This was such a beautiful read that actually hit me in a really personal way.
I’ve just found my way back to embroidery again, something I used to do a lot before the kids, and when they were little. And I didn’t realise how much I’d missed using my hands like that until I picked it back up. My creativity has been so wrapped up in writing for years, but this feels like a different part of me waking up again.
I kept thinking about how much it all feels tied to season. Not just a literal season, but a life season in time, space and capacity because it all shifts. I’m in a really different phase now, my kids at 20 & 18, doing their own thing and as I'm not in the 9–5 anymore, there’s just a lot more room. So, I don’t think I could have forced this kind of rhythm earlier, no matter how much I wanted to. But it did make me realise how much creativity kind of finds its way in depending on what your life can actually hold.
And also, if it’s something that really lives in you, you always come back to it. Maybe not perfectly, or consistently, but it doesn’t really leave you. It kind of just waits for the space. At least, that's what I am experiencing now
This made me sit with that for a bit, and I really loved it.
I started to leave a message but it disappeared! Anyway just to say that I do something everyday that is creative. It could be just cooking an interesting meal or planting a few new plants in the garden. It could be a two page spread in my sketchbook, or a sketching session in the park. At the moment I am making two nighties for myself from recycled and new materials. I also have on the go about three art projects, one paid commission and two art lesson groups I belong to.
But I believe creativity is in everything we do; it reminds me of someone I read saying they asked a few cleaners if they ever exercised. They all said no, we are too busy earning a living. When they were given the thought that everything they do in a day was some type of exercise, they actually lost weight and became healthier!
Yet all along they were exercising and not thinking it was, they had the mindset that all they did was work.
I think this is the same with creativity. My husband does not do any art or creative making, so to speak. But he does read, watch his fav shows and do the washing for 7 people in this house! He fixes things when they break down and enjoys talking with the teenagers who live her. When I ask him, is there anything you want to do that is more creative? He always says no, I am quite happy doing what I do.
So there it is, creativity is life and life is creativity… just means a different thing to each one of us.
I absolutely agree with you - we are all doing creative things all the time. Humans are innately creative. Unfortunately society tells so many people that they’re not creative, so it gets in their heads.
It’s just so sad. People stop listening to their hearts and their hands, and stop giving themselves permission to do the thing.
It sounds like you have so many wonderful things happening - it’s lovely to think of all this making and creative work. Yay!
I am still working so I make art (fiber and painting) as often as I can. Fiber is easier as I can do it at night while hanging out with family. But still hard to get to it sometimes and hard to create big projects. I do wish I knew how to sell my work. It seems impossible to me. Yet I even have full bfa/mfa. The IRS considers it a hobby because I do not sell. For me it is anything but. And when I do retire, if ever, it would greatly help to sell. Thanks for asking.
I hear you on the space needed for big work - I like to think that our seasons now mean that things will evolve over time. So the space for big work will come soon.
I’ve only just - for the first time EVER - got my own studio space. With a lockable door! Two of my three kids have just moved out of home, so I got a bedroom from one of them.
It’s quite amazing having this space.
In terms of selling your work — there are so many possibilities and different paths you could venture down. It can be hard, and it does take continual work. Showing up and keeping on going. But I believe that us creative people are great at doing that, and great at seeing the creative way forward with things.
Would you want to sell at markets, galleries, online, wholesale to shops? What sort of work do you create - or what sort of work do you want to create?
I’m so happy to chat further on this, if you ever want.
If you want your art to become a job then sell your work!
It really isn’t that hard.
Make a body of work and take it to a few different places that sell similar things that you make.
I started years ago, just taking a few art pieces into galleries that I thought fit my type of art. They sell it on consignment and I get what I want- less their commission, without any hassle of being pressured to make huge amounts of work.
Also you could set up a Business Instagram account these days…
many artist sell online direct to their clients. This means setting up a way to post it etc…
Start small in a way you feel you can, without feeling overwhelmed.
You can do it!
