Hello!
How are you doing? It feels like an age since I last posted here on Substack. After taking the last month or so a little slower; making time to rest, be outside in the summer, see friends, and taking on a little less work, I’m starting to feel the creative well fill up again, and have some ideas bubbling away for future writing, to share with you here. It’s lovely to feel this energy coming back, and to start engaging with the amazing writing and people on this platform again 👋
This month I created a video essay, sharing thoughts on the importance of creativity. This post is the writing that eventually turned into the film. If you’re more of a visual person, you can watch it here - otherwise, I hope you enjoy the written version!
My idea for this video/essay was to expand on what I have created already. Rather than continue to find a million new topics, how can I go deeper with what I have already? I decided to use the story from this reel (I created back in February) as a prompt, and see where it led. This video is the result of that.
If you’re easing back into creating after some time away like me, or are thinking about picking up a creative hobby/practice, I hope this is a wee encouragement to begin again.
Why do we make art?
Creativity is good for so many things
Much more than just creating beautiful things
Making is good for getting to know yourself
It’s a way to document and process your thoughts and your feelings
When you don’t have words
It’s a way to express yourself,
To capture a memory,
A moment in time
It’s a way to play as an adult
To let loose and experiment
It can take you back to special places
And help to see things from new angles and perspectives
To help you see the beauty in your surroundings
And connect with other people
Who share new ideas and opinions
It helps keep you open to learning
To being challenged
And perhaps most importantly:
to not take yourself
Too seriously
Making things has always been a central part of my life: a real need and cornerstone, which
has ended up shaping my life in all sorts of crazy ways, I could never have predicted. I think that we all have the need to express ourselves, and that in turn, makes each one of us creative.
In this video, I wanted to share some thoughts on why creativity and making things for ourselves first and foremost is so important. I wanted to share some reflections on barriers that have held me back from making, and that I work through daily, to just get on with it, and make my silly ideas come to life.
We are all Creative
Creativity, like anything, is something to be practiced, and strengthened: which, like our energy levels, ebbs and flows over time. The beautiful thing about this, is that each one of us is creative, and can become more so, each time we practice. Whether we want to be creative or not, we all feel the need to talk, discuss, share ideas, express ourselves - which are all acts of creativity.
Over the last few years, I’ve come to understand that creativity and making things - it’s not really a destination or an end goal that’s finite. It’s a practice - and it’s the practice and process, which, I think, is really the art. I think the title of ‘being an artist’ is somewhat similar. There is no quantifiable moment someone ‘becomes’ an artist. There are accolades, or social approval, which say that your work has been deemed relevant in that cultural moment. But, I’d argue that doesn’t make someone an artist. Our history is littered with now-famous artists that are held in high regard, but which when alive, had no recognition whatsoever. This didn’t stop them from making. I wonder if it was the practice and process for them too, that kept them coming back to their craft time and time again.
Validation
Let’s not lie. Validation and recognition on the things we make, feels really rewarding. It makes us feel valued, that we are doing the right thing (because, let’s be real, who here really knows what they’re doing?). When I make a video that reaches lots of people, I instantly want to make more like it. It’s partly ego driven - I want to make things that people value, because that gives me a feeling of worth and satisfaction, that what I create, helps people in some way. However, that is not enough of a draw to keep on making. Our egos are doomed to fall flat at some point, and it’s the practice that brings me back time and time again. A love for the process of making things - for myself, first and foremost.
Value
Sometimes I struggle with the feeling that making things is self indulgent. Sure, it’s not directly helpful in the way that healthcare or emergency essential services are. But it does have it’s value.
Every time I have struggled in life, it’s been people’s creativity that has helped me most. A building to feel safe in, a gallery to loose my thoughts in, an album to feel things through. It’s been the warmth of a conversation with a friend, the favourite mug I drink my coffee from, which makes each day a little better.
I think I’m able to help other people or be a supportive friend or partner when I have some connection to myself. I’m able to connect with other people better when my own relationship is stronger. And making things for me, has been the best way to do this, to get to know myself, so that I can in turn connect with other people in a more meaningful way. And this, of course, is always a work in progress. We all have different creative outlets - sport, reading, writing, cooking, sewing, designing, researching, building, the list goes on. We’re each drawn to different outlets, which suit our personalities better, and our forms of communication.
I love painting, because I get to tell stories, and to document and process how I feel. It’s not quantifiable, or verbal, but it’s one of my favourite ways to communicate - even if I am just talking to myself.
Being a Beginner
I’ve been making things on this planet for a wee while now. Some things, I might even say I’ve got pretty good at. However, making and creating somehow, never really gets any easier - with each skill I practice, and each thing I try, the goal post shifts a little, and the game is on again: the next thing appears - to learn, try, fail, improve at, experience. It’s this tension that draws me in.
I, like any other human on earth, struggle with perfectionist tendencies. And making things, is in a way, an act of revolt against that mindset. Every time I go to make something new, I choose to embrace the fact that it will never be what I have in my head. I hope, that every silly thing I make for myself, helps me practice to step away from perfectionism, and to embrace things as they are, and as they become. I’ll be practicing this every day of my life, and this I think drives me all the more to make.
When I go to paint, I have to choose to surrender that fixed vision of mine and let the process take the lead. You see, I think it’s really this feeling of curiosity that I love, and that I get to chase, each time I let an idea be explored, and brought to life in its own way.
As I said, it’s not easy - I nearly didn’t make this video: As soon as the idea came, I thought about the million other ways I could create and communicate this story - with equipment I don’t have, sunlight that hasn’t shone, shots I haven’t time or ways or skills to film, the list goes on. If you’re watching this, then you’re watching the choice I made, to push past those noisy thoughts and just just make it, in the ways I can, with the thoughts that I have. It might not be the best thing I am capable of creating at this moment, but it exists, it’s here, and from it I’ll have learnt about another step, towards making something even better next time.
I wanted to share the story of why I make things, because I want to encourage others to embrace the joy of making too. It’s one of the most meaningful, genuine and important things in my life, that challenges me to be better, to be kind, to question, test, and honestly, be humbled.
With the prominence of social media, and the self inflicted judgement that can ensue, I worry that people are held back or missing out on just giving themselves permission to start. The real joy of making lies in the process of doing the thing, and what you learn about yourselves from practice. So, if you need to hear it, please start.