Often creativity seems like a mysterious process or something that "happens" to people, outside of themselves. In reality, it couldn't be simpler. Creativity may be born through an idea but it grows through use, and to learn by doing is by far the simplest and most effective way to become creative and enjoy the process.
Kids understand this instinctively. When I was eight years old, I read the comics in the Sunday paper religiously. One week I read a notice for a drawing contest with a cash prize. It never occurred to me to wonder if I was an artist; instead, I borrowed a sketch pad and a couple of colored pencils from my sister's stash, flipped through the comics page to find a simple image to reproduce, and got to it.
That evening, I had a sketch of Dagwood Bumstead completed. I mailed it in to the newspaper's address and waited confidently for my winning picture to be announced. Within a month, my drawing was chosen, and I spent my winnings on a new box of colored markers. More importantly, I learned a key lesson; following through on my creative ideas gave me an enthralling sense of satisfaction.
Falling in love with the creative process has been the hook that has lured me throughout my life. Besides writing books and articles for pay, I've learned to watercolor, sew, knit, stencil, plant a garden and cook everything from Kung Pao chicken to cheesecake. I create purses from recycled denim and antique jewelry, paint murals of religious art and even create boho-style outfits for my dish soap bottle to "wear".
I've learned to trust my instincts and do what pleases me, and oddly enough I've found that if I really enjoy doing something or fall in love with a craft, a story, or a project, the end result is bound to please others, too.
Try it. Don't look for ways to do things, then; just do them. If you want to learn to paint, buy a child's paintbrush set and take a swipe at the paper for ten minutes. Write a really bad poem. Sing as loudly as you can. Bake a cake. Plant a flower. Change your part from right to left. In creativity, as in life, it's all about the process, and in the doing comes the understanding.
About The Author: An Arizona freelance writer for the past decade, Claire is a regular contributor to the Arizona Republic's business, career builder and community sections and is also the author of a statewide restaurant guide, "Dining in Arizona - 101 Great Places to Eat" Claire has co-authored several cookbooks and is now a working chef and menu designer in Sun City, AZ.
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