Creativity is a Process

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Creativity is a Process.

And this project even though only days old is teaching me that! I’m normally the organised, methodical at times, committed (still committed but in a different way – I’ll explain later) type of person but I’ve realised that having a plan with some flexibility is key to allowing our creativity to flow better.

My recent trip to Australia also taught me about the journey and how the journey is the goal. I’ve known this for a long time, but to again experience this for three weeks and to constantly be questioning my own path while on this journey – was confirmation for me that I need to value the creative process more.

Really value it.

And this challenges me because I’m a perfectionist. But everything that I post has to be some kind of finished something. And if it’s half finished or a “process” image of something half finished, it takes a while for me to want to put it out there.

Posting these images instead of my nature images is challenging! Because my nature images are what connects with people. And I’m not sure if these images will connect, but I told myself I wanted to do something challenging, and here it is. And of course the image is a gathering of more tools, more conversations and more thoughts that I am processing in this moment.

A Procrastinating Artist

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Procrastinating. Delaying the inevitable, putting off what needs to be done now by filling that space with a distraction of some sorts. Sometimes that distraction is chocolate. Fear is usually the culprit. What to do about it? Just take action! Take the next step, which then takes you to the next step and the next step. If there is one thing that Nike got right it was their slogan – just do it.

Resistance

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Tired. Feeling vulnerable, uncomfortable, challenged.
Choosing a creative task that would challenge me.

It was so easy to stick with familiar and easy. But I’ve realized the “pile of stuff” is all part of the plan to take me back to my childhood love of making things. A bit of a side step from sharing my journey as an artist, but actually it’s not… stick with me here…

Memories of knitting and crocheting and making baskets from cane – plaiting and weaving bits and pieces, tactile…

So the fact that I thoughtlessly grabbed all this stuff to create, was ‘intentional intuition” I’m calling it – tuning in to my inner child again – going back to the joy of making… and the messages that these “things” have in this moment.

There are so many layers to this creation.

Memories of chocolate in a lunchbox = love, yellow and red, sunshine, moonlight.
Not every paperclip is the same – why did I not know that?
Painting is: therapeutic and slows down the nervous system.
Glow in the dark paint is awesome – probably not so much for the environment though.
We should all tap in to our creativity – we are creative beings, we all have it.
Red = Papa = woman = blood = creativity = chocolate = sacred.
Hue seeds = beauty and unfolding of nature, my whānau unit is an altar.

Realising my resistance that Steven Pressfield writes about so “directly” in The War of Art. You must read it – it’s a gem of a book for artists. For everyone actually. It will set you straight.

Today we supported Reremoana at NZ Fashion Week – she showcased her beautiful collection at Miromoda – so elegant, emerging, fresh, beautifully made layered garments, we are so proud.

Having watched her over these last few months on her journey has reminded me of my art, my starting point as an artist. Doing what I love, how scary, vulnerable and yet so rewarding it can be. But I realised today that that fear still resides in there somewhere side by side with the triumphs and the successes and even 20+ years down the track I still feel vulnerable, exposed, frustrated.

But you learn through time that perfection can lead to some pretty unsightly states so don’t even aim there, go for a slightly less than perfect, or just do – you will still hit your mark.

The more experience you have the more confident you become.

So go and experience the world.

Relationships are everything, keep them, nurture them by treating people with love and respect – always.

We are all on a journey, we have all experienced something at some time in our lives that has shaped us.

Many of us struggle to navigate life on a daily basis, it is not just you in this world, other people struggle too – have compassion.

You learn that you have to just get it out there anyway, because your heart wants you to. It matters what other people think, but it actually doesn’t.

Passion before profit always, in that order.

And today I learnt again, energy is contagious – a stressed energy will spread easily – Auckland is so not for me.

So as I place things, layer upon layer I realize that each (earth) represents a layer that I am removing and this pile of things is a metaphor for the stuff that I’m carrying that is now ready to let go. There is no need to create anything – it’s all there – already.

