Art Journal September 2023-2024

Hello world!

It appears I became hyper-focused on the wrong thing in my previous post.

Having had time to mull it over, I realise that finding my “art style” is not really the direction I’m ready to go in yet. Instead, I want to go broader: I want to add more creativity, curiosity and joy to my life as it currently is.

I live a good, honest life and I am blessed to have many good, honest people around me. Another advantage I have is being three decades into my existence on this planet. I now recognise that labels are not nearly as helpful as I once believed, and an art style is something that grows, develops, and evolves with life and experience.

It is now my understanding that my actual goal for the upcoming year is simply: to live more creatively.

What does “living more creatively” mean?

Different people no doubt have different definitions, but to me it just means making more room for exploring creative pursuits. Historically, I have minimised the importance of making time to just be, to simply take in my surroundings, and to respond to them by expressing myself through one of the many creative outlets that exist.

Am I getting too existential for you? Let me try to make it clearer – time and money have been inextricably intertwined for me for most of my life. I don’t consider myself a “materialistic” person, and yet I have always minimised the importance of hobbies and interests that are not monetizable. I grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet, so for me any investment of time and effort required some outcome in order to be worth doing. Ironically and consequently, I have often gotten into the habit of using my “relaxation time” for less creative pursuits such as browsing YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, playing Sims 4, or some other hobby that is more on the consumerism spectrum than the creative spectrum. Don’t get me wrong – I am not demonising the internet or times of mindlessness – I do and will continue to need times where I zone out and become a vegetable in front of a screen! But by minimising the intrinsic value of creative pursuits as worthy of doing simply because of the way they benefit me mentally and emotionally, I have done myself a disservice.

So, back to the original question… Living creatively, for me, looks like spending time pursuing learning opportunities in things I am interested in. Staying curious. Searching for inspiration. Reacting to said inspiration! Over the past few months my mental health has been on the blink, and I’m glad to say I got plenty of the right help. Meanwhile, I have been able to realise the many things I still can learn if I just let myself!

Is everyone creative?

How will I live creatively from September 2023 to September 2024?

Slowly. Gradually. I actually asked Chat GPT to outline a year of living creatively and while the headings it suggested have helped me write this blog all by myself – it is way too structured! Like the Cambridge dictionary said, “too many rules might deaden creativity.”

Some of the creative pursuits that appeal to me are:

• Learning to play the bass or the ukulele
• Learning to play cricket
• Paint pouring
• Inktober
• Learning to dance
• Writing poetry
• Writing short stories
• Illustrating stories
• Joining art classes online
• Doing a creative writing course
• Listening to music every day
• Looking after our garden
• Baking bread again
• Having a drawing/painting date with myself regularly
• Learning to enjoy cooking
• Practicing sewing and clothing alterations (maybe make something using a pattern!)
• Filming and editing

So that’s the kind of things I want to get into. And I want some of them to become habitual practices that help me stay grounded (and sane!)

What about you?

If somebody is reading this and has made it this far, please tell me what you think! Do you believe we’re all creative? Are there creative practices that are habitual for you? How do they help you? Is there a creative pursuit you want to incorporate into your daily life? Please consider commenting below if you have any opinions on this topic – I’d love to hear it!

Setting the Stage

To achieve my goal, I’ve established a few key steps and strategies that will guide me throughout this year-long adventure:

1. Consistent Practice: First and foremost, I recognize that practice is essential for improvement. I’ve committed to dedicating time each day to work on my art, whether it’s drawing, painting, researching, or experimenting with new techniques.
2. Learning and Education: I’ll consider enrolling in any available art courses and workshops, both online and locally, to acquire new skills and broaden my horizons. Continuous learning is a crucial aspect of growth of any kind and the same applies to art or other interests. I will complement my education by exploring a variety of artistic mediums.
3. Exploration and Experimentation: Finding one’s artistic style often involves experimenting with various mediums, subjects, and techniques. I plan to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, even if they feel intimidating at first! Be it learning an instrument, learning a language, learning to dance, writing songs, poetry, short stories – I want to stretch myself creatively over the next 12 months.
4. Reflection and Self-Critique: Along the way, I’ll be documenting my thoughts and feelings about my progress. Self-reflection is key to understanding what works and what needs improvement.
5. Seeking Feedback: Constructive feedback from fellow artists and mentors can provide valuable insights. I’ll be sharing my work with others and actively seeking feedback to refine my skills. I will work on my creative courage by sharing more online.

Discovering My Style

One of the most exciting aspects of this journey is the quest to find my unique artistic style. Many artists spend years exploring different techniques and mediums before they discover a style that resonates with them. I expect my journey to be no different, and I’m embracing the uncertainty and adventure that comes with it. I also don’t expect to find my forever-style at the end of the 12 months, but I do expect to grow as an artist.

I plan to:

1. Study the Masters: Learning from the great artists who have come before us is an excellent way to gain inspiration and insight into different styles. By studying their work, I hope to identify elements that resonate with me.
2. Experiment with Different Styles: I won’t limit myself to one particular style. Instead, I’ll experiment with a variety of styles, from realism to abstract, to see which ones feel most comfortable and authentic to me. I’m likely to dabble in them out of sequence and all at once, the less rules I make for myself the more free I will feel to experiment.
3. Embrace Imperfections: Art is a journey of growth, and mistakes are an integral part of that process. Instead of being discouraged by imperfections, I’ll embrace them as opportunities to learn and evolve. Perfectionism is not our friend.
4. Feedback and Guidance: Seeking feedback from others, especially those who have experience in the art world, will be crucial in refining and defining my style. I’m eager to learn from their insights and perspectives. I may even explore exhibiting some of my work in local cafés and galleries (that will take a double dose of courage!)

Sketch on bamboo paper, circa 2010, by Sara Tovey; inspired by “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” by Stereophonics