Believe in your art and get it out there for the World to see! Cheers
This was such a beautiful read that actually hit me in a really personal way.
I’ve just found my way back to embroidery again, something I used to do a lot before the kids, and when they were little. And I didn’t realise how much I’d missed using my hands like that until I picked it back up. My creativity has been so wrapped up in writing for years, but this feels like a different part of me waking up again.
I kept thinking about how much it all feels tied to season. Not just a literal season, but a life season in time, space and capacity because it all shifts. I’m in a really different phase now, my kids at 20 & 18, doing their own thing and as I'm not in the 9–5 anymore, there’s just a lot more room. So, I don’t think I could have forced this kind of rhythm earlier, no matter how much I wanted to. But it did make me realise how much creativity kind of finds its way in depending on what your life can actually hold.
And also, if it’s something that really lives in you, you always come back to it. Maybe not perfectly, or consistently, but it doesn’t really leave you. It kind of just waits for the space. At least, that's what I am experiencing now
This made me sit with that for a bit, and I really loved it.
I started to leave a message but it disappeared! Anyway just to say that I do something everyday that is creative. It could be just cooking an interesting meal or planting a few new plants in the garden. It could be a two page spread in my sketchbook, or a sketching session in the park. At the moment I am making two nighties for myself from recycled and new materials. I also have on the go about three art projects, one paid commission and two art lesson groups I belong to.
But I believe creativity is in everything we do; it reminds me of someone I read saying they asked a few cleaners if they ever exercised. They all said no, we are too busy earning a living. When they were given the thought that everything they do in a day was some type of exercise, they actually lost weight and became healthier!
Yet all along they were exercising and not thinking it was, they had the mindset that all they did was work.
I think this is the same with creativity. My husband does not do any art or creative making, so to speak. But he does read, watch his fav shows and do the washing for 7 people in this house! He fixes things when they break down and enjoys talking with the teenagers who live her. When I ask him, is there anything you want to do that is more creative? He always says no, I am quite happy doing what I do.
So there it is, creativity is life and life is creativity… just means a different thing to each one of us.
I absolutely agree with you - we are all doing creative things all the time. Humans are innately creative. Unfortunately society tells so many people that they’re not creative, so it gets in their heads.
It’s just so sad. People stop listening to their hearts and their hands, and stop giving themselves permission to do the thing.
It sounds like you have so many wonderful things happening - it’s lovely to think of all this making and creative work. Yay!
I am still working so I make art (fiber and painting) as often as I can. Fiber is easier as I can do it at night while hanging out with family. But still hard to get to it sometimes and hard to create big projects. I do wish I knew how to sell my work. It seems impossible to me. Yet I even have full bfa/mfa. The IRS considers it a hobby because I do not sell. For me it is anything but. And when I do retire, if ever, it would greatly help to sell. Thanks for asking.
I hear you on the space needed for big work - I like to think that our seasons now mean that things will evolve over time. So the space for big work will come soon.
I’ve only just - for the first time EVER - got my own studio space. With a lockable door! Two of my three kids have just moved out of home, so I got a bedroom from one of them.
It’s quite amazing having this space.
In terms of selling your work — there are so many possibilities and different paths you could venture down. It can be hard, and it does take continual work. Showing up and keeping on going. But I believe that us creative people are great at doing that, and great at seeing the creative way forward with things.
Would you want to sell at markets, galleries, online, wholesale to shops? What sort of work do you create - or what sort of work do you want to create?
I’m so happy to chat further on this, if you ever want.
If you want your art to become a job then sell your work!
It really isn’t that hard.
Make a body of work and take it to a few different places that sell similar things that you make.
I started years ago, just taking a few art pieces into galleries that I thought fit my type of art. They sell it on consignment and I get what I want- less their commission, without any hassle of being pressured to make huge amounts of work.
Also you could set up a Business Instagram account these days…
many artist sell online direct to their clients. This means setting up a way to post it etc…
Start small in a way you feel you can, without feeling overwhelmed.
You can do it!
Believe in your art and get it out there for the World to see! Cheers