Have you ever thought about joining a creative community? There are all sorts and sizes for you to consider.

First, you must get over the hurdle of calling yourself “creative.” So many of us hesitate to claim the designation “artist,” “musician,” or “author,” etc. I get it! I’m a novelist and I struggled to use the terms writer, or author until after my third book was published. I think our tender creative spirits don’t want to be prideful or we’re worried that we not “real” artists, musicians, authors, or any other form of creative designation.

I want to make it easy. If you make stuff – anything – you are creative. Period. Whew!

And so, dear creative, let’s go back to my original question. Have you ever considered joining a creative community? I love the idea of being a part of a group of people who encourage and support each other, walking together in a journey toward an energized and inspired life. I long for a safe place where we as creatives are free to share our unique artistic expressions in a joy filled and playful manner. A place without competition or comparisonitis.

Building a Creative Community

One of the reasons I’m building a creative community is I’ve heard from so many creatives, especially professional creatives (people who use their creativity in their career) that they are feeling dull, dry, and blocked. As creatives, we all go through this in some way, but when we also use our creativity in our work, we can end up depleting our inspiration and wring our muses dry! I love the saying “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” We must replenish and nurture our creative souls, and I think we can best do that together within a supportive community.

Attending to Creative Self-Care

Whenever I forget to attend to my creative self-care, I wind up in a desert. I know other creatives feel the same way, and I believe we can support and encourage each other through the tough times and celebrate with each other in the joyful times!

This happened to me recently. My husband and I are building a house, I launched a new book, my daughter was getting married, and I decided to start a new business. I had a ton of stuff on my plate. It was all great stuff, but the plate was heavy!!! When it came time to start my next book, I sat down at my computer and … I had nothing. The book is part of a series, so I knew my characters and the setting, but no plot line emerged.

Creative Blocks

If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you already know I don’t really believe in creative blocks. So, then, why was I … blocked? It was a bit of a shock, and I was more than a little nervous because I needed to get going on that book to meet my deadline.

Fear and the pressure to produce are two feelings that smother creativity. Sometimes we fear that we aren’t good enough, or fear judgment from others, and the presence of pressure can lead to resentment and resistance. I certainly found myself in the middle of these emotions.

Gradually, the small voice in my heart called to me and I began to yearn to create something. Something different from my primary expression of writing. I wanted to draw and paint—to reflect the world around me without the expectation of an income. I needed to play. When I went to my art room and began to put paint on paper, I found renewed energy. Even the simple act of organizing my art supplies brought excitement and motivation. I was filled with hope and anticipation of the freedom I knew exists in the process of creating—the sense of soaring like a regal bird of prey, with no particular destination. I longed for the experience of creating… not producing.

My solution

The answer for me, was to create something in a medium that was not my usual form, and to make something that had no pre-conceived purpose. This is not to say that creating something to sell is a negative thing. It’s not. Making an income from our creative gifting is a blessing. I’m simply saying that I had depleted my creative reserves without replenishing them, and I had neglected my muse. She was alone in the cold, starving to death.

Refill your creative cup

I was relieved that I hadn’t killed my desire to create, and that I could re-fill my creative cup with care and intention. It was then I wondered how many other creatives go through this barren place. I image all of us do from time to time. That’s when the idea of creating a community came to mind. I imagined how wonderful it would be to have a group with whom I could share my struggles, my victories, and my crafts. People who understood from their own experience exactly the feelings I was going through and who, together could support each other and experience new ideas and mediums. A playgroup, of sorts, for creatives!

Creative Peak Retreats

 

Joining a Creative Community

And so, Creative Peak Retreats was born. It isn’t about what you create or the skill level you have. This community exists to encourage each other’s creative spark. 

Eventually, I hope to set up a program where we gather once a month to learn, create, and share together, participate in challenges and other experiences. I’m planning a workshop and ultimately, I dream of facilitating a retreat where creatives can come to rest, nurture their creative souls, and re-ignite their creative spark—stretching and growing their expressive spirits.

