Be your own ingenious visionary

Creativity. What is it? Who received that talent? Who didn’t?

I often hear how creative I am, from dear friends and strangers alike. However, I don’t see it. I call it “playing”. The messier the better. And I love me a frequent play date. Sadly, it is not always possible, as duty still takes prevalence. Life of a teacher. Yeah, it’s true.

If you take a fish and ask it to climb a tree it will fail miserably. Likewise, if you ask an elephant to roar like a lion. Point is, we each have our own abilities and special talents. Some of us developed it further and some did not. I always say creativity is that Inner child who was not allowed to die. And through creating we keep it alive.

I need to tell a little tale. Years back when Nordica soap came out in South Africa (Yes, I am South African and that old) my grandmother on my father’s side visited us. Both my late Grandmother and my dear late Mother, each bought 2 bars of soap, a blue, and a sea green or jade green like we know it. So, at the time, having one bathroom in the house, Gran would go bath first before me, while there is still hot water in the geyser. Gran forgot her soap in the bathroom. I went to bathe next. Now you are talking about a little girl aged 5. Mom had to oversee the dinner preparations and I was left to my own devices in the bathroom. I found this pretty bar of soap that was blue and white. Being an avid sculpturer the bar of soap soon disappeared before my eyes. Gran later realized her error and wanted to go get her soap, which by now disappeared. Of course, she went running to my mom, who in turn was beside herself (in her defense, it was weeks of tiptoeing in the house). Mom really got mad and shook me (no harm was done; it was just an outlet for her built-up frustrations). She placed the new bars of soap in my hands and told me solemnly to go give this to my grandmother. Years later, if anyone said anything about creativity, I always mentioned that I could have been a world-renowned sculpturer, had my talent not been shaken out of me. Till today, I can hear my mother’s words and we often laughed about it, whilst she was still alive. I had referred to it often just to pest my mother. Yeah, I know, I am a big tease.

Is creativity a talent that was given to only certain people? No, most definitely not! Each one of us is creative in our own special and unique way. Can I paint? Ha, absolutely not! I cannot even draw a stickman. Yet there are people who can paint and draw exquisitely. In my books, those people are creative, taking a canvas or a drawing book and making the most beautiful pictures. Creativity comes in all shapes and forms. The possibilities are endless. There are those that can play with words and conjure up such awesome essays and writing pieces in no time. What about those people who are designers, they design the prettiest garments without any effort. Some people can decorate cakes or cookies without thinking about it. Flower arrangements to die for. Those that make cards within minutes, making it look effortless. Make-up artists are another profession where my mouth hangs open. Interior designers are another aspect of creativity in different areas. The possibilities are endless. Creativity without boundaries I agree.

Anybody can be creative. If you are naturally inclined to be creative, it comes easy. For those that do not have this natural ability, there is hope. You can learn to be creative and express yourself in whichever medium or way you prefer. It takes some practice to see what works and how to make it work. But if you never try, you will never improve. And ultimately not find your artistic niche.

A suggestion is to see what medium you like and to explore. Will you fail, yes, and maybe miserably so, but you could also be quite the popping artist. Again, if you do not try you will never know. If, however, you failed, next time you fail better… With practice, everything will become easier, and will you find ways that worked and did not work, while learning to build your confidence in being creative in your chosen medium. At first, it might look as if you don’t know what you’re doing, but as you keep on practicing you will gain the necessary skills to express yourself. And sooner than you think it will be something that comes naturally too.

Key is, not to be afraid of making mistakes. It is through experimenting and making a mess that we learn how to use the medium and what it can do. How we can apply it or manipulate it on paper or canvas or when creating. We must remember the experts were once a novice too. And no, some had also like us, started with a mess which through hard work and perseverance turned into an enjoyable skill and past time, in some instances turned into a lucrative small business.

The sky is the limit, do not cap your abilities and label yourself as not being creative, when you haven’t tried, nor put in some effort to acquire some artistic skill.

It took me a long time to get used to referring to myself as a paper- or mixed media artist. It just didn’t sit right. I do succeed at times…. Nowadays when people compliment me on my work, I try my utmost to acknowledge their appreciation and not minimize their compliment. After all, we are our own worst critics and there is nothing wrong with their eyes.

What are you waiting for? Go live a life full of mistakes, flaws, experiments, explorations, new ideas, attempts, of hands-on learning, self-awareness, self-discovery, imagination, ingenuity, brilliance and above all, without fear.