Creating is supposed to be free and fun, but for the greater part of my life I simply judged most of what I made as "not good enough."
Today I am excited to share about what has been essential in unlocking my creative flow, to the point where creating is now my favourite thing to do and explore each day, and is without doubt the most fulfilling and rewarding aspect of my life.
Nature Inspires
It's not about copying nature, but about paying a very fond and enthusiastic tribute to what it offers me daily. Many years ago after a difficult experience, I reconnected to the natural world in a very powerful way as my primary source of healing. For the first time since childhood, I took the time to truly notice and observe, to really smell the enchanting smells and absorb the incredibly beautiful sights, everchanging and magical. I started spending a lot more time outside, and that is the first thing that unlocked my creativity.
I remember being in awe of all the ordinary things that I had not taken the time to be with properly for many years: the intricate patterns on tree barks, the fluttering dance of spring leaves in the beech forests, the shimmering ripples on water and sand, the miniature landscapes in the simplest corners, the blushing beauty of a flower blooming, the softness of moss and grass. I consider nature to be my main source of support, refreshment, beauty and inspiration.
"Done is Better than Perfect"
Attributed to various people, this quote speaks the truth. The "perfect" mood and time to create (whatever they are!) are now. This is such a cliché, I know, but it's always true for me.
In terms of painting, I often have to "get into it;" the first step can feel daunting and I have a desire to avoid the activity altogether. But acting on that desire would be a real shame, because once I start painting, I enjoy it with all my heart and get into a zone that is outside of time and space, where there is only pure enjoyment and peace. It's a wonderful experience. Even if I don't find the end result "perfect," at least it is "done," and I can keep on working at it until it feels perfect to me.
The best way to perfect my arts and skills is to keep on using them, keep on practicing and allowing myself the very special experience of exploring what I like to do, discovering which colours and techniques I love to use, experimenting with the ones I don't like so much, and always giving myself permission to be surprised by what will come.
It's very refreshing to relax the outcome and stop trying to control it. I just play, just see what happens. Each "mistake" is a powerful lesson, teaching me about myself and about the activity in itself. "Failure" is a blessing, because it fosters more exploration, resilence, knowledge, experience and understanding. This attitude is something I like to apply to all areas of life, and in that way painting becomes a lovely training ground for me.
A Little Bit Each Day
There are many days where I just "don't feel like it" or am too ill to work, and it seems like too much to add a few layers of paint to a work in progress or finish off that crochet border because it's at a tricky stage. I have only two choices when I feel like that: either I avoid creating altogether, or I create for a just few minutes and see where that leads. It could well be that these few minutes turn into a very rich session full of progress or openings.
At any given time I can at least do something that is needed in the workshop. It could be an odd job that is part of the grander scheme of things, like organising my yarn and canvasses, taking care of the paint tubes and bottles, tidying up the workbenches, finishing a painting by signing it, working up a new blanket design and putting colours together, writing an artwork description... the ways to create are endless.
Like any relationship, creativity needs to be worked at and we need to show up for it. Let's relieve ourselves of the pressure to create a masterpiece every day while choosing to maintain the connection to our chosen art forms, even if it's just for one small minute.
Keep on Learning
A wise thing I did was to participate in an online Vedic Painting course a few years ago. Before that course, I did not consider that I could paint anything at all. I had tried a few times and had only disappointed myself; I really did not have the key to unlock that specific medium and did not think I would ever enjoy painting.
Just being in that workshop, I was completely freed up and able to paint magical and joyful landscapes, and to this day I am not sure how it all happens, but I am amazed and so grateful that I can paint and enjoy it! All I know is that I allow myself to enter that sphere of colours and textures more and more, and as it becomes less and less foreign to me, it ends up being a very therapeutic, expressive and refreshing activity that I truly miss when I don't do it.
Learning is never over. When I taught myself to crochet a few years ago, I was so excited to see that I could learn more crochet techniques forever! Although this can sound overwhelming, it's actually a wonderful thing because it means that creativity will never get stale; there will always be more to explore and play with, always more combinations of colours and media to have fun with. Learning can also mean that we need someone to teach us something. In this humility of receiving someone else's experience and expertise, we can unlock and learn so much.
Open your Ideas about Creativity
It can be surprising how much creativity there is in life when we open up our ideas of what creating means to us. Putting together a special outfit, gathering a bunch of flowers, taking care of our living space, cooking a colourful meal, taking care of our body and our appearance, tidying, cleaning, gardening, writing someone a note, taking photographs...
I love elevating completely mundane tasks to the heights of creativity, something that deserves to be well done and enjoyed, something that deserves to be given full attention and the proper amount of care and time with the desired end in mind: that life will be better quality if these tasks are done well and with respect.
Life can often be far too busy or difficult to take the time to enjoy ordinary chores, but this is something I try to pay attention to as much as possible because the rewards are boundless and always echoed in my main channels of artistic expression (painting and crochet). Due to chronic illness, I am often so unwell that I cannot do anything, and this incapacity has brought a delicious enjoyment for simple ordinary tasks of everyday life when I do manage to do them. I never take it for granted when I am able to take care of myself and my space, and it feels like a treasured ceremony for me, a wonderful channel in which to direct my care and love.
Share your Work
It's really amazing to be able to share our work with the world, and thanks to the Internet, it's never been easier. Not everyone will like what we make, but there will be someone somewhere whose day will be made a little bit better, a little bit more colourful, a little bit warmer by what I make, and that is a superb feeling for me.
When I took the decision last year to sell what I make after years of exploring my favourite creative channels quite privately, I was so excited to think that I could start sharing the joy and fulfillment it brings me, as well as offering items that can enhance quality of life and make people feel comfortable, warm, treasured, and connected to nature.
The connections and learning that sharing fosters are very precious and worthwhile. When I get feedback on how much someone enjoys my wall art and wearable art, I am filled with a glowing sense of purpose and healthy pride, bursting with joy at the idea that someone is truly benefitted by something I made with passion and joy. Happy creating! :)
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