No, I’m not a creative person.
How often do you say this out loud?
Do you want to be creative?... I have some ways to help you spark it up. 👇🏻
While writing this article, I reminisce about a few years ago when I didn't write. I didn't believe that I was "smart enough". Time moved forward and I found myself in a role where I had to write, to then discover; in fact, my talent for creative writing had been hiding all along. As I started with small bite-size bits of copy each day, I soon had to write copy for websites and new clients. I'm still on this journey and who knows where it might lead.
Creativity is grown, nurtured and watered like a seed. It only needs to start with something small. Overthinking creativity will stamp out that seed before it gets a chance to peek out and say hello. 🌱
People are always looking for the big "thing" that makes them creative. A friend of mine is a full-time artist: she paints in oils and does amazing wildlife art and abstract pieces. But it's taken her years of hard work to get where she is.
We aren't her, and that's ok... Let's let go of that idea.
Imagine the idea that creativity is like a fingerprint, the stripes on a zebra, unique to every one of us.
"Comparison is the thief of Joy" - President Theodore Roosevelt
Let's start small
Step one: Find a little time for yourself, even if it's 30 minutes. If you can manage more time then that's even better.
🌈 Colouring in
This has become very popular and accessible. Not just for kids: There are printouts now, and great books. If you want to start simple, drawing random overlapping shapes with a pen will give you nice areas to fill in. Start with a set of colouring pencils and get cracking.
🎩 Clothing
Hopefully, you're putting clothes on before you leave the house. When you're dressing every day, you're flexing your creativity. Did you know? It's a great mode of self-expression. Well done. Keep it up.
🏡 Living Space
Re-arrange a shelf, find a spot, put something you like in there, add another thing, change it up, add a photo, plants. Ready to do a whole room? Go get it!
🌳 Go outside!
Nature & the great outdoors is a creative gold mine. If you're a city dweller or have greenery nearby, the outside is... out there: it's free, and it's good stuff. Take a walk and check out the buildings. Perhaps you've never looked above eye level before. Collect interesting things like leaves, rocks, and loose flowers. Take some pictures. You're looking for inspiration.
📷 Photography
Your phone has a camera, and it's waiting for you.
Using a mirror outside is always fun, puddles, reflections and light are easy wins.
Sunsets, and cityscapes. Hills and roads. Going somewhere beautiful will make it easier for you to get great pictures. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.
📕 Journalling, Creative writing and reading
Get some paper. A fresh new notebook for me is way too much pressure, so my weapon of choice is an unopened piece of post envelope from a year ago. If you're comfortable with a notebook then that's great, and I respect your commitment.
Start with one word that pops into your mind and let the rest appear. It doesn't even need to rhyme.
Journal about your day.
Dabble with poetry or songwriting.
Read stories out loud, to kids or yourself.
💡 Free writing: This is intimidating to some but doesn't need to be. Sometimes a morning task: in a set time frame, while alone you can start to write anything that comes into your mind. Don't worry about grammar or neatness. Penmanship no longer matters! Find those words. Doodle if you must. You may be interested to see what appears. This concept is taken from a favorite book of mine: "The Artists Way"-Julia Cameron
🍰 Cooking & Baking
Basic baking can be very rewarding. Decorating what you've baked and you get to eat it afterwards!
🎵 Music
Dancing
Singing
Learning a new instrument
Sit, listen and take in all the elements of the song.
📲 Apps that can inspire
Instagram
Tiktok
Pinterest
These apps are full of people doing online crafts and tutorials. There is always lovely artwork and imagery to get your juices flowing. 🍋
Creativity is sensory.
Emotions, feel/touch, smell and taste, visual, and sound.
Forget the rules
We have to follow rules every day in our lives. Everywhere. Creative time means no rules! So forget them!
Mix it up
Music while you're baking or cooking dinner.
Snapping feel-good photos while you're on your walk.
Wearing your sharpest clothes for a walk around the city. Wearing your comfiest clothes for a walk down the park, writing some poetry when you get there.
Take photos of your friends, family or pets.
Bored now.
Find something else!
Just because you've found a thing, doesn't mean you need to commit and do nothing else. Explore, and grow that creativity.
As life evolves you may find your creative path changes course. You may not be out in the garden just yet, but your time might come further down the line.
As life moves with you, so does your creative instinct. All you need to do is listen to it. It sounds like happiness.
The final bit
Hopefully; if you're still reading, you may have realised, that you've been creative all along. Let's not compare ourselves to the great artists, sculptors, or writers. We're already great.
Most importantly: You don't need to impress anyone. Do it for no one else's benefit but yourself.*
*Unless you're writing this article for work and need to impress your boss. That's a different story.
At Graphics Hub we have heaps of creativity and we’d love to share it with you, and your business or venture.
What we do:
Design and build of websites & online shops
Leaflets, flyers, banners business cards and more
Branding & Identity
Creative Consultancy & mentoring
Digital advertising & online marketing
Social media management
Sign writing design & Installation
Vinyl wraps for vehicles and business fleets, wall wraps, and bespoke fabrication
