Being Creative #10 - Slaying the Dragons

Week 10, people! Time just flew away!

 

Before we slay dragons, I wanted to make some announcements:

- Even though today's post is my last "talking post" the Being Creative blog party will continue. I hope you stop by and share something you made. It is so much fun to ooh and aah over gorgeous creations. And it is heartening to be cheered on.

- I will be turning the blog posts from these 10 weeks into a "Being Creative" e-book. It will be available for a free download. 

- I am going to post tutorials and tips on Photoshop Elements.

- And here is the biggest announcement of all - I will be featuring interviews with creative folks. I will be starting the artist interviews soon. Watch this space!

 

On to today's topic - "Slaying the Dragons". We all deal with fears, the big bad beasties! And I found that I am not the only one who feels these fears. Here we go.......

 

a. Who am I to call myself creative?

I am not famous, can I call myself creative/artist/<insert phrase of choice>? I call myself creative because I made something - be it a collage, a necklace or a photograph. It did not exist before I made it. I captured a feeling or worked on some idea in my head. That idea in my head took form, I have something to show for it. Therefore I am creative.  I don’t need an official, gilded certificate to say so. 

 

b. I haven’t sold anything or I have never been published. So I must suck!

I am not the only one who has been rejected! Because generally people don’t mention rejection! There is nothing to talk about because not getting published is something that didn’t happen. It does hurt – rejection always hurts, even if it is a little tiny bit.

When I have been rejected and I am tempted to give it up I have to remind myself that I do this because it makes me happy! I am doing this for myself - first and foremost!!

A couple of years back I had asked one of my favorite authors Deanna Raybourn about how she persevered. It took her 14 years to get published. And I asked her if she ever thought of giving up. I am paraphrasing here, her answer was  to the effect - "To me writing is like breathing, how can one can give that up?". To read her full reply go here - Post on Not Giving Up. I found her reply very, very inspiring.

When you are feeling low go read the stories of people who inspire you. Look up Julia Child, her first cook book was published in her late 40s.

Let's change the title statement to - "I haven’t sold anything or I have never been published - YET".

 

c. But sometimes I make crappy work.

Everyone makes crappy work. Everyone has to practice to become good. So not every piece of work is a masterpiece. People just don’t share their crappy work!

There are happy mistakes and bad ones – but if you don’t play you will never know. Expecting to sit down and make that perfect piece every time, is not realistic . Did I wish I had watched TV instead when I made something crappy? Absolutely!

But what happens when you make something that comes out great? Think of that creative high.

 

d. Am I good enough?

I think of that. And only I can answer that question for myself. When I am feeling that way I look at my digital brag book. It reminds me of what I have made before and what I am capable of.

What's a digital brag book? Photograph everything you have ever made. Save it in a folder or even upload the photos to Flickr. That is your digital brag book.

 

e. Am I a hoarder?

When you start out on the creative journey you try to figure out what you like and where you want to go. You will go through cycles of collecting material. These cycles will feel like hoarding but they are not. Call it a process of elimination, like Sherlock Holmes would, but you will have to try different things to figure out where your interests lie. And so you will acquire different materials in doing so.

But you will always have your conscience, there will be that little voice in your head telling you when you are just buying things and not doing anything with them. Let that voice guide you.

There are things that I have tried that I decided that I didn't like as much (soft pastels, ribbons, embossing paste, some stencils), I like giving those away to friends who might use them.

 

f. Not getting acknowledgement from people who you make things for.

Yep, that has happened to me. I have knitted things for friends and sent handmade cards that never got acknowledged. And yes, I did feel a little bad. The lesson I learned? Know your audience. Know whom you show your work to and give your work to. Not everyone can appreciate it and those who can't - don't bother with them. Save yourself the time, effort and heartache.

 

h. Some days finding beauty is hard.

And such is life. Not all days are the same! Some days you see beauty everywhere and some days you see none. I am learning the value of patience, time and grace. Once again - let it go! And watch what happens. 

 

Today I am sharing a piece of jewelry that I am working on:

 

 

Keep Creating!

Amisha

Note:

There was a problem with the Inlinkz tool. It is fixed now, but here are the links that were already added:

exploringthewondersoflife.blogspot.com/2011/04/watercolor-study.html 

alteredschoolmarm.blogspot.com/2011/04/being-creative-10-our-biggest-fears.html

 

 

Comments

[Tricia]

Great post, as usual, Amisha! I think it is so cool that you are going to publish an e-book! Good for you! And your necklace is beautiful! I am so glad you are going to do some Photoshop tutorials. That is awesome! This has been a great party! I have loved that there has been no pressure. I will have to get a post up later, as today is Easter and a full day for us. Have a blessed day.

Tricia

[Shari]

I think those are all excellent questions/points to make. EVERYONE is creative, and ANYONE can call themselves an artist/creator/etc. It's a big, wide world out there, and who has the right to judge? No one does.

Did you know that Stephen King's first novel was rejected by many publishers (to the point that he was going to give up) but his wife kept him going... and a good thing she did! He's one of the biggest author's around now!

your necklace is lovely! Delicate and fairy-like. <3

I have made things I liked, I've made things I've loved and I've made things that I did NOT love. But the strange thing is that other people have liked some of the things I've hated, and others haven't responded to the things I've loved... it's all so subjective! People hated Van Gogh's work when he was alive. Some still do, but others think he's a genius. So that is what I have to say about that. ;-)

[LaVoice]

I trust whatever you do with your creative mind it turns out great. Best wishes to you.

[Tricia]

Amisha, help! The links are not showing up - so how do I go and visit others that have posted?

Blessings,
Tricia

[Susan Hosueman]

Love your necklace!! You struck a cord with me about the lack of acknowledgement for friends and family members when you make something. I never know what to think when I design something, and the people who see it make no comment --- no acknowledgement and you are standing right there -- wow!! That is when you have to choice that they either don't like it, or they love it so much they have been left speechless. I prefer that latter.