Tapping In To Your Creativity

One day last week it seemed like the whole world was against me. I had a headache, I was grumpy and mean. I was impatient and horrible. But I did something that made me feel better. 

I got the idea from my kids. They were sitting at the kitchen table, painting. They were busy and happy and they were quiet! So I sat down and painted with them, just for fun. I painted a very ugly chicken. But, it didn’t have to be beautiful or a masterpiece. It didn’t have to be anything; it was just plain fun.

It was impromptu art therapy.

Being creative is good for our health.  It is a stress reliever, which lowers blood pressure. Also, when we engage in new activities, we create new synapses in our brain, which helps us stay sharp as we age.

Human beings are creative, by design. We just are. According to Judy Reeves, in her book, A Writer’s Book of Days: “Creativity is a natural part of all human beings, like love and hope, and even though we turn away or shut down or deny, it remains steadfastly within us.”

At some point in our lives, many of us stop thinking of ourselves as creative. Some of us are in the habit of denying our creativity and thinking that we are just not that talented or that doing something creative is a waste of time. 

When I was very young, I wanted to be an artist. But by the time I got to high school I didn’t think I was good enough, so I gave up the dream. I would still paint or draw sometimes, and once I gave a painting to a friend for their birthday. The friend laughed at my work, and I stopped painting for 10 years.

Several years ago, my mom gave me a wonderful book called The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. Over time, this book helped me to see my creativity as a gift that I was denying myself, and a few years ago, I started to paint again. This book can be followed like a course in creativity, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a desire to be creative and doesn’t know how to get started. 

There is a lot of advice in books and on the Internet for tapping in to your creativity. Denise Fletcher gives some very helpful step-by-step recommendations for exploring your own creativity in her article titled “Mental Health & Art,” which is posted on the arttherapyblog.com. 

Some steps that I have found helpful in my own creative pursuits are: 

1. Recognize that you are creative. Accept it as a fact. Turn off all the negative voices in your head.
2. Be inspired. Open yourself to inspiration. Turn off the T.V. and allow your brain to just be itself for a while.
3. Take action.

Signing up for a class is a good way to take action. A diverse array of courses are available for creatives at all levels at the . Some of the classes they offer are in drawing, acrylic painting, calligraphy, dance, singing and much more. There is even a class called “The Healing Power of Mandalas,” which helps students connect body, mind and spirit through art. Check out their winter schedule on the BCA website.

There is an art club in Brecksville called Studio B. Studio B is a free club that meets twice monthly. They offer a warm and encouraging atmosphere for artists at all levels and in all mediums. It is open to everyone and you can call 440-526-6232 to find meeting times. (Editor's note: the author is a member of Studio B.)

The offers classes in woodworking, photography and more. Their catalog can also be viewed on their website.

If you’re interested in getting your children involved in an art class, there is an after-school arts program in the city of Brecksville. Art classes are taught by local artist, Stephanie Sibits, and are offered at all the elementary schools. More information on this program, as well as other art classes for children, is available through the Brecksville Center for the Arts.

So, if you’re ready to be creative and want to get started right now, pick up a pencil and a notebook and be brave. Be daring and bold and know that you are intrinsically creative. If you’re lucky, you just might draw some really ugly chickens.