The Joy Of Creativity

Artist at work                                                                              Adapted from Pixabay

It is very satisfying to indulge in a creative activity such as writing, art, music or sewing. It is a way to express oneself and can bring joy to the creator and others. For some, creative expression is a form of therapy. Sometimes the process of expressing oneself or creating something is more important than the result.

Will I run out of ideas?

When people start out in some form of creative pursuit they sometimes wonder if they will run out of ideas. Usually they find the more things they create, the more inspiration they have. Writers can suffer from writer’s block but this is usually a temporary situation. Generally writers find the more they write the more ideas they come up with. 

Group activity or a solitary pursuit? 

Creative pursuits may be something a person enjoys doing alone or in the company of others. Some people are comfortable being creative while others watch. 

A couple of years back I watched artists creating street art at the Wonderwalls festival at Port Adelaide. I spoke to a man handing out printed information about the festival. He said he was an artist himself but liked to paint on his own. He expressed admiration for the creators of street art who could paint while people watched. In addition he commented on their ability to answer questions and concentrate on their painting at the same time.

Artist working on piece of street art                                                        Image:Pixabay

Creative groups

Some people who do quilting enjoy being part of a group of quilters. They look forward to regular meetings where they share information and enjoy the company of people with a common interest. They may occasionally spend a weekend together quilting and sharing conversation and laughter as well as sewing techniques. 

This is not limited to quilters. I have known other groups of people with a hobby in common who enjoy a weekend away together. Much of the time will be devoted to working on creative activities.

Writers may benefit from being part of a writers’ group. Some writers appreciate input from other people but there are those who prefer to keep their writing private. 

For some, writing is a form of therapy and they do not want to share it with others. On the other hand there are those who are motivated to write so they can share their ideas with as many people as possible. The internet is a great vehicle for doing this.

Fear of 'failure'

Sometimes a person wants to try sketching, painting, embroidery, pottery or some other creative activity but is afraid she/he won’t be good at it. It can take time to learn some of the techniques involved. Practice may be needed. 

Judging creative works

Judging a piece of art, needlework or writing is subjective and people will have different opinions. What criteria are being used to judge the work? Originality? Mastery of specific techniques? Neatness? Usefulness? 

The main thing is probably to have a go and not worry too much about the results or what other people may say. Perhaps you will also need to ignore your inner critic. Poet Sylvia Plath said, ’The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.’

People who are creative and innovative will try different things. Sometimes the end result won’t be what the creator planned but it may turn out to be more exciting, more original. The American cartoonist, Scott Adams said, ’Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.’