Portraits in Creativity
At our house, we love a well-done historical drama, even if some creative license is taken in the telling (within limits). Back in 2001, we were looking forward to A Knight’s Tale until we heard that the score would involve hit rock-n-roll tunes. “No way,” I said. “I’m not going.”
I don’t remember what made us change our minds, but we went to see it. As the opening credits rolled while the crowd claps and sings Queen’s We Will Rock You, I thought, “Bloody brilliant!”
A creative anachronism that worked perfectly.
We expect creativity in the writing, acting, filming, editing, and production of movies. We think of fiction writers, performers, chefs, painters, and scientists as creative people. We sometimes see creativity at work in business. We recognize it in garden and building design.
But what of we other earthlings who make or made our living by more mundane toil? Is creativity important for us?
Shaun Usher shared a 2006 letter to students of Xavier High School, where author Kurt Vonnegut wrote (emphasis Vonnegut’s):
Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.
Good advice no matter your age.
Serendipity lead me to a similar sentiment in the Summer 2021 issue of Sage-ing, “The Journal of Creative Aging.”
Editor Kate Close says:
When we make art to know ourselves, to locate ourselves in the web of being and to make ourselves feel more alive…what we create can be like a compass guiding us into the richness of being.
When the nest empties, when the career becomes less of a priority, when we retire from the workforce, the resource of time becomes more abundant. Within this time, we can explore our creative callings or impulses as we never could before. If we’re blessed, we don’t need to worry about whether this will bring cash our way (though it may for some, as a bonus).
Recent times have illustrated the dark side of the internet, but when it comes to sources of creative inspiration, there’s an angel side.
Websites, blogs, access to on-line journals and museums we might never have otherwise seen are at our fingertips. Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok can inform and spark new ideas. In future I’ll share some of my favorites. Today I want to focus on three friends in the real world and how they bring creativity into their “richness of being.”
Steve W used to be my son’s Scout Master. He’s been playing guitar since he was sixteen.
During campouts, Steve always pulled out his guitar when it was time to sing around the campfire. Songs rang into the night, from oldies like Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues to Train’s Soul Sister.
Same when we socialize around a campfire these days. Steve always has his guitar, ready to croon the night away.
When the nest emptied and the career climb settled down, Steve pushed his “hobby” in an artistic direction. He had time. He practiced. And practiced. If you ever wondered if you could improve your singing voice after 50, Steve proved you can. He also honed mad guitar skills and built a wide-ranging repertoire.
Steve started playing Open Mike nights. Occasionally, musically talented friends joined in. Then he started playing at bars and restaurants as the feature act. Now he is a man in demand. His calendar is booked most Friday and Saturday nights.
When asked how and why, Steve said the key was that now he had the time and the freedom. He has a passion for the old songs. He wants to keep them alive. Whenever he sings, Sweet Caroline, he engages the audience with a prize to the table that wins the "BA BA BA" competition. He gets to express himself and the audience has a fun night.
Steve’s wife Sue expresses her creativity through a myriad of crafts. She is the craftiest person I know.
She made me this birthday card. It comes with a startling surprise. When you open it, a wind-up butterfly she made with a rubber-band flies out.
Because of Sue, I learned to make earrings and bracelets at the beading store. We experimented with glazes at the ceramics place. We went to a wine and painting night (before the pandemic hit). She’s a master knitter. She can sew and paint. She doesn’t spend much time on photography, but she’s got an eye for it (below).
Sue says crafting gets her away from everyday chores and helps her relax. But unlike other hobbies, like putting complicated puzzles together, the crafts also let her use the creative side of her brain.
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. says, “Simply dabbling in the fine arts, with no specific goals or intentions, awakens our ability to approach life with greater openness and curiosity.”
Among the many talents of my friend, Steve S, are his pottery skills.
A few months ago, I was scrolling through Facebook. Steve had posted a few pictures of recent work with a wonderful announcement—his pieces had been accepted by the Pewabic Pottery studio.
This world-class studio has work in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Freer Gallery of Art.
Steve first discovered his artistic bent in high school. His art teachers created an atmosphere of discovery and non-judgment. Ever since he found avenues to further his studies and experiences in art, especially ceramics.
Steve needs to be industrious, to use his time making something useful in a way that is either aesthetically pleasing or functional. He says being creative is a life process for him. He credits his dad for encouraging a sense of curiosity that grew into a life of “what ifs” and “what is possible.”
In adult life, the creative desires didn’t change but the time constraints or lack thereof did. As an art teacher he demonstrated ideas and techniques but only on occasion had time to complete a work of art.
“So many ideas but no time to see them thru.”
In retirement he took a class in ceramics at a local community college and after his first class, the professor asked him to teach a couple classes. During this time he fully developed some of his older ideas as well as come up with new ones.
Steve says, “Now I have the time to commit myself to studio work and spend some time alone without distractions in my ceramic endeavors.”
Writer and artist John Weiss says, “One of the worst things for creative people is to not be creative. Denying one’s creative and artistic expression is a certain path to sadness, depression, and even poor health.”
It’s not a waste of time or simply an indulgent hobby. Spending time with paint or crayons or clay, a flute, piano, or guitar—whatever artistic trail your muse leads you upon—it’s about good self-care.
Make time to sing or write a poem, dance under the moon, splatter some paint!
How will you take care of yourself today?
To receive an email whenever there is a new post, please scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email address.
PHOTO CREDITS:
Color pencils photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash
