The Creative Process – Blog 36

Dear Friends,

Here is the last of my Carnival Blog which is about the Creative Process… I trust you will enjoy this practical offering to support you on your creative journey.

For me, being creative is like drinking water. It is like a flow, a stream of energy, or a channel passing through me, connecting me to the conscious and the more mystical unconscious parts of myself and life. It allows me to express, not only my thoughts and feelings but helps me to stay in the ‘flow’ of life. We are all creative beings, created by the mysteries of the universe. If I deny this outlet then I become more head based and in my left-brain. Creativity provides the much needed balance in a world where left-brain thinking dominates.

When I’m thinking too much and being all busy, I tend to block my natural creative flow. I can be working hard at my computer, doing all those mummy jobs like taxi driver, cook, cleaner, fun maker etc and creative ideas can be flickering around in my head but if I don’t let them out then I get frustrated and down. For me it is a vital part of my life and keeps me balanced and fulfilled… I have even made it my ‘career’!

I thought I would offer you an arty exercise which can be done at any time and is a great way to warm up, whether you are a beginner or a pro. It is also possible to do them with your children if it is difficult to have time on your own. It allows one to draw freely without any purpose except making a lot of scribbles or marks on the paper. It aims to give your mind a rest and enter into the realm of spontaneity. After you are ‘warmed up’ and in the ‘zone’, you can progress on to free painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, clay or whatever takes your fancy.

Begin by sitting, either at a table or on the floor (wherever you feel most comfortable and inspired). Feel your body sink into the chair or the floor. Take a few deep breaths and you may wish to make a noise on the out breath to really let out any tension. Remind yourself gently that this is your special time to be creative and all you wish to express is welcome. You may also wish to listen to your favourite piece of music while you do this exercise but it is not necessary.

• Take a medium size piece of paper (even photocopy paper is fine) and for about 5 minutes, let a pen, pencil or crayon wander aimlessly over the page, or ‘take a line for a walk’ (as the well known artists Paul Klee once said). Just make spontaneous marks, lines, scribbles, doodles. Try not to ‘think’ about what you are doing… you have permission to make a ‘messy’ image!

• Take another piece of paper and pencil, pen or crayon. Sit preferably with your eyes closed (but open is ok if this feels more comfortable) and for about 30 seconds make fast scribbles and doodles all over your paper.

• Open your eyes and see if you can find an image or pattern amongst the scribbles. Sometimes a figure, an animal or a particular shape jumps out at you but don’t worry if it doesn’t though. Just have a go and see what happens. You can try it several times.

• Then, if you wish, develop the shape further by colouring it in, or however you feel and sometimes you will be astonished at the result.

It is a chance for you to express your feelings and emotions without censoring the outcome in a fast, impulsive way.

Finally sit back and ponder on your images. Does anything come to mind? Does the image have a particular ‘feeling’ or ‘theme’? Explore any possibilities. It may also have just been a fun warm up exercise. Just have a go and see what happens. You can try it several times.

Have a great week and see you next Monday.

Warm wishes,
Alex xx

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Or order from your local bookshop.

• Carnival host and author of The Rainbow Way, Lucy at Dreaming Aloud looks at the common lies we tell ourselves about creativity in The Eternal Summer of the Creative Mind.
• Caitriona at Wholesome Ireland – from start to new beginnings.
• Hannah M. Davis writes about Unleashing Your Authentic Voice. So many of us would love to write a life-changing book. How do you get over the blocks and barriers that hold you back? 
• Sylda from Mind the Baby compares her creative process to a maelstrom of weather warnings.
• In “As an Artist”, Lucy Pierce at Soulskin Musings offers a poem about how the creative process beckons her through many of the archetypes of womanhood.
• Jackie Stewart at Flowerspirit.co.uk talks about how creativity is opening up a space for the unknown to reveal itself to you in ‘Creativity Flourishes in the Sacred Unknown’.
• Alex at Art of Birth shares some practical tips on how you can unlock your creative goddess within!
• Nicki at justlikeplay shares a love letter to her muse.
• Marija Smits has a conversation with her muse and reflects on the difficulties of catching and creating from the Goddess of Inspiration.
• Zoie at TouchstoneZ reflects on her creative process.
• Licia Berry, Illumined Arts “Creativity and Healing are Ideal Partners”. The creation of visual, musical, or expressive arts is the quickest, most effective and painless way to heal.
• Kirstin at Listening to the Squeak – My creative process and how to break creative blocks.
• Ali Baker talks about connecting
  with the call of the wolf when she cries to us to do so means giving
  our time and permission to honour the creative process within all of us.
• Mary at The Turquoise Paintbrush reflects on her creative process.
• KatyStuff thinks that projects need time to mature, that is why she is a fabric and craft hoarder. 
• Aimée at Creativeflutters goes into her creative process and looks at what makes things tick or flop in “Spontaneous She – How to Keep Your Muse at Work”.
• Kae at The Wilde Womb muses about her common creative blocks as a parent and how she systematically breaks through them.
• Angela at Peach Coglo tries to get comfortable with her own creative process. 
• Biromums write about their creative processes.
• Dawn at The Barefoot Home believes the creative process can’t be taught it has to come organically and at its own pace.
• Tara at Aquamarine Art began uncovering her lost inner artist over 5 years ago and shares her experiences and inspirations in “From Spark to Bonfire: The Evolution of A Creative Process.”
• Darcel at The Mahogany Way examines her own creative process.
• Sharron at Adventures on the mindful path writes and creates in between (and sometimes while) chasing two little boys and a puppy.  
• Laura at Authentic Parenting reflects on her creative process.
• Georgie at Visual Toast explores what the creative process looks like for her.