Embracing Creativity and the Process: My Process From Idea to End Result
Embracing Creativity and the Process: My Process From Idea to End Result
When I first started doing art, like drawing and painting, I never felt like I was “any good” necessarily. The reason I kept at it, classes in high school, a few drawing and painting classes I let myself take that felt like indulgences a few years back when it felt like life was too busy to take a class, were all purely because I enjoyed how the process of creating made me feel. Any time in my adult life that I carved out time to write for no reason, to paint or draw for no reason it felt like I was having an affair with a guilty pleasure. Shouldn’t I be doing something productive? After all, the art wasn’t any good, it wasn’t something to sell, or hang on the wall and all of the time spent writing morning pages were definitely not writings that I would ever share with someone else. So why was I doing it?
When was the last time you let yourself do something not because there was an outcome you wanted to achieve, not because you wanted to make any money off of it, but purely because you enjoyed it, purely because the process was enjoyable and interesting to you? Please stop right here and think about that question. Do you think that all of your time in this world needs to be “productive”? Do you think that unless you are working, cleaning, working on your health, that you don’t deserve to do things purely because you find them interesting, fun, enjoyable even?
It has taken me many years to come to the conclusion that I was not put here on this earth to produce. The popular Instagram account The Nap Ministry has helped me to see and realize that my worthiness is not dependant upon how big my role is within our consumer crazy, capitalistic system. What I believe I’m here to do is to embrace my core values and be a force for good and love. This does not mean I always get it right, but I am always in the process of connecting to my core values and working towards being a force for good and love. To me, it’s that simple and that’s what I’m building my life around because that’s what’s fulfilling to me. I will preach core values to you until the cows come home because, in my opinion, they are the compass, they are the key to all of your happiness and fulfillment. Creativity is a top CORE VALUE of mine. I’ve identified 5 of them that I make a deliberate priority in my life (for today’s article I’ll focus on creativity). I’ve consciously built my life around my core values. I don’t try to arbitrarily fit my core values into my life, no I make my core values what I build my life for. My core values are my priorities.
Maybe creativity isn’t a core value of yours yet, but I want to make the case that you should consider incorporating and embracing the creative process into your life for more fulfillment, better problem solving, and more joy. I don’t think we all need to be “artists,” by any stretch of the imagination, but I do believe that embracing our creativity like knowing and living our core values, is a key to life. For me embracing creativity means also embracing process.
Last night after I completed my work for the day, had gone for a run, and enjoyed a walk with a friend I was ready to carve out some time to create. I decided I was sick of trying to imitate the watercolor pictures of other people and I wanted to paint something that was completely my own. Try something I’ve never tried before. I thought about what I might want to paint, and I decided I wanted to try to paint a beloved possession. I thought about the items I use almost every day, the ones I love dearly and would miss when I’d finally worn them out. My beautiful handmade Frye boots came to mind, they are almost 10 years old, worn daily, well-loved, and I figured they would make a unique composition. So I decided to try to paint them.
Here is what my process looked like from idea to end…
1) Got bored trying to imitate other people’s pictures and felt a desire to create a completely original piece.
2) Felt discouraged that I couldn’t come up with any “creative ideas.” Then I thought this out…
Me: “focus on what is in front of you, what do you already love?”
Me: “Well I love my boots”
Me: “I think they might make an interesting composition and it would be a major challenge and a potential new skill builder. Ok, that’s what I’m trying, even if it’s ugly it will be a fun experiment”
3) Took a picture of my boots
4) Went to Kinkos, printed the picture in color and black & white (I don’t have a printer at home)
5) Used tracing paper to trace the boots onto my watercolor paper (I used to think this was cheating, it’s not, it’s efficient, I can get to the painting faster)
6) Looked at the drawing of my boots and realized I might have bitten off more than I was capable of, and decided to try to paint it anyway. “What’s the worst that happens? I have an ugly picture I don’t have to show to anyone”
7) Laid down a light wash of color
8) Started adding layers while wondering if this picture was going to be shit, but kept going.
9) Looked at the picture when it was halfway done and thought, “This is shit and it’s really hard, but all of my watercolor teachers have reminded me don’t judge the picture when you’re in the middle of it, so I’ll keep going”
10) I kept painting, adding layers and details.
11) Realized I was having a lot of fun.
12) Thought I was done with the picture but then I added more detail.
13) Again, thought I was done with the picture and added a few more details.
14) Thought I was done with the picture and added one last round of details.
15) Realized this was my favorite project I’ve done so far.
Painting watercolor is not easy, it’s a process. This is a process not just in adding layers but also a process of learning to accept that the final outcome is not really in my control. Watercolor really has a mind of it’s own, I can do so much but I have to let go and let the water and the paint work its magic. Watercolor, a training in faith.
I wanted to share this process I went through last because it’s important to see that no matter what creative endeavor you are undertaking you will most likely go through a process like the one I outlined above. It doesn’t matter if it’s solving a problem at work, creating and delivering a speech, trying to get into graduate school. You will get an idea, decide to try it, find it really hard, wonder if the outcome will suck, and then hopefully keep going. Sometimes it feels like there is too much “failure” sometimes it will feel like what you are looking at is ugly, but most of the time it just matters where you decide to stop. Do you stop after the first wash and expect to have a beautiful work of art or do you decide to keep layering even when you aren’t sure if know what you’re doing? Do you stop after one rejection to the school of your choice, or do you keep applying. Creativity teaches us fortitude, process, and follow-through among other things. Creativity helps us develop and explore our curiosity.
What processes are you embracing? What are you working to see through to the end? What stage of the process are you in? Making time for your creativity helps you work through these very real-life challenges in a fun way, and helps you look at your work differently. Making time for your creativity is not a luxury, it is a teacher that makes you better in all other aspects of your life.
Are you ready to embark on a love affair with your most creative self? Do you need a guide as you navigate a tough life transition? Then schedule your free discovery call with me to see how coaching could work for you.
Shit Kickers