Yesterday I shared on Instagram that about a year ago I went and bought myself some watercolors and paint brushes. I never thought I could paint…never considered myself an artist at least in the painting sense. And honestly on most days I still don’t. But a few times a week I practice picking up a brush, playing with the colors or my kids, letting go of perfect, creating a mess, and confidently calling myself an artist.
And you know what? It’s reawakening my creative, childlike heart. I am realizing that at the core of who I am, I am an artist, and what I make is its own kind of beautiful.
God rejoices when you and I keep getting out of our comfort zone and trying new things, even in little ways- like picking up a paint brush or scribbling out some words or planting seeds in our garden because we are unearthing the treasures He’s placed inside of us.
Somewhere along the way my God-given creativity god snuffed out. Maybe yours too? It happens for many reasons, but the more important point is this- our creative heart isn’t lost forever, it can be revived!
Here are some ways I’ve been awakening the artist within me over the last year. {Remember when I say artist I am not just talking about the painter kind, I am referring to the way God made each one of us with an ability and desire to create beauty and express our truest selves in unique ways.}
1. Easy Reach
I keep colored pencils and markers visible at all times- either on my desk or in a pouch with my journal and bible. I also have watercolor paper and paints sitting out right next to my computer. I’ve found if I put supplies behind cupboards or in drawers it’s easy for me to forget to practice. But when I put them in front of me I have a constant visible reminder to have fun, play, and make a mess with colors and paper, and release my creativity in new ways. I also do this with my running clothes. {Yes, I believe running is a creative act!} I keep my running gear hanging on my closet door, so I am prepared and ready for my run in the morning!
What would you like to try? What do you like to create? What resources {books, supplies, tools, ingredients etc} do you need to keep within easy reach?
2. Remember the Perspective It Brings.
an increasing number of studies have focused on the value of expressive writing as a way to bring about healing. The evidence is mounting that the act of writing about traumatic experiences for as little as fifteen or twenty minutes a day for three or four days can produce measurable changes in physical and mental health. Emotional writing can also affect people’s sleep habits, work efficiency, and how they connect with others. {Pennebaker, Writing to Heal}
I think any creative work we practice, be it in the kitchen or the gym, in our house or on paper, has the potential to bring measurable changes in our physical and mental health. As we practice releasing our art we gain perspective on life. It sounds silly but writing sentences, sweating as I run the streets, and baking something sweet are all healing acts of creativity for me. {Indeed, our creative hearts can be cultivated in mysterious ways!} Suddenly, it’s as if I begin to see my circumstances differently and I discover God’s presence in and around me.
How do you gain perspective? Is it walking in the woods, kneeling in the dirt with a shovel in hand, or hosting people in your home? It is all art. These gifts of creativity are from your Creator to bring wholeness and healing into your life!
3. Expect a Mess.
Whether you are writing, painting, gardening, or cooking a new meal expect a mess. A mess is a welcomed by-product of us diving into our creativity. But so often we don’t embrace it, and instead we aim for perfect and only come away with disappointment and frustration. For me, this means I make really bad and ugly paintings many MANY times. Expecting a mess means the first garden I ever planted (last year!) was hardly a success; I didn’t know what I was doing! Vegetable plants died and many flowers didn’t flourish. And at least a few times a week when I write, my words don’t make any sense and I stumble along trying to form some sort of story or structure. But we don’t have to be afraid of these messes, rather see it as proof that your God-given creativity is coming alive!
What is a mess you’d be willing to make in order to spark your creativity again?
4. Step back and say, “It is good.”
I make a point of encouraging myself. It sounds strange, but if we can’t encourage ourselves than we will never be satisfied. Be your own cheerleader! Practice loving the work of your hands.
Step back from anything you create- be it cupcakes, words, a flowerbed, or the decorating of your home- and say to yourself, “It is good.” And then believe it!
This simple phrase will bring freedom from comparison, it will strengthen you in your own unique identity as a child of God, and you will want to keep creating!
Whisper over everything today, “it is good” and notice how it changes your heart!
5. Teach Yourself!
There is nothing that says you need a degree from an art school to be creative. Forget trying to be an expert or a professional. In fact, did you know that an amateur means “lover” in French? An amateur is someone who is simply passionate. What if you considered the joy you experience enough to qualify you to be a baker, a painter, a gardener, a creative soul?
Because they have little to lose, amateurs are willing to try anything and share the results. They take chances, experiment, and follow their whims. Amateurs are not afraid to make mistakes or look ridiculous in public. They’re in love, so they don’t hesitate to do work that others think of as silly or just plain stupid. {Kleon, Show Your Work}
It is even said that, “Artists like Picasso and Kandinsky felt that trained artists were inevitably corrupted by their schooling, and that self-taught artists were purer and potentially greater.” This is your pass to watch videos on youtube to learn how to watercolor, read beginner books on gardening, find a simple recipe for baking white bread, or just discover your way and style as you go along!
What is it that you feel unskilled or unqualified to do, but would like to try? Be an unashamed amateur!
Which of these are you going to do?
What are some ways you awakening your creative heart?
Here are a few women who inspire me to make my life a work of art. I encourage you to check out their art-filled lives and let it lead you to find the artist inside of you too:
Emily Freeman::her book A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live inspired and challenged me to call myself an artist again! I read and re-read this book. AND it’s only 1.99 on kindle today!
Brittany Stoess:: a fellow adventurer and self-taught artist. Be it painting, going on road trips, or hiking through God’s beauty, she lives an artful life!
Terrica Smith::the way this girl mothers, bakes, tends to her garden, cares for her home, and loves people is truly a masterpiece. She inspires me consider everything in my life an act of creativity and worship.
Gretchen Saffles::this woman is flowing in her God-given creativity. Her love for Jesus, writing, and encouraging women to live life beautifully refreshes me daily and draws out my creativity as well!
Leave a Reply