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Are we creative?

This is a question that I have wrestled with for some time. I can recall being very creative and artistic when I was growing up. My mother (a fine arts major and fine artist) fostered an environment of self expression and creativity when I was growing up. I learned to knit, crochet, embroider and other needlework crafts as well as creative writing, painting and a rather unfortunate phase of play dough sculpture (no one mentioned to me at 7 years old that you shouldn’t use a hot iron on play dough!)

It is interesting, but I have read in several places that artistry and play are encouraged in children until the age of 8 or 9 years old when suddenly judgements about colouring in the lines, getting the colours realistic and generally “growing up and out of play” seem to take a more prominent role.

Many can recall when they suddenly had thoughts that they were not creative - what a shame that we take that away from children. I know for me it was when I was painting purple rabbits and I was told wouldn’t it be a better picture if the rabbits were white or grey? What ever made me agree to such nonsense and internalize the thought that I’m not artistic.

I put down my paint brushes and focused on practical art - knitting scarves and sweaters and such. It wasn’t until I picked up a camera and started expanding my craft into the more creative realms that I started to question that statement - I am not artistic. I know now that I am and I spend time encouraging that playful creative curious side of me to wonderful outcomes.

How to tap into that creative side?

I have spoken to friends and acquaintances about how to tap into that creative side once it has been quashed. Is it possible to rekindle and if so how? I obviously believe that it is possible to rekindle the creative energy within ourselves if we are open to it, but it doesn’t always come back naturally or easily - it takes practice and intention.

I really love this quote by Brent Brown from Dare to Lead where she talks about how we integrate and internalize learnings. I have found it to be so very true.

We are born makers. We move what we're learning from our heads to our hearts through our hands. (Brené Brown - Dare to Lead)

There are so many ways to get started tapping into your creative side, but if you’re stuck or struggling, I have a few suggestions that might help to kick start your journey back to that childlike wonder. Practice is key - we can’t expect to start exercising muscles that we haven’t used in ages and not take some time to get them functioning smoothly again - creativity is very much like that. It takes practice and a willingness to have false starts or failed attempts before finding something that clicks for you.

I think that trying all sorts of creative things is a great way to find out what you enjoy - being creative shouldn’t be a chore or unenjoyable. I have tried so many different things and while I enjoyed the activities - none really grabbed me the way photography did. I found myself blocking time for photography shoots - making up projects and practice exercises to really hone my craft.

I have a friend who is like that with music - she loves to play piano and for her practice is not a chore, but a way of connecting with herself - she gets lost in her music. Another friend finds artwork - any medium - is her passion. She lights up inside and creates such amazing pieces that really reflect what is happening inside her.

I also have a friend who has stumbled into pottery - she loves to throw clay and create shapes with her wheel, but I think it is her creativity through glazing that really shines. I am in awe of the colours and tones that she creates and it’s always an exciting mystery to see how they turn out when the kiln is opened.

The sky is the limit on ways to be creative.

Expanding Creativity

As wonderful as it is to find that creative spark and set aside time to foster that energy and connection, I do know that we can hit plateaus or dry spells. I have fallen into photography funks in the past and it’s been a challenge to find ways to come out of it. Sometimes I feel like I just keep shooting the same thing (plateau) or what brought me joy no longer excites me (dry spell).

I have tried some different ways to claw my way out of these funks and I talked about them on a recent podcast, but a different way that I have found to expand creativity comes from finding new inspiration.

During a recent photography retreat with Freeman Patterson in New Brunswick, he really helped to expand our creativity by having us visit local artist’s studios with the caveat being that they were not photographers.

Our first studio visit was to Werner Arnold who specializes in creating fantastically intricate woodwork sculptures - it is actually a disservice to describe them as woodwork sculptures - please click on the link to see his work. The way that his mind works to create these pieces and just his approach to his work and life was so inspirational. It got me to thinking about capturing complex visions photographically.

We also visited Alanna Baird’s (Tin Fish Studio) where we got to see the evolution of her art based on recycled materials. She originally started working with metal using forming dies to roll the “scales” she fashioned from tin cans into fish. These became very popular, however Alanna didn’t want to just continue to create the same pieces, so she started expanding into new areas. She lives by the water and beach combing is a fascination for her which led to her sea urchin series cast in bronze and later fashioned with a 3D printing pen.

During our visit she described her latest venture which was creating 6 pieces to go in a fashion show hosted by Beakerhead (an annual STEM exhibition) in Calgary in September. The fashion show was being put on by Future Oceans International and the theme was Harmonize, Adapt and Transform. They loved Alanna’s headpieces from her sea urchin series, however she needed to produce full outfits for models to wear.

This led to her collaboration with Carol Miller - a local costume designer - who worked with Alanna to create some truly inspiring outfits. I knew that I needed to attend this fashion show and I arranged for a group of women to join me for the event.

Alanna’s Fashion Show Debut

I’m sure that Alanna never envisioned her creations being part of a runway show when she first picked up sea urchin shells on the beach, however her creativity and collaboration skills shone through the models as they strutted up and down the runway.

It was an exciting evening and even though there were a number of talented designers present, Alanna and Carol’s works stood out as being the most innovative and creative.

The outfits incorporated all sorts of items that Alanna has collected and fabricated over the past few years and I was fascinated to see the bits and pieces I had seen in her small studio in the designs under the neon lights.

Scales similar to the fish scales were fashioned from 2L pop bottles and they glinted under the lights. Acupuncture plastic tubes were also incorporated into headpieces and dress fringes. The sea urchin 3D printing became a headpiece with a definite futuristic look.

Barnacle patterns embellished suit jackets and fascinator style hats.

I was blown away with how these pieces of recycled material were made to look new in these pieces.

So much talent and creativity which keeps evolving and growing.

I think it is that curiosity that drives these artists to continue to explore and experiment with their creations.

Sabine Lecorre-Moore Gallery Opening

I followed up the exciting fashion show evening with a gallery opening of an artist I first met several years ago. My friend Maya introduced me to her and took me to see her project Painting Alberta during her Kiyooka Ohe Art Residency in 2022. This project is truly fascinating to me as it consists of three hundred and sixty small canvases depicting scenes from across Alberta with many coming from historical photographs.

I especially appreciate the passion behind this project because it is not just painting scenes of Alberta, but rather collecting stories of our history and legacy. Sabine can tell you all about each piece - where it comes from, what inspired her to paint it, what skills she had to learn to properly convey the subject and the people she met while collecting the photos or information.

I was able to attend her gallery opening at the Okotoks Art Gallery on September 21st (her exhibit is up until November 8, 2024 and well worth a visit if you’re in the area). Seeing her work on display at the gallery brought me back to the Kiyooka Ohe installation where the pieces were displayed, but not quite so elegantly.

Sabine has produced the first of three volumes cataloging the pieces and their stories which is a delight to read. Seeing her approach to project work (this one has taken almost 10 years to complete) was so inspiring as I have several longer term projects and I often wonder what it is all for - Sabine reminded me that it is about following your passion and Freeman reminded me it is about following the energy of your curiosity.

We are all creative

I hope that if nothing else this blog post provides some encouragement that we are all creative and benefit from spending time exploring our creative sides - giving free rein to playfulness and curiosity. If you’re struggling to know where to start then take a class or go visit an art gallery or take in a concert or play - heck spend time with children - inspiration can come from anywhere and you may be surprised where your mind goes when you give it space to get creative.

Do you believe that you’re creative? What are things that you like to do to express that creativity? I would love for you to share in the comments below or reach out to me directly through the Connect With Me button. 

I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.