Finding Creativity
The warm breeze wraps around me as I sit cross legged on the grassy hill noticing the expansive view in front of me. The little lanes, the bushy trees looking a little amber from all of the dry weather. My breathing starts to slow down from the stomping up the hill and as it does I feel all of those little niggles slowly fall down my shoulders leaving me to sit tall and bright.
I bought a new set of gouache paints last year and couldn't wait to use them. I said to myself 'I'll save them for a special painting weekend where I go on a solo retreat in a cabin in the middle of nowhere and I'll paint all day'. 8 months later and I got them out a handful of times (see blog My Arty Retreat) but a further 6 months pass and the paints remain back in their box on the top of the shelf, literally. Like any skill, the more you use something the more you learn, apparently.
I often find myself sitting at my desk wanting to draw or paint but then thinking of something else which feels 'more important' to do like hoovering the house, putting on a wash, sewing that button on the trousers, replying to emails, looking up printers, cleaning the bike. And then if I get even close to drawing it's then what type of paper, medium, size. And soon the time has passed and I really do need to get some stuff for dinner...
Recently I attempted to do something about this and signed up to a 6 week art course at The Art House Sheffield. The course helped find your creative path by experimenting with new perspectives, mediums and techniques. Running out the door with my sketch book in hand every Wednesday to catch the train became a lovely routine and highlight of the week. Just carving out that time, for me, for art. Below are some of the takeaways which I am going to write down and stick near my desk.
1. Just do it
One key takeaway of the course was once you have an idea for art - follow it through right away. Even if it's not perfect or finished just try it out. First sketch book/paper you have and any medium you can find. Just do it, don't think too much about it. One of my enjoyable pictures was a collage which I finished off with crayons on the train to the course one day. I wanted to draw organges so I did.
2. Change the perspective
I've always sketched in A5 sketchbooks but in this course I was provided with larger sketchbooks and encouraged to go BIG. Oh no, more sketch books to choose from...However I found that having larger paper allowed me to draw differently, more freely. It also made me think differently about what I was drawing, what to focus on.
3. Get messy
I've already mentioned collages which I found really theraputic - ripping, cutting and sticking bits of paper to other bits of paper. Sort of having an idea in mind and just letting it change as you stick things down. I was also encouraged to stick mementos, inspiring words, cut-outs in my sketch book and paint backgrounds for future sketches so the 'page is no longer blank'. I'm quite a tidy person so having a sketch book which is brimming with pages, some even stuck together felt quite difficult but in some ways really freeing. Keep those colouful magazines from the recycling bin and build up that collage pile (I was told!).
And I think most importantly...
4. Get outside. Breath in the new air and say hello to the clouds.
***
So, it's Thursday afternoon and I have some time for my art. I'm just not feeling it. I think of the bike that needs cleaning, the things I need to order for the next market then before I go down that list again I quickly pull my rucksack off the door and fill it with my mini water-colour set, a large (not A5!) sketch book and a flask of water. I put my shoes on and before I've had time to change my mind I close the door behind me and start striding up the street.
I walk pass the market place, the church, down the narrow muddy path, already feeling a bit less anxious, up the hill next to the allotments, under the bridge and left on the farm track for a short time before I climb the first style into the adjacent field. The grass is long and tickles my ankles as I stride up the hill, feeling my heart beat faster and my legs powering me up the path.
I finally reach the top, and turn around for the first time to take in the view. The beauty of the rolling hills, lush green grass and blue sky almost stops me for a moment. I can breathe. I find a spot near the wall to shelter a bit from the breeze and unpack my bag and just begin to paint - filling the page up with what I can see, not really thinking too much about the end. It's these mini moments, that don't take up too much time but that leave a lasting mark.
