Creativity in Bloom

I can’t image my life had I never picked up a paintbrush.

Often, I hear one or the other of these phrases, “I wish I were creative,” or “I wish I could paint.” And when I tell them that they ARE creative and they they COULD paint, they normally roll their eyes at me, and say, “Yeah, right!”

For years I had that same mindset, wishing I could be a painter. Since I can remember, I’ve had a love for art. Even took an art class in middle school, and looking back, I think because I wasn’t able to draw and paint like my artist Dad, I decided that I didn’t have the gift. I so wish that my art instructor had told us that what is truly needed here is practice, not innate talent.

I’m not taking anything away from natural talent. I do feel like we are all born with certain strengths and weaknesses. Some of us are naturally better at some things while others of us really kind of stink at it. But I also believe that if you truly have a desire for something, it’s your higher knowing that is nagging you to give it a try. For example, I absolutely am not an athlete. I have everything about sports and I was that person in school who was dead last at being called to be picked for a team. But I also never had a desire to be an athlete. So what I’m saying here is that those things we stink at, we want have the desire anyway.

Many of you know my Barnes and Noble story where I came upon the little “artist set” complete with paints, brushes and easel. The thing called to me. It was as though it had a magnetic pull, begging me to take it home with me. No logic I could come up with agreed with this pulling. I was in my late 40’s at the time and had never painted as an adult. Well, except once when I was in my 20’s and I enjoyed a few of the painting parties where a group paints with the help of an instructor. But I don’t know, I had this tug - one side saying this was silly and childish and the other side saying, NO, you have to get it.

Thankfully, the illogical side won that day!

Since that time I have spent many, many hours in front of canvas and boards with paints on my brush. Was I great overnight? Heck no. But if I tried to learn a musical instrument, would I be good right away? Would you?

I'm not sure why we all have this idea that to paint, one needs to be born with it. It’s silly really. We don’t come out of the womb born artists.

The painting I did today represents the freedom of creativity. I’m calling it “Creativity in Bloom.” It’s an 11 X 14 canvas painted with acrylic paints.

This one was so much fun to paint, and I love that it speaks freedom. I can feel it coming through the canvas.

My question to you today: Is there something you have been longing to do but have told yourself over and over that you aren’t good at it, so no need to try? If so, please reconsider. I can’t even imagine my life without art now. What if I had let logic win that day in Barnes & Noble and never even tried to paint?

Painting may not be your thing, as creativity calls us in many ways. Cooking, gardening, writing, stitching and sewing are all creative pursuits and there are so many more.

If you aren’t taking time in your life to do something creative, please sit down with pen and paper, or a journal if you have one, and jot down your thoughts on this. Why do you not? What is keeping you from it? Time, money, taking care of others? Something else? These are all logical reasons. But remember, when it comes to creativity, logic isn’t always our friend.

Get out there and start creating my beautiful, creative friends. Make it happen!

Sending my best,

Connie