Shock jock, Howard Stern enchanted me with a recent interview of funny man, Jim Carrey, whom I like ahh lot. The interview got really interesting when then they both started talking about their passion for painting and sculpting. Did you know Jim Carrey and Howard Stern both loved painting? I didn’t! I felt an instant kinship.
Quickly, my excitement and fascination turned into Creator’s Envy. How is it possible that these busy celebrities have time to paint—and I don’t?
I believe that everyone is capable of creative expression—and I’m typically excited when anyone touts the joys of creating art. This twinge of jealously was a wakeup call; I wasn’t being true to my own passion for art.
How was it possible, though? I had just wrapped up 8 months of intense design projects! Why was I not feeling the balance of creative joy?
Anna Wray, author of “Handmade Graphics,” had a good answer for me. She wrote, “Computers have a tendency to remove elements of chance, materiality, and texture. The happy accidents that come with experimentation are lost and risk-taking is removed, resulting in images that are highly polished and homogenized. With the digital aesthetic becoming the norm, could it simply be that creatives are growing tired of staring at screens?”
Yes, I believe that is exactly what I am experiencing. I want to paint, illustrate and create things by hand. Of course, I wouldn’t abandon my precious Mac, but I can (and should!) utilize both in harmony.
By the end of the interview, Jim Carrey had admitted he was so obsessed with painting, he took five years off to devote to it. While most of us probably can’t take 5 years off, we can make a commitment and schedule time in our days to step away from our computers and follow our passions.
The holiday season is the perfect time to incorporate handmade artwork into your work. Last year, I experimented with wood burning and used the technique on holiday gift tags for my clients.
Since the interview, I’ve been taking chunks of time each week to create with my hands. My jealousy is gone, and my creativity is boosted overall!
How do you make time for your creative passions?