How does one “wake up” creativity? Where do you start? What does it feel like? When will I know that I’m awake? I’ve asked myself these questions so many times I can’t remember when I actually started wondering what a creative awakening is and how it is achieved. Funny thing is, that while I was asking these questions the awakening was happening slowly and consistently every time I tried something new, found a steady source of inspiration and pushed my artistic abilities to a new level. Truth is, for me anyway, creative awakening is an ongoing process. You don’t wake up one day and think, “Today I have roused my creative sleeping giant.”
However, I do believe there were a few key moments in my journey that I felt the shift towards a more openly creative relationship with my inner maker, let me elaborate. I have always been an artist, from day one, like most artists I know it’s my natural state of being, but for a long period of time in my 20’s I denied that part of myself because of clinical depression and massive amounts of anxiety. In my early 30’s my life changed dramatically and the cloud of mental illness lifted. This was a game changer moment as I was finally able to enjoy the process of creating again. I painted a painting that I still have today and I consider it my most authentic work ever. I was free. I felt a surge of creativity in the moments I spent painting. It was really the beginning of an awakening…maybe even more appropriate, a re-awakening.
I followed that creative flow which brought me to the next pivotal moment of creative awakening which I have talked about earlier in my blog posts through the process of unlearning the very techniques that initially gave me the tools to create in a more professional way. Unlearning allowed more creative expression which in turn led to a series of personal breakthroughs. I’m still following that unlearning process and trust in it’s journey.
These moments in my life when everything seemed so clear creatively have been key to my development as an artist and maker. I hope to continue this journey to the next awakening! Have you a story of your own about this subject? I’d love to hear from you.
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