When I returned to the playfulness of creating, I found myself refreshed and able to write again with enthusiasm. Ideas flowed once again. If this struggle resonates with you, come join us at Creative Peak Retreats.

For fun, take the Creative Archetype Quiz and discover what type of creative you are. Your answers will help me build the community we all need.

Now go… and create!

Do you have your own creative workspace? All creative spirits need a place set aside for their work—a personal creative space. Virginia Woolf claimed a woman must have a room of one’s own in order to write fiction.  I believe we all need a space of our own in order to create.

What kind of creative space is right for you?

Creative spaces can be impressive studios that artists drool over like awe-inspiring art rooms built in old barns with great lighting and views. They can also be as simple as staking out a claim in a small corner of an apartment. The point is not how impressive the space is, but how necessary it is. Artists need space to create. Period.

Do you have a space to call your own?

At the minimum, you need some type of table top, a place to keep your supplies, and something to sit on. Other helpful items are:

• • Shelves

• • Baskets

• • Containers and Bins for tools, brushes, and supplies

• • Space to hold paper, canvases, or other material

• • Sufficient Lighting

• • Electrical Outlets

• • Items that inspire you or that you simply love

• • Pictures

• • A candle

• • Personal Talisman

• • Inspirational Quotes

• • A view is nice – if you don’t have one, hang a painting you love

• • A partition screen to hide your space and/or provide you with privacy

For more inspiration check out these 44  inspiring studios and other art-work spaces.

Art Away From Home

Renting a creative space is an interesting option if you truly have no room at home. Or, if you simply need a larger space to finish a project or to gain a new perspective, check out Recreative Denver and The Art Gym.

If you are feeling extremely adventurous, you can rent a studio in Tasmania, Australia and just about anywhere in the world. There are sublet-studios available in many major world cities.

Studio space can be rented by the hour, day, or week. Different studios offer work space, gallery space, adjustable chairs and tables, lighting, kitchens, printers, WIFI, whiteboards, camera tripods, photography space, woodworking and metal shops. There are spaces for digital artists, culinary artists, print makers, performance artists. You can even share space in an artistic community.

Take Your Creative Spirit on an Adventure!

When you are in need of nourishment for your creative soul, escape on an artistic getaway. There are Airbnb options as well as farms and private islands that host artist retreats.

The Farm Margaret River is a working farm in Australia that has renovated many of their outbuildings into studios for rent. Rentable for one hour to six months and any duration between. These spaces have been used by painters, musicians, sculptors, writers, land and environmental artists.

If you’re really flying high, you can lease a private island for around $1600 per day or $7000 per week.

Doing Art With Others

Another option is an Artist Retreat. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers holds a writer’s retreat in the spring near Colorado Springs. There are also artist and writer’s retreats in Ireland, culinary retreats in Italy, the opportunities go on and on. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Creative Peak Retreats offers retreats for creatives of all genres!

Home Sweet Home

But for now, back at home, let’s carve out our own niche. This week use your creativity to design a special space for your artistic time. If you already have a space, think of something you could add or remove that would help you enjoy your process. I would love to see your personal creative space. Please, send me some photos in an email!

Subscribe to my mailing list to get more creative ideas and stay informed about upcoming events!

 

What is “Creative Self Care” and who needs it?

First let’s define creativity:

Creativity the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

~Google

Basically, creativity is the use of our unique minds to come up with something new. For example, this article is a creative work because I came up with it and it did not exist in the world before I wrote it.

So then, what is creative self-care? When we think of traditional “self-care” we often think of eating well, exercising, resting and doing something nice for ourselves, like getting a massage—and creative self-care certainly includes all of those things, but Creative self-care is a little more than that. Creative self-care is about feeding the creative part of your mind and spirit.

Who needs creative self care?

Many people who lean into their creativity complain of creative blocks. You’ve likely all heard of the proverbial “writer’s block”, but what exactly is that?

Creative blocks, or barriers to inspiration, can be described as the inability to access one’s internal creativity. Those in creative professions—writers, musicians, stage performers, artists—are often more likely to be affected by creative blocks, which can last for days, weeks, months, or even years. One of the most common reasons for creative block is the fear of imperfection, feeling like you are not good enough to see an idea through.

~Google

Many creatives consider themselves perfectionists, which can prevent the pursuing of ideas or completing projects. I believe this is also why so many people look at the great artists of the world and then compare themselves to these people, only to decide that they, themselves, are not creative at all. The reality is that nothing and no one is perfect.

Perfectionism and I’ll also include comparisonitis, are both killers of creativity. So often we compare ourselves to someone else’s best work and crush our spirits under the pressure to measure up. But here’s the thing. You will never make the exact art or invention that someone else does. You can’t!

You will, and should, only create something that is unique to you. And the world needs that very special creation! Think of all the technology and innovation that has come about over the past century alone. Maybe you’re not oriented in a technological way, but you’re someone who markets ideas, or cares for people, or helps them with finances. Maybe you’re like me and offer the world a form of entertainment. Whatever you do has a creative element. EVERYONE is creative in some way.

Do you need creative self-care?

Perhaps you’ve found yourself staring at your current work, or alternately, a blank work page or space and had no idea what to do next. Your inspiration took a hike and your muse moved to Tahiti. You might feel dried up, barren, edgy, scared, sad, desperate, bored, rebellious, lonely, even angry. Perhaps you gaze at your un-started piece of work, or maybe you pace, or stomp around. Are you one to throw wadded up paper at your computer or spit balls up to the ceiling? Maybe you spin circles in your desk chair, like me.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing a creative dry spell. But why? How did this happen and what can you do about it?

The good news is that your muse hasn’t really moved to the islands. It’s just hiding under a blanket in the closet, exhausted, parched, and under nourished. There is an old saying that goes: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Creatively, we must continually refill our cups. It is time to woo your inspiration back with some desperately needed, creative self care.

What does creative self care look like?

Let’s start with the importance of regular self-care and discuss why each of these facets matter to our creativity.

First, be sure to eat a proper diet. It’s well known that our brains work better when fed a balanced diet – lots of fruits, vegetables, and quality protein. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. Hydrated cells are cells that work and that includes brain cells.

Then, there’s exercise. Did you know that exercise which increases the blood flow to our brains helps our creativity to soar as well? Next time you’re feeling uncreative, go out for a walk or do some squats. Move!

Third is rest. Rest is crucial. When we sleep or even relax without giving our mind input, our brain has a chance to process all the challenges of the day. Sometimes we try to create something new, but our brain is too full of miscellaneous details to attend to fresh ideas. Work toward getting 7- 8 hours of good sleep each night.

Finally, we come to the doing something nice for ourselves part of self-care and where we make the turn into “creative” self-care. Of course, a massage never hurt anyone, but how do we care for our muse? Our inspiration? We need to feed it.

We need to fill our cup.

I find that when I’m feeling empty, when I’m staring at the blank page and have nothing to say, my first reaction is to distract myself with busy work. This is counterproductive because I’m only giving myself more details for my brain to wrestle with.

This past summer, I finished my most recent book and I took some time off – sort of. I mean the author business side never really stops. But, when I came back to my computer to write my next book, I drew a blank. It was scary, actually, because I don’t just write because I love to. I write to make an income.

A quick aside here – creatives that take their passion and make it a career face creative blocks frequently because of the additional pressure they’ve added to what should be one of the great the joys of their life. It’s why creative self-care is crucial for people like me.

Anyway, I had no idea what to write. I felt like my characters stopped talking to me and all the crimes have already been committed and solved. I had NOTHING! After some chair spinning, website tweaking, and email inbox purging, I reminded myself the best way out of the creative desert is to fill my cup with an alternate form of creativity. For me, that looks like going into my studio and painting.

Iron sharpens iron.

Well, creativity enhances creativity too. This works if you do something else creative yourself or enjoy someone else’s creative gift.

