Creativity

I finished a picture today that I'd been working on for a few days, which prompted me to go through my old diaries to find my other pictures and poems I've written over the years. All my poems are about being depressed, and my pictures are about my MH experiences too.

I decided to show Mum my pictures and poems, because she'd expressed interest in seeing the one I've just finished. She liked some of my pictures but never said anything about my poems. I don't know what reaction I wanted, but I considered it to be a big deal because I've never shown anybody them before.

Anyway Mum said that I should express myself creatively more often because it was a good way to open up. My problem is that I don't choose when to be creative. An idea pops into my head randomly, usually at night when I'm trying to sleep. Then I quickly jot down the poem (fully formed) before I forget it, or do the picture in the following days. I have never just been able to open up my sketch book and draw uninhibited, or decide to write a poem.

Is it like that for others here?

Mum says that I need to just get a clean piece of paper and see what happens, but I don't know where to start... I worry about making a mess and 'going wrong'. Unless I am copying off someone else or have the fully-formed idea, I just don't know what to do. I do want to be more spontaneous and creative though. My last picture before this one was almost 3 years ago because that was when I last had an idea.

How do I just let go??

*Willow*

PS: Sorry for the long post. I just can't seem to write one without rambling. And I hope it's ok to post this here because I feel safe in this forum, rather than going to a new/strange forum.

Great topic, I think it's very relevant to this forum.

I used to write literally all the time(sure it was psychotic writing most of the time but a lot of people really liked it when I'd share it). You couldn't find me without a notebook and a pen for years. After I got really sick though I stopped writing for a very long time. I've been trying to get back into it but like you mentioned I lack the spontaneous creative moments like I used to have.

I can relate. A lot of my creative ideas pop into my head at seriously inopportune times, ie right when I'm about to fall asleep, or when I'm out somewhere and don't have a notebook or sketchbook handy.

Being able to draw uninhibited is hard for a lot of people I think, I believe the key here like anything else is practice. Like even if you don't feel particularly inspired, maybe try drawing for a few minutes and see what happens? You don't have to show it to anyone else, so no worries if it comes out not like you want it to? Just a thought.

I once read a quote somewhere that said something alone the lines of, "creativity is being willing to make mistakes, art is knowing which ones to keep". I've found that to be really true, creativity is trial and error. Art is being able to find the errors that "go somewhere", like they turn into a really interesting concept/idea or something like that. I feel like I'm not articulating myself well at all at the moment, sorry if this sounds a bit ramble-y!

Long posts are okay. It seems like rambling goes on a lot particularly in this part of the boards, I think it comes with the territory. I can ramble on and on in my posts too, I try to keep them short but it doesn't always work... like right now I feel like I wrote a mini-novel and I have no idea if it makes as much sense as I wanted it to! Hahaha.

i make all my art based on my experiences or mental health. much of it schiz or sadness.

what day i didnt know what to draw. so i told myself im going to draw a living thing with 1 line without lifting my pen. and i did. from that day on i had an inspiration of creatures i call them. i draw them with more than one line nowadays.

I think it's great that you can tap into the creative. I haven't had much motivation to do anything creative in awhile. I know there is a movement that dictates artists must discipline themselves by practicing everyday. That has never worked for me. I did however succeed artistically as a child when I took instruction in a group setting. I suppose if maybe I took a class now, I would be more creative out of obligation.

I think your mum is right in a sense. I mean, if you really want to be disciplined and produce more creativity then setting a time each day and whipping something out,( even if it's rubbish to you) might be the answer. I know there are books that instruct in this kind of discipline, like giving you a topic for each session.

Aside from the poems what kind of art do you do? paintings, drawings, sculpture?

Also, I think it's entirely appropriate to use this forum for any thread. I don't post anywhere else on Pc (most of the time) either because I feel comfortable here.

heres a few i did

Newtus you have such brilliant talent. I really mean it.

Ad you are not rambling at all. You are making perfect sense. When you have written here at certain times it is very poetic and cool. Reminds me of Lewis Carroll.

Thank you for saying so!

you should see only 1/4 of my room LOL

Thanks guys!

I think that I might try and find a book to show me how to draw better. I've been thinking that part of what inhibits me is feeling that I'm not very good and am wasting my time. I did art for GCSE and absolutely loved it, but I didn't get a very good mark so, since then, I've always felt that I wasn't very good.

When I did art I used all sorts of materials, even paint, oil pastels and clay, but now I only do pics about MH and use pens and pencils. Now I wait for inspiration to strike, but back then I just did stuff in class because I had to. Maybe if I set aside an hour a week or maybe even twice a week to be creative, and just see what happens...

Writing about oil pastels makes me want to get them out and do something with them

*Willow*

Well I haven't gotten the oil pastels out, but I have been letting go and getting my hands covered in paint. I don't really like the sensation on my hands, but mentally it feels liberating, like being a child again

*Willow*

Willow I have a game that sparks creativity some times. I hope you won't think its too silly.

You draw a shape, or a squiggly , or a zig zaggy line. Just small. Then you try to turn it into something. Can be anything: an animal, a building, a piece of jewelery, a plant, an insect, etc. OR give yourself a category (to keep from being overwhelmed with choice)

Anyway I hope yyou can have some creative fun today.