whilst the slow brew gets ignored as impossible fit for today's world. 

Where distraction reigns, it is better to step aside if what you are searching for is creativity. With less unrelated input, your inner imagery gets enough space to grow and form. If something needs to be expressed it would rarely fit a trend, because usually it is a rebellion, but not a noisy one.

So let’s brew. Let’s wait, and let the ideas - or whatever you want to brew - have the time they need. Look at it, observe it, smell it, savour it. The best cup is rarely the quickest one.