This past weekend, I taught a class called Meditative Stain Painting (I will post more about that soon!) and one of the artists in the class asked me for a list of ways to nurture creativity. I thought of a few answers but I wanted to dig into this topic a bit more here on my blog. I have found that the ways I nurture creativity are also the ways I find a feeling of “home” or belonging. I thought I would connect the two for you here and hope that they offer you some inspiration.
My recent series, Fleeting, Flowing, Flying, embodies the idea of finding a home - whether it is emotional, physical, or spiritual - in the midst of change and transformation. This is a reflection of my own experiences, as I have moved my home across oceans and continents several times. In my paintings, you will also see figures such as ships, birds, and structures rising and falling, embodying the constant movement of life. Life offers us a lot of ups and downs and even if the change is positive, it can be a bumpy ride getting back to a place where we feel like we belong. When I don’t have this feeling of “home” I also usually feel somewhat blocked in the studio.
Here are six ways you can nurture your creativity and also find that feeling of “home” in the process…
My painting “Shattered Water” is from my “Fleeting, Flowing, Flying” Collection. Go here to view more details.
1. Ground Yourself in Your Immediate Surroundings.
Through my art, I want to encourage others to connect with themselves and their creativity by grounding themselves in the world around them. This could be through a walk in nature or an everyday routine. While we can never return to a specific time, we can find a sense of home by reconnecting with our own inner landscapes by engaging with our external surroundings. Walking is one of the ways I ground myself in my present surroundings and connect to my inner self. I have done this for years and it has been one of the main ways I find inspiration as an artist. One of my favorite quotes about walking is from Søren Kierkegaard,
Above all, do not lose your desire to walk_ every day I walk myself into a state of well being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.
“Near Garden Bridge” is a painting from my most recent collection. Click here to view more details.
2. Find A Source or Body of Water
As an artist, I create artwork that offer a sense of tranquility, evoking the calming nature of water. Water feels like home to me because I grew up near the Great Lakes. But even if you didn’t grow up near water, it is still a powerful metaphor for the constantly changing and ever-present notion of home. It teaches us to rely on change and movement to hold and ground us. It is also one of my major sources of inspiration because it is one of the ways I return to myself - whether it is a walk near water or floating in my local swimming pool. I highly recommend this book, “The Blue Mind_ The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do” by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. In it, he talks about the science behind the positive effects of water on the human psyche.
3. Immerse Yourself in Playful Creation
This idea connects to my painting process which utilizes a playful technique called stain painting. In the process, I create large pigmented pools of water and then use spray bottles and water droppers to create abstract marks. This process is unpredictable yet meditative, which also helps me to reconnect to the present moment. I started integrating this process into my creative practice after teaching early childhood art in Shanghai. My students loved painting outside on large drop cloths. They were so engaged and playful in their process and after watching them I realized I needed more play in my work. I started stain painting as a result.
A documentary series that talks more about integrating more play into your everyday life is called Abstract (Netflix). In episode 2 they interview Cas Holman who designs objects and spaces for play. I find her philosophy of finding identity through play to be incredibly inspiring. You can watch a video clip about her work here_ Watch the video.
4. Find A New Hobby or Ritual
Grounding myself in a hobby or daily ritual has helped me to recalibrate after seasons of change. These hobbies could be academic, spiritual, athletic, or personal. Mine are taking walks, reading, swimming, photography, and painting. Almost all of my hobbies help me to find a community, aid in my well-being and inspire me in the studio. Rituals are a bit different than a hobby but are just as important in helping me stay centered, they are repetitive acts that give a rhythm to my day. Such as making tea before I go to bed, foam rolling my back after work, or lighting a candle before I start painting. Here is a wonderful article from OnBeing, that digs into this topic a bit more_ “The Art of Daily Ritual_ Keeping Sane in an Insane World.”
Detail from my painting, “More Than Air, More Than Water”. Go here to get the print.
5. Honor Where You Have Been
While time may be fleeting or places we once loved may seem out of reach, we can still find a sense of belonging and connection through being present in our immediate surroundings. At the same time, to move forward, we must honor the places we’ve been and the oceans we crossed to get where we are. I like to honor these times by memorializing them in a painting or writing about them. These reflections help to nurture my creativity and connect seemingly disparate ideas and experiences together. Finding these connections is one of my favorite parts of being an artist. You can view more of my work here.
A print of my painting, “A Thousand Miles Above”. Go here to purchase.
6. Hang Up Visual Prompts to Remind You to Implement These Ideas
I like to hang up quotes, artwork, and affirmations around my home and studio to help me to remember these ideas. When I am feeling stuck they encourage me to take a walk in nature, drink a glass of water, or do some box breathing.
If you want a visual prompt to help you remember to integrate these ideas into your life, you can hang one of my prints or paintings in your home or place of work as an affirmation of groundedness amid the constant movement of life. You can shop the new collection of paintings by clicking here or shop the fine art prints by clicking here.
Feel free to message me if you would like to share your thoughts on how you find that feeling of “home” and nurture your creativity. I would love to hear from you and thank you for reading!
