Could I be creative?
Why is it that being creative can seem so difficult, or that it feels as though it is the preserve of the ‘truly’ artistic and talented? I have always loved making things, and have tried many different crafts and ways of making over the years, never quite deciding which I love the most. I tend to think that I just need to have the time and dedication to become really good at something, but in reality perhaps it is just the confidence I require to abandon perfectionism in order to genuinely improve.
Sometimes I think that ‘imposter syndrome’ has much to answer for, I suspect that I’m not the only person who has thought to themselves “but I’m not the artistic type”. Last year I had the opportunity to participate in a coaching programme which encouraged me to look at what I really like and enjoy, what I surround myself with, and what I enjoy doing. It turns out that I am very visually inspired and love making things, so maybe I am creative after all! I fear it is my perfectionism and fear of failure that have quashed my creativity to date.
Patience and concentration are not two of my greatest qualities, yet every now and then I have definitely found myself ‘in the zone’ and able to lose myself in making something. The total absorption, the being in the moment, the lack of worry about life’s day to day concerns, these are such a great part of the pleasure of creating I find. But it’s hard to achieve.
One of my aims in exploring the wealth of creativity that Bristol offers is to feel inspired by the artists living and working around me. I’m just at the beginning of my journey, but am so enjoying identifying all those whose work I really want to see. The next few weekends offer many opportunities to meet people who are exhibiting and selling their work at some of Bristol’s markets and Arts Trails, and I can’t wait to hear some of their stories and share them with you. I wonder how many of them have ever thought of themselves as ‘not the artistic type’?
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