Employing Your Creativity

When I tell people I own a studio and gallery, that I create using words and papers and most of my family is artistic and self taught, I often hear this response, “Oh, that’s amazing! I’m not really creative like that.” I understand that there is a certain definition of what creativity means, I must admit I do not subscribe to that though process. When I found these words I thought they were a great way to express what I mean by being creative:

Whatever creativity is,
it is in part a solution to a problem.

– Brian Aldiss2017

I think people forget that they are creative every day of their lives, they simply see it as living. If you can buy a kit and put it together, fix things, solve problems, think yourself through a troubling situation or deal with a customer complaint, if you buy pillows or paint to make a room look better, cook a meal from what you have in the fridge, or write anything – ALL of that is being creative. Creativity does not require that artwork is produced to be hung on a wall or put online to be sold. Creativity is in essence problem solving – be it with a tool box or paint set. It is finding a solution to a problem.

So what problem are creative people trying to solve? Several! There is some idea in their head that needs to get out – put on paper, carved into wood, bent into metal, or created from many types of supplies – that show they are creative. Maybe there is an idea, emotion, situation or thought provoking issue they want to express, they want to encourage people to discussion or action – that is how they are creative. When we dare to learn a new tool, try out a fresh paint set, make a mark on a piece of paper , draw lines or doodles to describe what we want OR even write down our internal thoughts to share them with the world…THAT is being creative. None of that ever has to go on sale or change the world peace situation. It simply has to allow you to express yourself and bring you pride of creation and fulfillment. Doing is being creative, no matter what happens to it when you are done.

When I hear people talk about not being creative, I usually begin this diatribe about what creativity means AND that they are in some way creative in their life They just do it in the way their life and problems require. I would encourage you to think that same way. NEVER discount or compare your creativity to that of someone else. Everyone is creative in some way, no matter how they live their lives. Once we recognize that and dare to take it to the next level, THAT is when the world has the power to be blessed by your own unique and powerful ideas being put together to share with others. You never know what problem you can solve by employing your creativity!