Lenten Garden #2
12 x 12 inches
Monotype collage on paper
©2020 Lucinda Howe

In recent discussions about art practice, I’ve heard several friends say some version of “I want to feel more creative”, “I wish I were more creative”, “I’m not as creative as [other person].” “Creativity can’t be taught; either you have it or you don’t.” These were people who seem quite creative to me and I wondered why they were saying those things.

I believe that everyone is creative in some way. But we all have beliefs that come from parents, society, religion, and culture that show up in our thoughts as blocks to creativity. In her classic book on discovering creativity, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron says “Creativity is the natural order of life” and that we can uncover and remove blocks to our own creativity. 

As I often do when unsure about a meaning of a word, I consulted a dictionary. Create (as a verb) has several definitions:

1. To make something
2. To do something new to you
3. To make something happen
4. To combine things in an unexpected way

Creativity is defined by doing those things.

The problem with this definition is that it’s based on actions and not feelings. It’s possible that a person may make something wonderful and still not feel creative. It’s the thoughts like “I’m not creative” that make us feel blocked. Then we take actions like repeating the same things we have previously done, buffering with food or alcohol, or comparing ourselves to others. The result is that we prevent ourselves from feeling creative.

What can we do instead? It’s possible to have the feeling of creativity whenever we want it by changing our thoughts. That feeling then leads to actions that allow us to make something rather than the other way around.

What thoughts can lead to a feeling of creativity? You may not be able to get to “I am an awesome creative genius” in one go, but can you try something like “I am willing to believe all humans are creative.” or “I’m learning how to remove creative blocks.”?

What thoughts might you think to feel creative? How will your actions and results be different?