First, take some time to quiet your mind. Let it work through whatever is on the front burner, and then settle your thoughts. Maybe take a nap. Then take yourself out to an art museum, or listening to music, go out in nature and enjoy creation itself.

Find the inspiration that fills your personal cup. When you feel replenished, create something in a medium that’s new for you. Try drawing, painting, crafting, writing, dancing, anything that is new or not the norm for you. The list of options is truly endless.

Create with a playfulness. Remember when you were little and it didn’t matter if your pot was crooked or if the people you drew didn’t have fingers. Refuse to judge the outcome of these early attempts, simply experience the act of creating. This is what will replenish your dried out well of inspiration. Before you know it, you will return to your primary work, the place you need fresh ideas, with renewed vision and energy.

You are a creative being!

 I hope you see yourself as creative being and understand that we all need to care for that part of ourselves with creative self care. That refilling our creative spirit is helpful—even necessary—for all of us in our work and daily lives, even if we aren’t professional creatives.

If we make this type of care a regular practice, we will face fewer incidences of creative blocks, and when we do have them, we have the tools to work through them. Expressing ourselves in our own unique manners without comparing the outcome to others, will bring joy and playfulness back to our lives.

So, I encourage you, go… create!

Should you make a play date with your muse? Remember the fun-filled days of friend play dates? The ones where you set an entire afternoon aside to hang with your bestie, roaming free and using your imagination? Think back to how nurturing those times were. Don’t you think it’s high time you made a play date with your creativity?

Make Friends with a New Medium

Have you ever played with a new creative medium? Something you felt completely new to? Perhaps something you were horrible at? Or suspected you’d be horrible at. If so, did you stop and return to something safe—the tried and true—where you felt confident? How does jumping in with both feet—risking making a big mess—sound to you?

No matter how you answered the questions above, let your thoughts sit with you for a while.

When we were very small, we knew very little. The first time we picked up a crayon, we didn’t know how to draw or even fill in a shape with color. Yet, we reveled in the lines of color that we could make appear on the blank page. What if we could get back to the place of wonder?

Creativity vs Competency

Often, as adults, we prefer to feel competent at the activities we fill our time with. I am a writer and I spend the majority of my time writing. I feel confident that I can craft a thrilling plot, engaging characters, and a satisfying ending. The more I practice my art, the better I get. I am comfortable there.

But should creativity always be comfortable? What type of art or expression have you always admired but never tried?

I’m a creative soul. I write, paint, draw, quilt, design stained-glass, garden, sing, bake, cook, and much more. Still, there are areas where I’ve allowed some vague fear to keep me from trying things outside of my comfort zone.

I adore the theatre. I love going to plays and musicals. Everything about the experience excites me. I love dressing up, the hushed atmosphere in the auditorium before the show, the dissonant notes of the orchestra warming up. The distinct smell of paint on the sets, stage lights heating their colored gel covers, and the powdery scent of makeup. The expectant vibration from the audience when the lights go down. And best of all: the performance!

When I was in high-school, I worked on the stage-crew for many of the theater presentations. I helped build sets and was on the make-up crew. Those are some of my favorite memories of that time in my life. But—I never tried out for a role in a performance. Never. Fear kept me away, and that same fear has left me with regret.

Will you allow fear to win?

This fear still resides somewhere in my psyche. I secretly would love to be in a play, but I surround myself with a vast array of excuses for not going for it. “I live in the country and there is no local theatre group.” “They’re (who are these mystical and tyrannical They?) only looking for people with experience.” “I would suck and embarrass myself.” “I might die.” Though I don’t really think I’d die, my subconscious believes I will, and so…

Do you have a secret (or not so secret) creative venture you’d love to try, but haven’t yet? How can we get past our self-protective barriers and give ourselves a chance?

We can do this! (and should!)

We can take baby-steps. Stick our toes into the creative pool a little at a time and practice. Sure, we might be truly bad at something new, but the trying builds a muscle. Keep at it and the creative muscle gets stronger. The more we try new things, the easier it gets. We realize we don’t die.

