You are Creative

Have you heard this statement before” Oh I am not creative, but I wish I was”? Maybe you said it before. Have you heard this next statement before” Everyone is creative”? Are you thinking everyone but me? Maybe you are creative but not artistic. Maybe I should define what it means to be creative.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word create means to bring into existence. The word creativity is to have the ability to create. 

Some people believe the Divine or God created humans in his own likeness. God was a creator, therefore humans are creative. That means YOU are creative. Here is another example. Have you ever watch a small child play.  You can give them a box and they will have fun for hours. We were all like at that when we were kids; so why do some of us stop thinking we are creative?

I recently watched a TED Talk by David Kelley founder of design firm IDEO. In the video he describes how to build your creative confidence. I found it interesting, because he found that many people have a creative story where at sometime in their early childhood somebody looked at their art work and said it was terrible.  I made it through my childhood pretty confident in my creative abilities, until college. Then I had a teacher tell me “nice dentist office painting” Ugh! It was an insult. She thought my style of art was somehow below her standards. I was crushed. I felt like a fake. I quit. I started studying to be a special education teacher.  What is your creative story? 

I was still creative. I still called myself creative. I did scrapbooking, landscaping, and I would use my creativity to solve problems and invent ways to help my students.  I am sure if you looked around you could find ways in your daily life where you are creative.

 Here are some examples:

• Scrapbooking 
• Holiday table setting             
• Taking pictures of family
• Painting your  toe nails
• Decorating your home 
• Modifying a recipe 
• Making a game for your kids
• Decorating a cake 
• Styling your hair

Music in my head

"Move Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera, It gets your hips moving while you are painting!

"Holiday" by Vampire Weekend

On the Canvas

This week I am playing with paint.  Here is a nifty trick I gleaned from Flora Bowley; turn up the music and close your eyes while painting. It is fun…and messy.  Above is a picture of what my 4 year old and I did  with our eyes closed! Give it a try! 


Till we meet again my creative friends
Jenni