Sometimes we feel like we have to hold it all together all the time. Well I’m falling apart and accepting that this is ok, that I can’t be the on time, on to it person all the time and I have the most expectation of myself than anyone else. Just let it go and do!

And letting go of the need to hold it all together is letting go of the resistance.

Winging It

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Sitting here going through paperwork, creating systems of filing and looking at papers from seven years ago thinking, gosh I was really winging it back then!

I really had no idea what I was doing as an artist who was earning a living through my creative pursuits. All I knew was that I needed to do this, to follow my passion and persevere. But I really was winging it!

I was learning as I went, I’m still learning 11 years later but I now have 11 years of experience and knowledge to draw on.

But I think this is part of the journey. I love what Seth Godin says about shipping and putting your art out there.

Taking action by creating and then sharing it with the world. Because if we wait until we are ready or until we believe that we “can” or until the work is perfect, then we constantly put it off and won’t do it at all.

Of course this is fear playing it’s game, but when we take action even when we have fear, this helps us get through that resistance and get through to the other side! Which often is right there, one step away!

So take ACTION! NOW! Whatever you’ve been meaning to start – DO IT NOW! Whether it’s writing a book, starting a new painting, finishing an old one, committing to a new body of work or buying tools that you need to begin creating. Go and DO IT NOW. And everyday you wake up, do it again and again and again.

Judge Not – Someone Loves You

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When I was creating a series of mandala, my least favourite mandala was the one that most people resonated with. Interesting huh.

As artists we are the most critical of our works. Yes there will be people who don’t like what you do, but there will be those who absolutely love what you do. Those are the ones that you need to connect with.

And how do you connect with these people?

First things first, you must do what you love because you love to do it! Many artists, especially those who are establishing themselves as full time artists, at some point realise that being in business as an artist requires a constant flow of cash. I know that when I first started as an artist, I was full of passion, but then reality set in and all of a sudden I was creating to make money out of necessity. I was meeting the demand of the market rather than creating what I loved to create and finding those who loved it too.

This approach can become soul destroying.

So continue to create what you love and connect with people who love it. They will tell you if they love your art! The wonderful thing about social media is that you can connect with many many people around the world. Possibilities are endless. All you need to do is be on that platform to connect with others. And share (for free) your art with the world.

Of course this is not the end of it. It requires more than that, but this is a good place to start. You need to be out there sharing your art with the world because being a closet artist creating amazing masterpieces does not serve anyone, including you!

So here is the action:

Start creating art that you love to create.

Share that art with the world in as many places as possible, or with just one person if you are more comfortable with that.

Keep creating and keep on sharing!

And here is an extra tip:

Don’t overthink all of this. Just do! Because when we give our mind the space to think, it can take us over and we end up doing NOTHING. And we don’t want that to happen.

Keep on keeping on!

Love Jo x

Perfectionism

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I am the queen of perfectionism.

Everything HAS to be perfect or I don’t put it out there!

I’ve learnt, if you aim for everything to be perfect, nothing is ever good enough and no one gets to see anything!

And like a lot of things, it all comes back to not being good enough.

I love what Brene’ Brown says about children in her TED talk about shame. When they come into this world, we try to make them into these perfect human beings and yet, we should be allowing them to stuff up every step of the way and come into this world knowing that they are perfect just the way they are.

And recently I listened to Mary-Lou Stephens in her Tedx Talk at Noosa 2014. What she says about toddlers is also true. Whenever they come up against something, and learn something new, they take a pause and stay in that moment of wonder. It is only when parents or caregivers come along and make a fuss about whether they might fall over or damage something that they learn about drama and start screaming too.

So what is my point?

For many of us, this sounds familiar. Somewhere along the way, the joy of stuffing up and making mistakes was no longer an option so we continued to try to make things perfect, and now that we’re adults, nothing is ever good enough. Is this ringing true for you?

Let go of the perfectionism and allow yourself to stumble and fall and get up and fall and get up again. Allow yourself this rhythm to find yourself into your own truth and authenticity.