This week, make a play date with your creativity. Pick one completely new creative activity to try. Choose something that stretches you, something you’ve never done before. One easy idea to get started is a Paint and Sip event. Remind yourself that this is play. Then, please, comment on this blog and let me know what you tried and how it went for you! I can’t wait to hear!

Follow me on Instagram!

What is Creative Play?

Google’s definition of Creative Play:

“Creative play is any type of play that is free and allows children to express themselves. Creative play provides an opportunity for your child to have fun but develop intellectually at the same time. During creative play, children gain skills that are essential to academic learning and social development.”

The words that first stood out to me when I read this definition are children/child. I asked myself why is creative play described as something for children? The second point that caught my eye was that creative play develops skills that are essential to academic learning and social development. Yes! But this type of play should not stop at the end of childhood! Be sure to nurture your creative soul with play.

Creative people often find a way to take something they are good at, that they enjoy, and figure a way to make an income through their unique skill and perspective. This is a wonderful thing! Work that expresses your unique design, where you get to do what you love to do doesn’t feel like work… at first. Unfortunately, as the days march on, the business side of your craft demands attention and your passion, even if it is still a joy, also becomes a job. Work.

We lose the free form feeling of creative play. The longer we press our creativity into a schedule that brings with it financial expectations and demands, that farther we get from that playful feeling we had when we started. It isn’t long before we come face to face with some type of creative block.

What is a creative block?

I am a writer and a painter. Creative blocks look to me like a blank page on my computer or a new sheet of 140lb cold press paper. If I don’t bring with me some type of inspiration, that blankness can feel bewildering, if not downright scary. Doubts whisper at me, “What if I can’t do this thing? Maybe I have no more to give. Why did I ever think I could do this in the first place? Last time was probably just a fluke.”

Of course, those doubts are lies based in fear, and we must call them out as such. Fear causes us to feel blocked. Let’s go back to our childhoods for a minute. Can you remember even a single time when you were under the age of seven and were afraid that your imagination wouldn’t show up when you played make-believe? No! It never occurred that could even happen. What about when you decided to paint a picture, or draw, or paste construction paper together? We hadn’t yet developed our inner critic and imaginative, creative play was simply fun. There was no agenda, no comparison, no dollar amount assigned to our creation. It was pure.

Dare I say, there is no such thing as a creative block?

Now, I’m going to go out on a limb and confessing that I don’t believe in creative blocks. I mean, I know we all feel blocked at times… but is it really a block? Did our muse truly run away or refuse to play?

There is an old saying that goes:

Now, I’m going to go out on a limb and confessing that I don’t believe in creative blocks. I mean, I know we all feel blocked at times… but is it really a block? Did our muse truly run away or refuse to play?

There is an old saying that goes:

“You cannot pour from an empty cup.”

I believe that our sense of being blocked stems from the truth of that quote. I don’t think we as creative spirits are blocked. I purpose that instead; we are empty. We have allowed our work, the stresses of life, the distractions, the seriousness of adulthood, bills, illness, politics, whatever trips you up—you name it, to deplete our reserve of creative thinking and being. We draw from the well but forget to replenish the resource. We must nourish our creative spirit. It is crucial to feed and care for our muse!

How do we nurture our creativity?

I have many thoughts. In fact, I’m in the process of writing a book that answers this very question. But in this post, I want to address one of the most important ways to refill our creative cup. I want to give you at least one thing to consider as you stare at the blank page, music staff, slab of uncut wood, blob of unformed clay, or whatever your medium is. We must return our spirits to the sense of play.

When we feel blocked in our primary creative expression, it helps to play with a completely different form of creativity. Perhaps something we have never tried. Something we, (gasp) aren’t any good at. Take your muse on an adventure and dare to be incompetent at a new form of expression! Enjoy the process of trying something new and release any attachment to the outcome.

If you’d like some ideas, check out this list of 60 creative expressions and experiment. Choose something you’ve never done before. Let your creativity soar! And then, please, email me at jodi@elanvitalcreate.com and let me know about your experience!