A Return to open creativity

Artist Amy Early painting a mural commission painting.

Every once in a while we can get a little accustomed to our life. The way that our kids climb into bed with us first thing in the morning, the routine of heading out the door to work, starting yet another load of laundry, or even getting started on our next creative project. The “routine” of life can get to us, and we can lose that little creative spark. The one that sings to us a new melody, or inspires a new painting to paint. It happens. Little do we know, it’s in these seemingly mundane tasks where our creative brains can be the most activated.

It’s amazing when we take a deep breath and recover our sense of wonder. It really is amazing, every little part of our life, such a miracle! The job of on artist is to help recover that wonder. Consider it part of your job, artists, if you’re feeling caught in the routine of life. Rediscover that sense of awe, or even process the loss of it in your work. This is part of your gift. Notice when your creative brain is at play during your mundane tasks.

Madeleine L’Engle says it best,“We write, we make music, we draw pictures, because we are listening for meaning, feeling for healing. And during the writing of the story or the painting or composing or singing or playing, we are returned to that open creativity which was ours when we were children. We cannot be mature artists if we have lost the ability to believe which we had as children. An artist at work is in a condition of complete and total faith.”

When we are at a loss for the miracle that our life is, we can spend time recovering our artistic well, our inspiration—using images, sounds, solitude, nature, or the specific thing that nourishes us. Follow the mystery and the magic, not the duty. Your role as an artist depends on this recovery.