Because it is in this stumbling that we find our way and the courage to express who we are in all our vulnerability and humanity.

This for me is the true expression of art, the art that connects and brings about change in the world.

A TIP from TAP (The Artist’s Playbook):

So how do you kick perfectionism to the curb? Because really, it is a bit of a pain in the butt. Take it from me and those of you who are perfectionists will know what I mean. It is a nuisance.

I remember when I was doing my 365 rock a day project in 2011, it took me FIVE times to push that button before I allowed my first post on Jan 1st to fly out into cyber-sphere! Five times! I pushed post, then delete, post, delete, post, delete, five times before I let it fly – forever.

And it is still out there, STILL getting attention four years later.

This is why I want you to just do it. Just put your art out there and take the risk of being judged, because you will be judged. Take the risk of not being good enough, because in someone else’s eyes your work will not be good enough – for them. But don’t let it be through your eyes. Take the risk now, for continued long term success later. And even in that moment, when you decide to share, I tell you, that first response to your sharing will be the most awesome-ist feeling! Trust me.

And keep putting your work out there. But don’t wait until it is your absolute best work because people want to see your process too. They want to know how you got to your finished product and the stories that go with that. They want to hear about your triumphs and your failures. They want to know that you are a real person with real stories that reflect who you are as a person and who you are as an artist.

This is what connects with people. This is what will draw people in to your work. And yes, there will be people who won’t like what you do, but that’s ok. Put your work in front of those who LOVE what you do and stay connected to them.

The journey will be challenging but persistence and a deep desire to do what you love will drive you forward to continue to do what you love and to share this with others.

And I’m not saying that your perfectionism will suddenly disappear overnight but the more you put yourself out there, the more confident you will become because those people who love what you do will be encouraging you to continue.

So what can you do right now in this moment?

If you are on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus – however you connect with people, create one post that shares your work. Whether it is a finished product or a work in progress – share it! Write some words, take an image of your work, then share it! Do it NOW!

Let me know how you get on in the comments below. Would love to hear your feedback and please share a link to what you have been creating!

And keep creating!

Jo 🙂

Just Get Started

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One of the biggest challenge to doing anything is taking that first step.

And that first step can be the most scariest thing!

So many times I’ve put off things, created a mountain out of a molehill so that I didn’t have to take that first step. It’s like we put every obstacle in the way of us achieving what we want to achieve. And most of these things are the things that we have a passion and purpose for, a sure sign that we should be doing it!

So how do we get over this?

Just get started! That’s right, just get started! The Nike saying “Just Do It” is perfect at highlighting this. Take Action NOW.

So what are some of the things I do to just get started?

I’m someone who has a million ideas and so my mind at times can be stretched all over the place. But I find if I have a morning ritual, go for a walk, meditate, eat breakfast then get into my projects for the day, that generally sets me right.

I am very clear about what my purpose and vision is. This is my guiding light that keeps me on task, on track to complete the things I need to complete.

I also find that when I am really stuck and it’s difficult to get anything done (and it does happen), I just go and do something, anything. Often being in the garden works because it gets me grounded again (just like meditation), and doing menial tasks like washing dishes or folding washing.

Movement and action is key and sometimes all it takes is to just move and do something. And this usually sets me off again to complete the things I need to do. I think that is why exercise is so good because actually physically moving your body gets everything else moving and clears the pathway to put things into action.

I also love the ideas of James Clear. Take a look at his website, he is very succinct in his writing, easy to understand and his tips and tools are fantastic. He has a scientific take on creating habits and has lots of free information over at his website.

And one other thing I find really helps, especially with my busy mind (other than meditation) is to listen to awesome podcasts with my earplugs in. I find this really keeps me focused on what I need to do. It keeps me in that energy of getting things done because I am being inspired by the stories of others to keep on the path to where I want to go.

So those are a few tips to help you get started again. I would love to know how you get started on something, please let me a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

Arohanui,

Jo x

Clarity of Vision

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Talking to my mentor today was such a blessing.

