Delighted that two of my pieces (The Flow of Time and Trip the Light Fantastic) have an honorable mention in Art Room Gallery’s worldwide Waters Exhibition. If you like water, head over to the online exhibition to see some beautiful pieces https://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html
Filling the tank
At a recent talk to art students about developing their creative practice, some students expressed that they doubted that they will be able to offer something different to the world. I suspect this is a question and wobbly we all have at some point … has all the art 'been done' before?
We can all be in awe of the creativity of others and, to me, that is a good thing as most artists or designers probably choose an art or design career in part due to being inspired by other artists/designers in the first place. One of my earliest art memories was my love of 'record album' covers and particularly any that had a touch of surrealism such as Dali's melting clocks. I loved the way art could offer an alternative reality or a different perspective.
When what I call artist's self-doubt makes an appearance, it can be difficult to see how we can come up with new ideas or creative something unique. This can stilt our own creative development or at worst - stop us in our tracks.
Some thoughts ....
Creativity isn't something we possess or hold - it is quite the opposite. It is something we give space to so it can flow and manifest, it is as if we tune into it. We have to keep faith that it will 'show up' just when we need it! Years of being creative has taught me that even when I am at that part of every creative process when the creative river seems to have run dry and I am struggling - I remind myself to just ride the invisible wave and yes.....something positive ALWAYS happens and the flow is there.
So, the creativity flows but what will make it unique? As simplistic as it sounds, you being you will do that. How can your art be the same as anyone else's when all of us are made up of our own unique life experience?
Sticking with the water analogy, imagine you are a water tank - the kind you have in a garden and the water in your tank has been collected directly from rain water. That rain water is made up of experiences, thoughts, teachings, practices, responses and feelings you have had under your local skies.
When you open the tap at the bottom of the tank to let the water flow to feed the garden (and in this case garden = creative output), the water which comes out is directed and made up of molecules which are unique to you. That exact water does not exist anywhere else so when it feeds your creative garden in whatever medium that may be, it has to be unique.
