What do you create with your time? What could you create if you tried? What do you want to create. My friend Travis has a personal mantra – consume less, create more. I think this is something that we can all strive for – to create more and consume less.
What will you or can you create is the first question. What do you love?
Stop.
The first thing to remember is the idea that what you create is for you – it is not for others. You don’t need to be as good as someone else. You just need to create. Create. There is a power in making something – a drawing, a computer code, a cutting board, a go-kart. There is a power in creating that helps your brain gain the possibility that you can create.
Build something with your hands. Stand at a work surface of your choice and make something.
Cut up paper and glue it as a collage. Pick up a pencil and draw a circle. Draw a mountain as you see it. Doodle.
Create.
You don’t have to be perfect – in fact I would hope that you are not. The first time that you make something it will not be perfect.
Many years ago in my first year away at university we were given the option of going to the pub or going to a workshop on beading – this was during frosh week. I , of course, choose the beading workshop. I still remember that Kendal and Diane where there as well – there were only four of five of us who learned to make a beaded bracelet from an indigenous lady.
She taught us and we made.
Part way through I realized that I had made a mistake and she told me about how indigenous people have often woven into their designs a mistake because no one is perfect and if you try to be perfect you would be competing with the great spirit.
This has stuck with me. Weave a mistake into your life. You can not be perfect and so should set your bar somewhere else. The idea of perfection is a stop sign.
j.m.r.
We often don’t start something because we know we are not perfect or we feel like we won’t do it perfectly.
You don’t want to learn how to draw – you want to learn to draw as well as your favorite artist.
Just draw. Don’t worry about sharing. Don’t worry about who will see it. You choose. Don’t show it to anyone. Draw and draw and draw.
Create.
If you get to the point where drawing and creating speaks to your soul and you want to share – then share. You don’t need to let people see everything you did up to then. You know the work you put in.
There is no overnight success that is lasting.
If you want to be known as an amazing drawer – you need to draw a lot. You will throw out a lot. If you want to be known as an amazing juggler – you need to drop a lot of balls.
You will drop a lot of things. You will throw out a lot of things.
Do for you. Do not worry about what the point of it is.
This world is full of artists who are doing art for themselves. If you are not doing the art for yourself – then you will not enjoy doing the art, the writing, the making, the creating.
Make it a hobby. Do it for you. Do it for your mind. Do it for clarity. Do it for fun. Do it for relaxing. Do it for no reason at all.
Make something. Draw something. Be yourself and create.
Create.