It might be amusing to people who know me now to hear that I never considered myself a creative person. When friends and family see the fancy birthday cake or the new jewelry or the custom picture slide show, they always say "Oh, you are very creative."
My father was an artist, he could paint and draw. The urge to create runs deep in my family, as we have many talented artists and musicians in the family. I discovered that urge as an adult and a new mother.
Sure I liked to play with art supplies, and make crafts as a child. But it wasn't until I was an adult that the urge took shape, became imperative, to really makes something with my hands. I dabbled in art, water colors, pastels, paints, and drawings. That was fun but I had no real talent for that media. I began making cakes, and got a taste of what I was craving. But it wasn't until I started on jewelry that my passion ignited.
And even with the ignition of passion, and the creation of many pieces, and the experimentation with different material I do not feel that I am a creative person. I can and do make pieces, and enjoy working projects other people have put together, but I truly long to have the vision and talent to come up with those creative projects on my own.
I have learned that the biggest obstacle to creativity is fear. The fear of failure, the fear of wasting materials, the fear of ridicule, the fear of losing passion for the art. It's hard to take the risk of thinking and working outside the box when all those fears weigh on me.
But without risk there is no reward. I'm am eager to make this a year of expanding, building, nurturing my creativity to see what I can coax out of my imagination.
Wish me luck!
