The Creative Canvas

Introduction

As long as I can remember, I always wanted to be an Artist. I can remember my favorite thing to do as a child was to sit with a coloring book and a fresh new box of Crayola crayons! That was my happiness to just sit and color or draw for hours. My Mother used to tell me stories of how I was always doodling on something, even my bedroom walls! She gave me a whole wall in my bedroom to draw on and that started my love for murals. My Mom was very encouraging of me and my talents. She was also creative and gave me the creative genes for sure. She has been a big source of inspiration for me throughout my life. She had a difficult childhood and many health problems, but she overcame adversity and made her life a testimony for others with such joy and compassion. Since I was young I was around all her many different supplies and mediums which introduced me to other forms of arts and crafts as I got older. I used to go through all her supplies like I was on a treasure hunt looking for gold. It was so fun to get a few materials and explore while she worked on her products to sell. Some of my best memories are of making crafts with my Mom. Her small business doing professional arts and crafts shows led me on my creative journey of which I am still on today. 

My family were all creative in one way or another. My father was creative in many ways, but specialized in woodworking. He built a workshop in our basement that was filled with every kind of saw you can imagine, drills, and he built my Mom’s displays. He joined my mom’s business after being hospitalized for leg surgery. He then worked with her creating products for sale and they took the show on the road. They travelled doing shows throughout Georgia and even out of state areas. Business was growing and then my sister joined. She made wreaths and floral decorations with handmade flowers. After that, I was signed up for home school and we all went out on the road. Traveling the East Coast of the United States for over 10 years doing professional arts & crafts shows in shopping malls, convention centers, and county fairs was just the beginning of my artistic journey.

I have painted on just about everything, handcrafting designs in various mediums, and developed my style as an inspirational artist. I specialize in custom projects where the artwork is personalized for the client. Working mainly in acrylics and painting on canvas as my favorite medium. I also enjoy drawing, watercolor pencil illustrations, mural painting, and of course face painting and body art. I have previously worked in pottery, sewing and embroidery, sculpture with natural elements such as pine cones, eucalyptus, and cinnamon sticks. I have worked with floral arranging and wreath making as well as decorative arts and crafts. However, my love is in sharing my talents with others and bringing out their creativity. Exploration of all the different types of canvases available to us has been one of my favorite things to introduce to budding artists. Just the idea that you can paint on anything is exciting. There are thousands of ways to be creative and that also means being creative with your choice of surface to work on. This includes traditional canvas, linen, burlap, silk, satin, cotton fabrics, glass, ceramic, clay, plastic, paper, wood, and even skin. Depending on the type of surface you choose will determine what type of medium is needed. Such as you would never use acrylic paint on the face, but would use a type of theatrical make-up instead. 

As an Artist, I see the world a bit differently than others. I see culture and diversity as well as commonalities across the globe. An Artist sees beauty and possibility. A creative mind sees alternatives and various forms of expression. Being an Artist as well as a creative mind, I am always thinking. My mind never stops working with ideas. This is both a blessing and a curse because it is hard to stay focused. However, when I am painting or drawing, or teaching a class I am not thinking of anything else except what I am doing. Art centers me and keeps me whole.

Being Creative

Creativity is a part of life. It inspires us. It motivates us. It guides us. Being creative gives us freedom to explore our talents and allows us to grow into our fullest potential as human beings. This is because we are all born creative. It is in our DNA. As humans, we are born with the longing to create and explore, touch and feel, see and smell, and be hands-on with our environment. We must stay involved in the artistic and creative process in order to feel accomplished in life. It is when we work the hardest and put the most effort into a task or project using our creative thinking, our ingenuity, and focus our attention on something, that we feel the happiest and most fulfilled. Creative minds already have realized this at a very young age and they spend their time doing anything they can to be creative. It just comes natural to them and there is an automatic working “outside-of-the-box” thinking in everything they do. Being creative to an artistic mind is as much of a necessity as is the air we breathe and the water we drink.

There are, however, some people who have forgotten how important the arts are to our success. Some children become wrapped up in the day-to-day of life without holding onto their creative joy. They become interested in other forms of interaction with people, places, and things that may not be productive. These children may grow up to become adults who either do not participate in nor appreciate the arts. Most public schools have had their art programs funding cut nationwide because the sense of importance on the basic fundamental need for creativity is not being realized. The arts programs are not seen by government as being an important part of essential life and a basic need that we all have. It is viewed as an activity more than a part of learning. The curriculum focus is put more on how can people be more productive, remember more, and do more in their duties. The majority of business professionals believe this form of training leads to success rather than the creative element of being productive. Leaving out arts education is a mistake in my opinion. Studies have shown that the more creative thinking is involved in the process of production, the more it generates ideas towards innovation. Ideas are realized in all levels of the creative thinking process which then leads to solutions in challenges and meeting target objectives. Ideas stimulate research which in turn creates knowledge and limitless possibilities for innovation. It is a successful creative cycle that plays an essential role in any business or productive process. Successful individuals and companies use this strategy. 

The arts in their various forms continue to be a positive influence on our well-being as a whole. There have been numerous cases where individuals who would have otherwise not been exposed to the arts had a positive effect when utilizing the arts as a form of therapy. It has been growing more popular for treating PTSD, victims of abuse, the senior community, and special needs individuals with autism and Down’s Syndrome have benefited from engaging in the arts. Hospital patients have been introduced to art therapy to not only pass the time with an activity, but to be included as a part of their overall plan of care. Patients who produce art improve their sense of purpose and accomplishment while being in a not so ideal circumstance which leads to advanced healing and improved mental state. Individuals who have suffered the loss of a loved one often benefit from the arts as a form of therapy by using their creativity as a source of comfort. This is why Art education and awareness is so important. We must keep the love and practice of art and creativity alive through programs and scholarships for art education and appreciation.

Now that we have discussed the benefits of art and how it is essential to use creativity in our daily lives, let’s reflect on the different types of art. Drawing, Painting, Charcoal/Pastels, Sculpture, Pottery, Textiles, Glassworks, Metalworks, Abstract, Painterly, Realistic, Impressionism, Expressionistic, Pointillism, multimedia, digital, Simplistic, Detailed, Graphic, Bright, Dark, Intense, and Daring. What is your favorite way to be creative?

“The Creative Canvas” Presentation given at The Arts Community of Easton (ACE) members meeting in 2018.

FLASH FORWARD TO 2023

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I did this talk on creativity and my life experience as an artist. The one thing that has been constant in my life has been my creativity. I learned at an early age that I needed to be able to adapt to my surroundings, situations that arise, and current project goals I needed to achieve. Being creative gives the opportunity to get things done and be able to face adversity as it comes with contentment. This is living creatively and thinking in creative ways. By doing this in my life, I have been able to be very creative in my work. Then, a few years back I found that I was able to show others how to bring out their creativity too. This is my life’s work and my purpose. I am so glad and happy to realize that and am ready to move forward by focusing on my Creative Canvas of Life and help others create their own fulfilled life by using the creative side they already have inside!