CREATIVE CORNER
by Autumn Boyet Stinton
Welcome to the Creative
Corner, a column in which we will talk about ways to find, nurture and release
creativity. Not all of us consider ourselves artistic, but the fact remains
that we are all creative, inspired beings.
Your creativity and inner artist, when nurtured, can be the most
youthful, playful, and joyful part of you. When we find a way to stay dialed into that
joy, excitement and playfulness, we open
the floodgates to infinite creative power within ourselves.
As individuals, our creativity
is as unique as our fingerprints.
Likewise, it only stands to reason that an expression of that creativity
will be a unique experience with a unique outcome for each person. It may be painting to one person, yard work
to another, or cooking for someone else.
The thing we need to remember is that we all see things differently, and
just because someone hasn't found, or has lost the tools to connect to their torrent of creativity, doesn't mean the creativity doesn't exist.
Here at the Creative Corner
we will share inspiration, motivate the artist within each of us, and most
importantly, provide nourishment in the form of love and light for the Creative
Corner of our minds.
Sadly, it seems that many
times our Creative Corner is neglected and as a result, it becomes a desolate
and dusty place. But it doesn't have to
be that way. Pablo Picasso said, “Every
child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we
grow up.” So the question arises:
How can I cultivate and feed the
creative side of my personality – clear out the dust and desolation and make my
Creative Corner a wild and wonder-full place?
I don’t know about you, but
my vote will always be for the wild and wonder-full! Don’t panic.
You are already wired to be wildly and wonderfully creative, and it isn't as difficult as you might think to coax out your inner artist.
The first step is realizing
that art is in everyone and everything. The
challenge is finding our personal artistic “sweet spot” a midst the clutter and
dust of everyday life. Pablo Picasso
also said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” The key being that art and our creative
beings are closely connected to our souls - the very core of our beings. It would
only make sense then, that in order to connect with our creativity, our souls
would have to be fed.
We all know people who are naturally
in tune with their creative side. Some people are just born looking at
the world around them in a creative manner.
Some may need to have their creativity nurtured and work at it as a
learned skill. Others may find their way
into their creativity as a result of life altering events. However one
gets there, the point is – creativity is ingrained into the very basic makeup
of each of us. So how do we stay
connected or re-connect to the creative torrents, the creative corners, in our
souls?
Creativity is like a muscle,
exercise makes it strong. Here is a
simple step-by-step exercise program that will have us all sweeping out our
dusty corners and riding the wild and wonder-full torrents of our creativity!
1.
APPRECIATE &
LOVE YOURSELF – Take a look at yourself.
See your strong points as well as the weak ones. Appreciate how both create a harmonious yin
and yang and how both have served you and taught you. Love what you see and let that love radiate
into your Creative Corner.
2.
PRACTICE LIVING &
LOVING OUT LOUD – In the beginning this might be a challenge, but start
small. Consciously create moments of
frivolity with no intention other than joy.
After creating these moments for yourself, create them for others –
always focusing on the sheer pleasure of it.
3.
FOCUS
ON
4.
LET GO –
Inspiration and energy are fluid. Recognize
that fluidity. To tap into your
individual creativity, think about what moves you and then release control. Follow where that thought leads and be open
to what you realize.
5.
START AN
INSPIRATION JOURNAL – When something stirs a feeling within you, make note of
it. It could be a song, a color, something you glimpse in a magazine or while
walking through a store. Whatever it is,
make a simple note in your journal.
In making these five steps a
practice for just a few weeks, you will begin to notice new ideas, thoughts,
pleasures, and opportunities arising. A
shift in the way you look at everyday experiences, sights and sounds will bring
you closer to, and more in tune with your creative corner. And the icing on the cake? This is just the beginning!
The fun part is taking our
practice and expressing it. Since our
creativity is connected to our souls, this process can be cathartic and
profound, and the results can be amazing.
Oscar Wilde said, “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a
portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” Each time you express yourself, you are sharing
with the world a precious piece of your soul.
What better gift could you give the world?
It is easier to start then
one might think. If you have exercised
your creative muscle by following the five steps above, you are well on your
way to tapping into your creative torrent.
You have within you all that you need to be a successful artist. Remember
that the goal of art may not be to literally represent an outward appearance,
but to display the inward significance. Try this exercise to get you started:
1.
FOCUS ON
AN EMOTION or FEELING - Think about something that provokes a strong feeling or
emotion within you. It doesn't matter
what emotion drives you.
2.
OPEN YOURSELF TO
ARTISTIC FLOW – For a couple minutes, close your eyes and focus on that
emotion, noticing all the thoughts and ideas that come to you regarding your
feelings.
3.
ACKNOWLEDGE &
ENERGIZE YOUR EXPRESSION - To apply energy to your expression, spend a couple
minutes simply writing words that express the emotion that you have just
conjured up.
4.
ALLOW FLOW - To
further the artistic flow, allow colors, shapes and pictures that come to mind
to be part of your expression.
5.
LET GO – Don’t
put any expectation on your expression.
See what your emotion has created and accept the beauty that it is.
The glorious thing about art
and creativity is that there is no right or wrong. Charles Horton Cooley reminded us that “An
artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.” Art simply is, and creativity is simply an
expression of who we are. I once heard
someone compare our lives to a book with blank pages. We get to put the content upon those pages
ourselves. Why not make your book of
life a lively, colorful expression of the artist hiding in your Creative
Corner!
Join us next time when we will
discuss the MAGIC of ART! Until next
time – Happy Creating!
No comments:
Post a Comment