What do you love about being a creative and an artist?

This is one of my most asked questions and today I am answering. I have been creating since the time I was 4 and have loved expressing myself through art for as long as I can remember. I had even planned to go to art school after high school. Even though I didn’t, I eventually found my way back to creating and it brings me so much joy! In this post I talk in more detail about my start in creativity and the arts, but today I am sharing with you the top 5 reasons I love being a creative.

1. It is the freedom to use my imagination

   I have the opportunity to create anything I put my mind to. Well, maybe not physically create anything I think up, but I have the freedom to imagine and explore new ideas and creative mediums. In so many jobs, we have a given role with responsibilities that leaves little room for imagination. However, as a creative, your job is to be imaginative and there is no box to place yourself into. It’s truly so freeing! For instance, I combined my calligraphy and embroidery art into a term I affectionally call embroidigraphy. I had the opportunity to imagine and discover a new form of art. As a creative, I can pivot and start working on a new project whenever I desire.

2. It’s an overflow of my mental, emotional and spiritual well-being

   If you take time to look at other artists you are familiar with, you will likely notice that there are endless styles of art. And not just categories of painting or photography, but rather how it’s expressed. Art and creativity is expressed as a result of a person’s mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. How a person processes, sees, feels, and experiences life is going to determine the way they create. A creative’s internal self and well-being is poured outwardly into their work. Their work is a reflection of them. Art and creativity is multi-faceted not just in the medium chosen, but also in how it is expressed. That is why you’ll never see two pieces of work that are exactly the same.

3. It is instant or semi-instant gratification

   Many areas and focuses of our time and energy are long-term. Paying off debt, raising kids, saving up for a car, working towards a promotion… they all take time. You very rarely see overnight success or gratification. For those who are impatient or like to see immediate impact, this can be difficult. I am one of those people, so creating art is my outlet. Yes, a piece may take me 30 minutes to 12 hours to create but the progress is immediate and the gratification is practically instant.

4. It is childlike fun and joy

   As a creative, I have learned to throw my perfectionism out the door. For many years in my creative journey I was paralyzed and crippled by my perfectionism and the need for everything I made to be robotic and machine-like. One day somebody said to me: ‘Isn’t that why people buy art? Because it looks handmade.’ This statement struck me and has stayed with me ever since. It began to reframe my mind and release a pressure of comparison and perfectionism I had burdened myself with. I started viewing my art from a standpoint that it is handmade and therefore it will look handmade. My childlike joy and freedom returned when I released all expectations.

5. It is sharing what I create with others

   There is nothing that makes me happier than creating pieces, shirts or content, for others and then knowing that it in return brought them joy. I have so much fun creating that I want to share it with others. So, each and every day I ask myself what I can say or create that will empower, encourage, or bring joy to others.

6. BONUS: I get to live my life in a robe

   Ya’ll, I own the fuzziest and fluffiest robe ever created and wear it all day, everyday. I honestly think I am my most creative and productive self when I am wearing my robe. And since I work from home, I can live that #robelifeforever.

Find Your Creative Gift

Have you read all of this and wondered if you have a creative gift or where your creative talents might lie? I’ve got you.

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