A History of My Creative Practice (and advice for finding *your* medium)
I’ve been a creative person all of my life, though I never quite thought of myself as someone who could create something out of nothing. In fact, when I was younger, I thought of myself as exactly the opposite - someone who couldn’t create something out of nothing. I thought I was creative, but only in a way that I could technically execute what someone else had already done.
Weave together friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread or cross-stitch an ornament? Of course, with instructions and a pattern. Knit? As long as it was just some rows of straight stitches for a scarf. Draw? I first learned to draw by tracing cartoon characters at my grandfather’s drafting table. Later, I’d dabble in charcoal portraits, and they’d turn out ok with a grid and photo reference.
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charcoal portrait of my brother, 2007 or 2008
I could letter someone else’s lyrics or quotes, and often did, with ballpoint pens in every color or calligraphy dip pens from the craft store. I played the flute, but followed someone else’s sheet music. I wrote the occasional poem, but some of my favorite ones came from magnetic words that I’d stitched together. In college, I took an oil painting class that focused on representational painting of still life from observation. My paintings were terrible. I’m not just saying that - truly terrible. I enjoyed the class because I enjoyed painting, but the subject matter was not for me. We had flexibility in our final project and I felt compelled to paint something abstract. I attempted an abstract dancer- It was terrible. But, I hadn’t learned anything about abstract painting, yet, so I’ll give myself some grace.
As I got into my twenties and went out into the “real world” with my first full-time job, I didn’t spend much time focusing on any creative practice in particular. I took up photography in 2012, with my first DSLR - I’d been snapping away with my point and shoot cameras for years, but without any intention or outcome in mind. I took calligraphy lessons so I could address my wedding invitations, and started using watercolors, first as ink, and then to paint small motifs to design stationery. One thing led to another and I learned to digitize my artwork and calligraphy, then to create art digitally. I picked up line drawing, especially florals and botanicals - but still struggled to create without some type of reference.
wedding invitation suite for a styled shoot, 2018
When my son was born in 2019, it was harder to do calligraphy because I didn’t have a lot of uninterrupted time, and it required a lot of patience. I started taking my photography more seriously and took my first few classes (thank you, Click Photo School and Click Community*!) I fell in love with taking my camera on walks with my son in his stroller - I took macro pictures of every tiny flower I could find, and that morphed into everything from landscapes and wildlife and astrophotography, still life and self-portraits and documentary photos of my son. I photographed what I observed in the moment. Yes, I learned from other photographers, but suddenly I was doing more than recreating a reference. I was capturing the world how I saw it. (And I was intent on getting my photography skills to a professional level and worked for 3 years on my portfolio to become a Click Pro Photographer).
portfolio photos 2020-2021
In 2020 I started a 365 project, originally to take a photo everyday, but after I took my first abstract acrylic painting class in 2021 (more on that below), it morphed into a project where I created something every day. As my son has gotten older and more active, it became more difficult to take my camera with us, and more stressful for me to try, butnI still love to take myself out on photo dates - especially sunrises or sunsets on Cape Cod, or conceptual self-portraits (I can’t recommend this class enough. It resulted in my Nancy Drew inspired self-portrait).
Abstract seascape and self-portrait photos, 2023
In 2021, as mentioned, I took my first abstract acrylic painting class, with via Creatively Wild Art Studio based in Brooklyn, via zoom. I knew right away that I had found my medium. I had missed painting, but it didn’t feel practical for me to try oils again, due to the solvents needed and long drying time, plus a toddler in the house. Acrylic dries quickly, and that turned out to be exactly what I needed so that I would paint quickly without thinking too much. Overthinking is my downfall. In all things, but especially in art.
“Liberation”, 2021
Since 2021, I’ve taken probably a dozen art courses, including a 12-week intensive Creative Visionary Program with Nick Wilton. (I’ll do another separate post that is more specifically about my approach to painting and that program, because there is just so much to say about how it totally transformed my art practice). I’ve also taken courses in surface pattern design, increased my knowledge of both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and turned my line drawings and painting motifs into patterns for products. I started writing again more seriously, and took my first (of many) courses with Beth Kempton. I’ve done courses in astrology, manifestation, energy work, creative entrepreneurship, wholesale, art licensing, book writing, song writing, mural painting, passion projects... If it’s somewhat creative, I’ve probably tried it :)
Painting turned pattern on a scarf, 2022
So, my advice on how to find your medium: Try everything. I’ve always joked that my hobby is having hobbies. Follow the breadcrumbs of what interests you. You never know where they will take you, or how one thing will build upon another. You’ll make bad art before you make good art. That’s ok. Do it because you enjoy it, not because it needs to turn into something. I knew when I found my medium because it felt natural - like I’d discovered a piece of myself that I didn’t know was missing. When you find yours, you’ll know. In the wise words of Rumi, which I wrote in calligraphy ~2017 and still have sitting on my bookshelf today: “let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray”.
*This is an affiliate link for a Click Community membership. I am a lifetime member and have found this to be an incredibly valuable resource in improving my photography. The Click Photo School link is not an affiliate link, and I have taken probably a dozen of their courses and even am enrolled in one coming up this month - so I am truly recommending them because I use them!
