It suggests that creativity is at risk of dying, if it hasn't already. Perhaps that's a little more dramatic than it needs to be, but maybe it isn't. In reality, it's a very real problem for a number of people I know. Somehow, at some point, the artist inside of us has been suppressed, maybe for the moment or maybe it's been years. Whether it's gardening, painting, knitting, writing, baking, playing music, or anything else that involves creation, the inner artist has been put on the back burner. Other things in life have taken over... school, work, family, other hobbies.
Ultimately, it's okay. There's only so much time in the day for all of the things that we want to do. And maybe it's because our interests have changed, and being an artist no longer has a place in the pie-chart of our jam packed lives. Or maybe there is a seasonality to it; gardening in the summer or wheel throwing in the winter. Or maybe being an artist doesn't mean the same thing that it used to. Drawing has turned to painting which has turned into exploring different culinary recipes and writing this blog. Once a month, my journal even receives some half developed thoughts and sketches. I'd even consider the little dances during cooking dinner a form a creating. Why not?
Finding time, no matter how little, to squeeze in some creativity is so important. "Making" allows us the freedom to express and an outlet to channel our thoughts and feelings into something concrete. For the scientists and medics out there, it reduces stress and anxiety, improves cognitive function, and can reduce dementia. Outside of benefitting ourselves, we can even tug at the heartstrings of others through gift giving by allowing others to receive a little hand-made something.
If nothing else, we leave a piece of ourselves behind. If our masterpiece is a pastry (such as the 9x12 pan of Baklava I just made last night), then for a very short period of time. It's proof that we existed, even for a little while. The fact that our creations can outlive us and continue to affect others even if we are not presently there anymore is something amazing and something I rarely think about. Somewhere in New Castle and New Wilmington, PA, students are observing and having opinions about two wall murals I've painted, and I have no idea.
It's been a challenge to find time for art, outside of doodles in the margins of school notes. The holidays have been a great excuse to find reason to create again, through seasonal pumpkin rolls, handmade holiday cards with little notes on the back, and painted bookmarks to give to my book club members. While creating can take many hours to do (especially losing track of time, and 6 hours passing unbelievably fast), many creative outlets are perfectly multitask-able. Drawing, painting, cross-stitching, knitting, etc all while watching your TV show or hanging out with friends and family (I painted for hours while my family chatted around the fire). Having jumped back into it a bit this past Thanksgiving break, it made me realize that it was something that I've been missing.
I don't know how creativity will play a role in my life in the future, but I know it's something that I will be consciously trying to incorporate, even if it's just this blog.
Commentaires