She helped me clarify why I am on this journey not only as an artist but to help other artists reach their potential as artists. She hit the nail bang, smack in the middle on the head!

So why have I created The Artist’s Playbook?

1. I have so much I want to share with others. I am an artist who has walked this road for nine years and now I want to share my experience with others.

2. To help artists CREATE an INCOME doing what they LOVE. That is the mission! I want artist’s to know that it is all worth it. That we as artists have a purpose in this world and whether it is to be creating for the joy of creating, or whether it is to bring joy and meaning to someone else’s life, to heal self or others, or to earn an income so that we can do the things we want to do.

Art has a special place and purpose in this life and I want every artist to know that. I want to instill in artists the belief that it is possible to create and earn a decent income AND touch the lives of others. YES, it is challenging and hard work, but it is definitely possible.

3. And thirdly, I want to heal the global belief that you can’t earn a living as an artist. I want art and artists to be valued. I want to bring about change in the world and I do believe it begins with artists.

Are you ready?

The Art of Procrastination

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I like the sound of that.

It makes me feel like procrastination is an art form or something like that, it makes me feel better.

But the truth of the matter is, procrastination – it is that one thing we put off that we know we should do, because most times there is one thing, one step, one second even between procrastination and achieving something mammoth. I really believe that.

So why do we put off that one step that will ultimately take us to achieving something amazing?

We self sabotage. Limiting beliefs. I’m not good enough. All of these things. They have such a strong hold on us that they can actually stop us from achieving anything. Hōha – which in my language is, just absolutely fed up with the whole thing! To be honest!

And we could get into all sorts of things about perfectionism, wanting it to be just right but at the end of the day, they all lead back to “not good enough”.

So how do we sort this out? I’ve been asking myself this question for a while and I haven’t been able to find one thing that helps me take that next step. I want a step by step something. Something that says, do this, this and this and then I go and do it and then it fixes it. All better. Not so simple.

But what I’ve found helps is awareness in the moment. When I find myself taking the self sabotage route, I catch myself in the moment, I’m aware and I go and do that thing that is difficult because that thing is really just a next step and if we think about what is to come next after that, then we would be doing it all the time right? Yes and no – so do that, take that next step and see what happens. And keep taking that next step and the next one and the next one! And see what happens.

Success is right there, in the next moment, just take that step (tweet this).

The Power of Connection

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Two hard case fallas called in today and dropped some wood off from the Coast.

First words were: “Where you from?”

“I’m from the West Coast”

“Oh I thought you were one of those Ngatis from up the Coast”

Haha – I had to laugh, instant repoir and connection.

It is something that is innately part of us, to make those connections to one another, to find that space where we can share conversations and understand one another, even if we have just met.

As an artist, this is important because if you are not connecting with your audience, then what you are creating is not going to resonate with them. So if we look to those things that are already a part of us, such as acknowledging the mana or intrinsic connection within another person then we are off to a good start.

I’ve built my art career around connection. It is what the armpits that hold up the house so to speak. Without those connections I cannot survive, not just financially but as a human being. We as human beings all need connection to survive.

Fear

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It has been 20 years since I first embarked on this journey as an artist and if there is anything that can get in the way of progress FEAR can!

And even now, I still experience Fear of being judged, fear of being criticised, fear of not being good enough. At the end of the day that is what it all comes down to – feelings of not being good enough.

So as an artist, how do we conquer this Fear?

Well, over the years I’ve had to face the music and just DO! Just get out there, look fear in the face and JUST DO IT. When I was in my teens one of my favourite quotes I learnt was “feel the fear and do it anyway”. And this has stuck with me today. I’ve had so many opportunities over the years to face my fear and I can say that each step I took, each time I looked fear in the face, it helped me just that little bit more to deal with fear.

And I have had a bit of help along the way with different healing journeys which have all contributed to my letting go of this thing we call FEAR.

It is amazing how much it can have a grip on us, how hard it can be to let go, but each moment we let go and get up in front of that crowd, or put ourselves out there we move one step towards being FEARLESS.