A [not so] Hidden Aspect of Creative Practice

Sometimes things bother me and I don’t know why, can’t put my finger it. I mean REALLY bother me—to the point of paralysis and I’m dancing around the problem and usually looking for what to blame. I simply cannot get what is going on with me. I’m even more bothered because a mysterious hand is stopping me from doing what I want to do and should do.

And here is something even worse, I get so used to the situation that I overlook it, even accept that is just the way it is. I have to change to adapt to the discomfort. But no matter which way I turn or how I try to change my thinking, I am unable to fix the problem.

Did you notice that? What I just said? that I—emphasis on ME—was unable to solve the problem. How long does it take to look up? Ask Jonah in the belly of the whale.

My creative practice was faltering. In fact it was at a standstill. I had so many ideas, but I could not get back to the work of creating. Covoid 19 provided all sorts of opportunities to develop ideas, hone skills, experiment with materials and the luxury of time…

Something was seriously wrong.

I remembered a sentence in the free ebook I wrote:

“Make your creative area welcoming—it holds an invitation to sit down and create.”

My own designated area was NOT welcoming, which was a serious situation and I needed a solution. I prayed for God to show me what to do.

The result was I put off journaling or painting or writing—whatever I was hoping to do.

I found myself remembering another studio space I had a few years ago. Although it did not have running water, I had worked out how to make it function well for me. It had become my sacred place for creating. Notice two key words: Function and Sacred.

I wanted to get down to the root of problem, so I pulled out a journal I started a while ago—when I knew I had Clutter Issues. (Picture)

I looked at the next blank page and realized I’d been working on this two years ago!

My immediate reaction was that I had made NO PROGRESS in those two years, but then I sat back and I think the HS reminded me to go easy on myself, and that I had made a lot of progress: my house was cleared of a lot of stuff I’d been holding onto, my book shelves felt more essential, my living room could be tidied much quicker, I was doing OK as far as kitchen cupboards and so on. My garage studio was organized so I could find all my materials with a minimum of searching.

The big problem area remained my upper room, a tiny area that I wanted to serve multiple purposes.

I got a large piece of paper and sat down to brainstorm:

Identify the goal of the room:
to be Welcoming and Functional

What elements of a room make is welcoming?
Color and Space

What elements make it functional?
having matierials at hand in a contained area and within reach
areas for holding necessary resources in a useful tidy way
good lighting

What activities could the room be used for?
an area for creating small art and journaling
an area for writing and work on my laptop
an area that works for recording art videos

When I studied the mind map,the first word that jumped out at me was COLOR.
About a year ago, we painted the interior of our house, but this little room was NOT painted. It had so much stuff in it, I blocked it off. I didn’t want anybody messing with it, so the room remained an insignificant beige.

Once I had a clearer vision of the room and what it needed, the first step was adding color. My husband informed me that we had left over paint. I started with one accent wall, which turned into two. See pitures below left.

I later I realized I needed to use color as a trigger for differtent activities, so I painted the cubicle that holds my laptop, printer, binders and file drawer a different color (from another left over can of paint), which is also very soothing. See photos below right

I thought I was finished but honestly, the last wall looked really sad, so I decided to go with the same color of my bedroom so it looked unified from the angle that is most visible. Day 3. (picture)

I know that most people would not have used three colors in a small room, but hey, I’m an artist! I can’t help myself, I’m color sensitive.

I kept my purposes for the room in mind and worked with what I had. Clearing the drawing table surface was important for me. I solved that problem with an extra trolley I had in the garage, to keep art supplies close at hand.

I went through all the file boxes, and removed some things to take down to the garage studio cupboards to have more space on the overhead shelf.

I used to “organize” based on creative urges: have every kind of tool and product ready for any idea that came up. That was a disaster and based on a false notion of how creativity works. I couldn’t figure out how to navigate my needed supplies and the purposes for the room. Once again I got a brainstorm, it was so obvious and I had never thought of it, or even heard the suggestion before: Rotation! Again I look up and am grateful for that inspiration, which made perfect sense. I received it gladly!The most important this for me is that now my creative space feels WELCOMING! I no longer feel hindrances to practicing my creativity. When I paint or draw, the FLOW takes over and I sense I am engaged in what the HS inspires me to do. That is when a place becomes sacred.

My advice is to evaluate how you feel in your space. Factor in the element of Welcoming. For me it makes a world of difference.