The Number One Thing That Keeps you From Making Art (Hint: It's You).

 

This one is for the folks out there that have a desire to make art, but believe they can't, and for those that have tried, given up, but still feel that faint persistent call from their creative heart.

I believe that we are all born with the spark of creativity inside of us. Children are living expressions of creativity, bounding with energy and the power of possibility. A child can take something so simple as a cardboard box, and build limitless worlds with it. But so often, as that child grows, that spark is dulled, and is often left to sleep in the background as the concerns of the world and the mind take precedence. This darkening can happen due to the pressures of family and community, or most often, due to the harsh opinions and criticism of others. Over time, this "evidence" as to why your creative expression is bad or impractical builds up, and begins to stifle the creative energy that once overflowed with vitality.

Over time, we may unconsciously become a strong advocate of our own creative repression. The stories of others become so tightly woven with our self perception that we will loudly pronounce to ourselves and others that we have no talent or skill, while back in the corner of our hearts, that tiny spark patiently waits for us to come to our senses. And while it may have been the words and deeds of others that got us started into this mess, only we can get ourselves out.

Let me be clear that when I speak of art and creativity here, I do not mean it in a professional or commercial context. Although that may be a delightful result, it is not the focus of what I am advocating for. I am here to stand up for you reclaiming your wild creative heart that does not care about the needs or opinions of others, but only of its own freedom to live. What magic might ensue if we could just give our creativity even the tiniest opportunity to play, to express?

Now, unpacking a lifetime's worth of barriers is not going to happen overnight. But it is a process that can be tended to with care and gentleness. Take a moment and imagine what it may feel like to try something creative and not think cruelly of yourself. To allow yourself just a few moments of freedom to enjoy the pleasures of artfulness. And what a lifetime may grow into when built upon that foundation of self care, self love, and creativity.

~Craig

Painting by Autumn Skye Morrison