Being creative. What does that mean? Is the definition the same for everyone? Are some forms of creativity more creative than others. With all of my writing you would have thought I would be very confident in my creative abilities. So I expect it might surprise you to know that I sometimes struggle with the concept of creativity.
As creating is the first element of CANBACE perhaps this is something that I should explore.
In the film Pretty woman Edward Lewis explains to Vivian what he does for a living. Basically, he’s an asset striper: he buys struggling companies, strips them down into smaller components and then sells the individual bits for more than he bought the whole company. Vivian’s reaction to this is “so you don’t actually build anything.” Part of Edward’s transformation is that he wants to improve the next company he buys to protect it from other would-be asset strippers.
#1 Pretty Woman fan
I’ve loved Pretty Women from the moment I first watched it. At one time I could quote practically the whole film. As for Vivian’s confusion and Edward’s transformation I can completely relate. I write and yet I don’t feel that I create anything. Not in the way my sister does. She was a brilliant artist at school and has gone on to design and make silver jewellery. Her creations are tangible.
When I was 12 I started “big school”. Because of the age difference my sister had left the school just before I started. During the first week we went to our first lessons for each subject. I was really looking forward to my art class because I had discovered my teacher for the year was Mr Best. He’d been my sister’s teacher for several years and I had met him on a number of occasions. He was wonderful. Off all the teachers at the school Mr Best was the only one my sister talked about positively. He really inspired her, and I couldn’t wait to be in his class even though I was not as talented as my sister.
The time of my first art lesson arrived and my excitement was bubbling over. I sat patiently for my name to be called on the register. When he got to my name Mr Best said “Ah Nicci. Great to see you here. I’m looking forward to teaching you this year. Your sister has produced some excellent work over the years and I am really looking forward to seeing your talents develop too.”
Lovely, supportive and personal.
I wasn’t simply a number or new student whose name Mr Best needed to learn. I was already NICCI!
Yet my heart sank. I was going to disappoint the teacher I already adored. You see when I wrote earlier that I am not as talented as my sister what I actually mean that I cannot draw or paint for toffee.
I never fulfilled the expectation that Mr Best had that very first lesson. Yet, being a great teacher, he never showed his disappointment. He was the first person to explain that there are many different ways to be creative and if painting or drawing wasn’t where my talents lay that was absolutely fine. He gave me encouragement. Praised me for my efforts and never did anything to undermine my confidence in my abilities. 38 years later and I still adore Mr Best.
Building on the life lessons that Mr Best taught me I began to realise that my sister paints pictures in the traditional way. Whilst I paint pictures with words. It took me a long time to realise that this was as creative an art form as the others. It was something that I excelled at and something that my sister struggled with. So that helped the healthy and loving sisterly rivalry that we have always enjoyed.
You can read some of my poetry here.
If you would like to read one of my short stories, get yourself a drink, find a comfortable chair and enjoy a bit of downtime as you read it here.
And yet …
There is still a part of me that thinks whilst I am creative I don’t actually CREATE anything.
Over the years I have dabbled. Paint brushes and water colours have been bought, unpacked and then ignored. Modelling clay and oils joined their ranks. The challenge became harder after I badly dislocated three fingers of my right hand about ten years ago. I really should no better than to play “piggy in the middle” with Andrew, Mischief and a rugby ball. The stiffness in my fingers is a constant reminder of my stupidity that summer afternoon.
Of course, I am right handed. SOOOOO right handed in fact that I can hardly do ANYTHING with my left hand. Even brushing my hair is a struggle. Andrew, who can swap between using his right and left hand, finds this rather amusing. Especially when I am acting as builder’s mate and a twist and turn around several times until I can use my right hand. Actually, by this stage amusement has usually turned to frustration: “Stop faffing and get on with it Nicci!”
Despite all this I have persevered in an attempt to find something physically creative that I can do with my limited finger dexterity.
The solution I discovered was origami
The paper folding is gentle enough not to aggravate the inflammation AND it also helps to improve my range of movement. So, a win-win situation there.
Over time I’ve become rather expert at making origami roses, lilies and poinsettias. My creations have been used to decorate clocks, mirrors, and candlestick. I’ve even graduated to creating my own flower designs: admittedly usually from mistakes that turned a recognisable rose into a new, previously unseen flower.
All of this pleases me
As I grow older I am finding balance in my definition of being creative. I have always celebrated and valued my written creativity and now I have a chance to acknowledge and celebrate a creative side that I often forget that I possess. That makes me one very happy Canbace Flamingo.
Talking of flamingos and embracing the other side of my creativity …
I’ve found some YouTube video demonstrating how to make an origami flamingo.
I’ve found my paper and I’m about to give it a go. Regardless of the results I will share a photo when I have finished.
Be kind to yourself …
In CANBACE friendship!
If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about. If you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website, please let me know. I will keep your words private.
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