Today I got out my old copy of The Artist's Way, a creativity workbook by Julia Cameron that I first picked after taking a college course on creative thinking and logic. I don't know if calling it a workbook is enough; it's a Big Book for creatives suffering from blocks, fears and doubts. I want to recommend it to anyone struggling with their creative self-esteem, as I know I do. From morning pages to artist dates, Cameron provides several helpful habits a person can get into to break free from their creative blocks.
Morning pages are Cameron's order to write three pages every single morning, the first thing in the morning, whether you want to or not, whether you have anything to write about or not. Just write. If you repeat the words "just write" over and over and over again for three pages, well, you've finished your assignment. Usually I write about my goals for the day, my frustrations with yesterday, creative ideas I have, what's bothering me in the news, things I should write about down the line. Though I admit I don't always do them in the morning, I've found that just forcing myself to write increases my productivity and sense of accomplishment, drives ideas and brainstorming and lowers my stress. "Morning pages map our own interior," Cameron promises, and it's true.
Photographs from some of my recent artist dates.
Artist dates are something I've been taking the time to do every day lately, even if it's just a 5-minute photo shoot with the spider or snail on my patio. They are times set aside for yourself, alone, to let yourself play creatively, to let yourself make or explore or try something new. Most of my recent artist dates have been photography-based: visits to the Houston Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Art Car Museum; walks through Discovery Park and the Hope Art Gallery; impromptu photo shoots with my dogs; and a long journey home from Houston, when I promised myself I'd stop to take a picture whenever I wanted to stop to take a picture and the 2.5-hour drive turned into a 4-hour drive. But sometimes I want to make something with my hands, too, and I'll create a fairy garden from succulents, thrift store finds, repurposed drawers, natural materials and paperclay — an all-in-one crafting project. Sometimes the date is a quick swim to clear my mind. Whatever it is, it's a time to look at the world in an unhurried, open way. It's during these dates that I've learned the most about myself, and learned to really love and value myself. "Your artist is a child," Cameron writes. "Learn to listen to what your artist child has to say about on, and about, these joint excursions." And it's true. Listen to the child.
The Artist's Way is meant to be read a little at a time, week by week. Each week, Cameron discusses an aspect of the creative journey or the creative self and gives readers tasks to complete. Week 1, about 'shadow artists,' is dedicated to finding a safe place within yourself to create. "Very often, audacity, not talent, makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist — hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the deram to the light, fearful that it will disintegrate to the touch" Cameron writes. "Shadow artists must learn to take themselves seriously."
I struggled with calling myself an artist for a long time. I still struggle with it. But with Cameron's help, I've learned to be easier on myself, to support myself, and to trust the journey. "Judging your early artistic efforts is artist abuse," Cameron writes. "By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist."
But a rose by any other name is still a rose. Whether we call ourselves an artist or not, I'm a firm believer that everyone is an artist. We are all creators, in one way or another. I've never met a person who wasn't a musician, or a writer, or a builder, or a painter, or a gamer, or an inventor or a designer. And we can all be creative, and become more creative. There's no limits here besides what we put on ourselves due to fear, time, finances. But taking the time to develop your creativity and your creative self helps in all aspects of life. Creativity helps when problem-solving and learning new skills. Creativity expands our world and drives innovation. So whether you're an artist or not, whether you consider yourself a creative person or not, I think everyone could benefit from The Artist's Way.