This summer has been a journey in the pursuit of my creative person! It started with the desire to seek a new path, to try on some new ways of thinking, and to shift a bit from the usual patterns. My soul was yearning to make more time for creativity, so I have been using the past two months to honor that spirit in me.
I thought that I would start from the very beginning-try putting myself through an elementary art class. That meant going through a step-by-step process of learning how to draw, watercolor, use oil pastels, paint, etc. I got started with a kid's art book from the library and a trip to The Sketchy Artist. I bought a few supplies and sat down to start my lessons.
The lessons didn't last. I am completely interested in playing around with all of the supplies and trying out techniques, but I found a rigid plan to "be creative" isn't what I need.
What I am coming to understand is that creativity is more than an art class. Creativity is in my bones. It is not "doing art;" it is the way I look at the world. It is the way I problem-solve, teach, cook, garden, organize a cupboard. It is the sewing and card-making, the baking and knitting, as well as the way I present choices to my kids or when we brainstorm ideas.
When I started out the summer, I was mourning the time that I felt I had lost not "being creative." I was frustrated that I had missed out on the art electives in high school and didn't make learning about art a high priority. I felt angry and cheated. I thought I needed to teach myself how to be creative, but now I am shifting my perspective to realize that creativity isn't just about the arts. Even in the midst of my "career path," I was finding ways to be creative. I made time to honor my desire to design and my need to learn a new skill, like knitting. I dove into new recipes and learned how to cook. I created pillows and curtains to finish a room. Just yesterday, I picked blueberries and it led me to take a photo of the bushes & the fruit, sift through recipes so that I could bake or cook with them, and find a beautiful bowl to place them in so that I can sketch them.
I am going to keep on this pursuit of finding ways to be creative every day and I am going to remember that there are a million ways to use that word. Creativity is a blessing that we all have and I want to make the most of this amazing gift.
I thought that I would start from the very beginning-try putting myself through an elementary art class. That meant going through a step-by-step process of learning how to draw, watercolor, use oil pastels, paint, etc. I got started with a kid's art book from the library and a trip to The Sketchy Artist. I bought a few supplies and sat down to start my lessons.
The lessons didn't last. I am completely interested in playing around with all of the supplies and trying out techniques, but I found a rigid plan to "be creative" isn't what I need.
What I am coming to understand is that creativity is more than an art class. Creativity is in my bones. It is not "doing art;" it is the way I look at the world. It is the way I problem-solve, teach, cook, garden, organize a cupboard. It is the sewing and card-making, the baking and knitting, as well as the way I present choices to my kids or when we brainstorm ideas.
When I started out the summer, I was mourning the time that I felt I had lost not "being creative." I was frustrated that I had missed out on the art electives in high school and didn't make learning about art a high priority. I felt angry and cheated. I thought I needed to teach myself how to be creative, but now I am shifting my perspective to realize that creativity isn't just about the arts. Even in the midst of my "career path," I was finding ways to be creative. I made time to honor my desire to design and my need to learn a new skill, like knitting. I dove into new recipes and learned how to cook. I created pillows and curtains to finish a room. Just yesterday, I picked blueberries and it led me to take a photo of the bushes & the fruit, sift through recipes so that I could bake or cook with them, and find a beautiful bowl to place them in so that I can sketch them.
I am going to keep on this pursuit of finding ways to be creative every day and I am going to remember that there are a million ways to use that word. Creativity is a blessing that we all have and I want to make the most of this amazing gift.
"The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature."
The Artist's Way, J. Cameron
How do you get creative?
Do you have a nagging desire to turn up the creative volume in your life?
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