From Theorist To Artist: Why You Need A Lot Less “How To” And More “Just Do”

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How many more articles do you think you need to read about various types of creative block before you’re ready to actually get down to creating?

Maybe, another 10 on procrastination, a handful on perfectionism, a couple on finding more time, and one each on getting focused and finding your voice?

Would you then be ready to create?

Or maybe you should read another half dozen on giving yourself permission, three or four on overcoming the negative talk of your inner critic, and another two on organising your creative space?

Would you be ready then?

Even if you did read all these articles, and even ten times as many, you wouldn’t actually be in a very different place to where you are now, if you didn’t do one simple thing.

Create.

We can abosorb all the knowledge of the great thinkers and teachers of creativity, and the artists themselves, from dawn until dusk, every day for the rest of our lives. We’d certainly amount a mass of knowledge and become a virtual walking encyclopedia of creativity techniques.

But again, if we just sit there letting the theory sink in and don’t ever act upon it, what good does it do us?

Do you want to be a big fat book on legs, or an active, inspired artist?

The truth is, you need far less “How To” and a great deal more “Just Do”.

The idea that there is some secret key out there that once you find it will magically unlock your creativity and you’ll flow with artistic abundance happily ever after is just a myth.

There’s no single one-size-suits-all approach and method that’s going to work for everyone.

The only way you’re going to even start to realise the potential of your inner creativity – the only way you’re going to be able to give life to all those wonderful ideas simmering away inside you – is to show up regularly in the best way you know how and give them the opportunity to be heard.

The plan is simple. Show up, create, experiment, explore.

Give all you can, lose yourself, immerse yourself.

Make a mess, mould a masterpiece, learn about the subtle details, delicious quirks and intricate rhythms of the artist within you.

Then, tomorrow, show up and do the same again.

Cultivating a regular daily practice of actually showing up and creating is the only way you will ever progress your talents, your ideas and you ambitions in creating.

Do you want to be just a theorist for the rest of your life, studying the creativity of others and all the possible techniques and approaches that you think might just work for you?

Or do you actually want to make stuff? Do you actually want to give form to your ideas and produce artwork you’re proud of, artwork that inspires others to create too?

Stop looking for the perfect tools, materials, approaches and theories.

You already have them within you, all the knowledge you need.

What’s lacking is not more information. What’s lacking is simply the application of what you know and what you have.

Put your career as an art theorist on hold. Lose the theory part and become simply an artist.

Show up, create, experiment, explore, learn, repeat. Become the artist that’s already in you.

Give us all a chance to see the wonders within you.

It’s what you’re here for.

 

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