Creative Encouragement...

The writing below is a loose interpretation of something encouraging I wrote and shared recently in a private group I'm in.

I have changed quite a few things to ensure it does not give any clues as to the identity of the group, it's participants or the projects.

I have also changed the content a bit to make it more generally relevant but, at the risk of sounding self-important, I feel it is still very relevant for current times and that it could encourage one, some or all of you.

I would just like to try to encourage some of you (or all of you if you need encouragement too).

I keep seeing that some people are getting upset, frustrated, flabbergasted, overwhelmed that you aren't keeping up with current online projects, or you feel as though you aren't good enough within your creative endeavors, or you don't like your artwork whether completed or not.

There are many possible scenarios in this situation but my primary focus is to encourage you in your creative endeavors, whatever they may be.

Whatever you are trying to create or do - please don't be disheartened.

Please try to remember that there are so very many of us humans, with very different experiences, very different levels of knowledge, very different degrees of skill and in very different life stages.

Some of us have had many years of experience in sewing, using a sewing machine, hand stitching, embroidering, using fabric and thread.

Some of us have never picked up a needle and thread or used a sewing machine and that's OK.

We're just different.

Some of us have had years of painting experience, whether in watercolour, acrylic, oils, ink, or whatever.

Some of us have never picked up a brush or painted in any way and that's OK.

We're all different.

Some of us have all of the tools, materials, the latest gadgets, paints, sewing machines, threads, papers, etc.

Some of us use what we have and upcycle, anything we can get our hands on and that's OK.

We don't need ALL of the things, we just need to think outside the box, be creative and use what we have.

But it's also great to have all the things too.

Some of us work full time, run a household, and have children and/or grandchildren to care for.

Some of us are retired, live on our own (or with our puppers/cats/birds, etc.) and can do what we want when we want.

That's OK. We're all in different life stages.

Some of us are quite ill and can only do very small amounts of creative practice each week - if any and that's OK.

Maybe an online course/group (or social media platform) is what's holding us together and that's OK too.

Please try not to compare your work to others or the stage you're at with your progress. We are all here to learn and support each other.

Please don't ever feel as though you aren't good enough to create or your work isn't up to scratch - it is and you are!

For those of you who say that you didn't like your work, your painting, or your stitching or something you've created, please try something for me before you decide to toss it or destroy it (as some of you have said you have done).

Please just put it aside for a day or two, maybe even a week or two, then come back and look at it with fresh eyes. More often than not, you'll gain a fresh appreciation for your work and realise it isn't what you first thought it was. It often develops into something beautiful or you can see the potential for it to become something beautiful.

I'll give you a recent example. I decided from the beginning of an online art course I am doing, that I wanted to use a painted fabric or at least a fabric that looked like it was painted. I don't have a scanner, I can't afford to have my work printed onto fabric (as much as I would LOVE to) and as I'm impatient, I decided to just paint my fabrics instead. This also helps me to use what I have instead of buying more supplies and materials that I don't really need and could potentially end up in landfill. The first fabric I painted was garbage, or so I first thought. (I ended up painting another piece in completely different colours to create my fabric) It was dark, moody and muddy and not at all what I was wanting. I thought it looked like I had used a piece of fabric to mop up my spilled dirty paint water.

But..... I've learned and am learning still to be patient.

I let it dry naturally, ironed it and put it away for a couple of weeks.

When I got it back out last week, it looked completely different and I could suddenly see so much potential in this muddy, messy piece of fabric, so I started stitching on it.

The stitches I've ended up doing are not at all what I had set out to do, but sometimes the fabric just tells us what it wants. I never intended to stitch circles, but I'm happy with how they came out and, all in all, my muddy, moody, crappy, painted, spilled water piece isn't too bad after all. (I was taught this put-it-away-and-look-at-it-with-fresh-eyes technique by someone years ago and have used it many times since with great success).

This is now what will become a journal cover and although some of you have seen it already, I'll add a photo so you know what I'm talking about. (see above).

So please don't lose heart.

Don't place too much pressure on yourself.

Be here to have fun, to learn, to grow and to be part of a great community, a creative and kind community.

Please don't be hard on yourself if you are prone to do so.

I am often hard on myself and have been over an entire lifetime, but I am learning to let go, to loosen up, to not sweat the small stuff, to breathe, to pause and to chill.

For me, these are not things that come naturally, and are things (life skills) I have had to learn and practice over the years but they are worth it - even learning to tell myself that my work is good, that it is worthy and so am I.

And you are too.

Let me know in the comments if this resonates with you or let me know when you put a piece aside and come back to it later with fresh eyes, realising that it really is good.