My Creative Life: One Year Ago...

[Dan Goodwin]

CCS launched just under a year ago, so where were you a year ago compared to where you are now?

It's easy to overlook our progress and just how much we create, because we live with ourselves day in and day out.

So this is your chance to reflect on the last year, how you've evolved as an artist, and what you've created. Share your experiences with us below...

[WildCherry]

If you go to my CCS profile page and scroll down to find the music player, you will find Marrakesh Night by Loreena McKennitt, Barb.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Thanks, Wild Cherry ~ very pretty :)

[June Walker]

I feel more at ease with my painting process now. I feel its moving along somewhere. Perhaps more personal and more to the state I felt when I painted in my teens (a million years ago)...when I enjoyed making pictures and felt confident about the whole thing. I am getting back to that feeling of joy.

[DJ]

June, as one of your fans, this is good news to me.
I appreciate your comments on "getting back to that feeling of joy" and am enjoying the results of your process immensely.
I pray you'll continue finding joy during your creative journey and inspire the rest of us to do the same.
Love & Laughter,
~DJ

[Dan Goodwin]

It's interesting that choice of words - "getting back to..." as I think we all know what it feels like to be happily creating even if we can't remember actually being in that state, we just know somehow, and we're drawn to return to it...

Keep it coming June, sounds like you're in a wonderful flow right now...

Dan

[Clare/Paddy]

Hello!

I'm brand new here and, funnily enough, a year ago is around the time I started writing again.

For me it was my dad getting ill that was the spur to get back into it. I've always wanted to write, but found it an increasing struggle to balance everything - I do everything to excess, so I'm told, and with a son and a husband (both with fairly serious medical problems) a house and a job I kind of pushed my desire to write aside.

I suppose I was suddenly made aware of my own mortality; my dad was only 64 and, having the strange brain connections that I do, it equated to the possibility of me being half-way through my own life and the fact that I didn't want to go out without giving it my all.

My dad was always someone who followed his desires, he never really settled in any one job and was incredibly creative; painting, stained-glass work, bit of a comedian (handy as he spent a lot of time being a publican, and a first-rate one at that), rennovating houses... For a while I thought maybe he could have really made a go of it as an artist and had pushed that aside, but now I realise he had a lot of strings to his bow, and possibly tying himself to any one would have detracted from his enjoyment.

So, just over a year on, I am writing regularly, I have new friends, new interests, I've started a novel, a collaborational project complete with website. I was right about the spectacular lack of balance I have managed to accomplish by throwing myself into this, but I hope that I'll be able to work it out as time goes on.

I think of creativity as a gift from my dad, to bring something positive out of a terrible time.

[Alfredo]

Hi Clare,

Welcome to CCS and welcome back to creating! It is interesting what life cycles happen to us to get us back to our creative center, one we may have left behind. And when we come full circle, back to creating, we are in a completely new place.

[DJ]

We're glad you're here to share your experiences, Clare.
There is a wonderful writer's group here at CCS, if you are interested...The Writer's Clique...Everyone is supportive and friendly.
Alfredo is right; it's always interesting to begin again...
Love & Laughter,
DJ

[WildCherry]

A big furry welcome to CCS Clare:-)

Awareness of one's own mortality is so often a spur to get down to the things that we say we'll do 'one day'. Its a lovely tribute to your Dad that you connect your released creativity with him. Its as if you have formed a continuum with him although he isn't physically around any more.

[June Walker]

Welcome Clare. Its so good to carry on your gift of creativity from your dad!