Tag: paint

Creativity

Did you know that you were actually designed to be creative?

I hear way too many people saying things like,

“I’m not creative.”
“I can’t draw”
“I can’t dance.”
“I can’t paint.”
“I can’t write.”

Every time I hear words like that spoken out, I wince and my heart hurts because I used to say those things, too.

The saddest part was that, inside, I was desperate to express myself in creative ways. I figured that because my creativity didn’t look perfect or even really, what I deemed to be acceptable that I couldn’t consider myself creative. Not like other people were.

For my entire childhood, teen years and into adulthood, I grappled with this inner desire to express myself creatively; and this feeling that I wasn’t good enough to even try.

That feeling of inferiority kept me from living as my true, authentic self.

I WAS CREATED TO CREATE.

WE ALL ARE!

We are created in the image of God and HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL.

His divine nature as a creative being bringing beauty into the world, creating something from nothing gives us all, the right and even the responsibility to create what we can to also bring beauty into our world.

If you feel a desire to paint, then paint.
If written or spoken word stirs you, then let the words flow.
If you desire to dance or flag, go for it.


Whatever creative outlet your heart desires, just do it.
Practise.
Don’t discount the desire.

Very few people have natural talent and ability but that doesn’t disqualify you from being creative.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 has an encouragement to move forward with all your might. It’s an encouragement to not hold back but to GO FOR IT. Psalm 33:3 has an exhortation that when you play an instrument that you would do it skilfully. Some people are blessed with an incredible natural talent but for so many of us – excellence and skill takes practise.

Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts wobble a little.

Think about a baby. When babies first start walking, they stumble, fall and wobble quite a bit but when they take those first shaky steps we excitedly say, “You’re walking.”

Can they do it well? Nope! Will they continue to stumble and fall. YUP!

But we speak into being what we know will happen with practise.

So if you want to write and you practise writing, You are a writer.
If you want to dance and you practice dancing, You are a dancer.
If you want to draw and you practise drawing, You are an artist.
If you want to take pictures and you practise photography, you are a photographer.

Speak it out.
Embrace your creative nature.
Practise creativity regularly and
Share the beauty that you are creating.

Now more than ever, we need beauty in the world and you, as a creative being, have a part to play in adding beauty to our lives and the world.

So the next time that lie comes to you telling you that you can’t create, that you’re not creative; STOP and declare the wonder of who you were created to be.

  • I am a creative being.
  • I am created in the image of my Father
  • I create beauty to share with the world.
  • I have permission to play and create in ways that are unique to who the Father made me to be.
  • I embrace creativity as part of my God given nature.
  • I am creative.

September Art Challenge

I’m SO excited to get back into a routine.

Honestly, I needed the laidback chaos of the summer but I’m definitely craving routine and schedule.

I’m looking forward to drawing and painting regularly and have worked with Jon to come up with an art prompt list for September.

Here is a link to a 8.5×11 page that you can print, if you prefer a paper copy.

September Prompts.pdfDownload

You can join us every day or just some days.

You can draw or paint or sculpt or write or dance.

You can use the prompts for inspiration or do your own thing.

I believe we were created to create; so whether you are an artist or just like to make beautiful messes. Go for it. Create wildly and with abandon. And share your creativity with us.

Tag us on Facebook or Instagram or use the hashtag #xangelleartchallenge so we can see your creativity and celebrate you and the beauty you bring to the world.

Community & Connection

There is only 3 days until the start of the next Art Challenge and I do hope you join us. It’s such an incredible and soul filling experience to purposefully engage your creativity for 30 days.

One thing that’s so valuable as we start this journey is COMMUNITY. It’s amazing to join in with others who are expressing their creativity; to be encouraged and inspired by them. You are also part of the encouraging and inspiring process for others. It’s this incredible loop that cycles around and fills your soul. So if you don’t already follow my Facebook Page, click on the link below and follow me.

XANGELLE

I’m going to send you there right now to follow or like or whatever it is that you do to join and see posts because that is where we will be sharing our daily art and creativity. Each day there will be a post with the Day and Prompt. We will be sharing our art in the comments of each day’s post.

That way we can all see who is playing along with us in this Art Challenge . It’s a great way to collect the art for each day and we can encourage each other as we go along. Think of it as a virtual gallery. I’m excited to see what you create.

So if you haven’t already, go give my page a follow. I’m so excited to start this art challenge and to see where our creativity leads us.

Sharing Your (he)Art can be Scary

I think one reason that doing art and especially sharing art is hard is that it’s a piece of you. You are essentially “creating a piece from yourself” and if you expose it or share – the hope, the wish, the prayer is that people will be kind. That they will see something good. That they will accept and love and value the pieces of yourself that you put out there.

And that’s hard. Because not everyone will see or accept you. Sometimes we feel like it’s easier to protect or hide those parts of ourselves. To not expose or (even safer) to not even create.

But we lose out on something incredible when we stifle or repress the creative parts of ourselves that long to be expressed and seen.

It feels easier to deny our creative longings than it does to express them. But vulnerability is critical for both artistic and personal transformation.

But ironically, it’s when artists are courageous enough to tap into their vulnerability, they also tap into the healing power of art for themselves and the people who view their art.

Incredible Article Here

I’m on an artistic journey. I’m on a personal healing and transformative journey. I’m on a vulnerable journey; and if you are interested in walking along side of me. I welcome you. There is no judgement here. You will be seen and there is space for you.

Our Art Challenge starts on September 1 and goes for 30 days. We’d love to have you join us in whatever way you can. I’ll be here in all my glory and chaos. The mess and the wonder is invited to just be present.

You don’t need anything special. Paper and pen or pencil works but I would suggest some kind of a sketch pad, just so you have a journal of your journey.

Did you see my silly birds reel? I’d love to see your silly bird if you draw one (or a few)

Create With Me!

I thought it might be fun to have a practise round before we get going, so that you have an idea of how this process works.

Starting with the prompt “Flower” create something and either tag me on Instagram ( @pattic ) or post it in the comments of this post on Facebook.

You can draw, paint, write a poem, a song, take a photograph, sculpt, do whatever you want. But create your interpretation of the word flower and share it with us.

The word is just a prompt so create what that prompt sparks inside of you. It could be a flower, it could be multiple flowers, it could be a bouquet, or a field. It could be a flower dress or a flower tie or flower sunglasses. It’s up to you. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want. I’ll probably take about 5 mins to draw and paint mine.

I can’t wait to see what you create.

I’ll post mine as soon as I do it. Happy creating!

Everyone is Creative

This might sound controversial but I completely and wholeheartedly believe that every person is creative.

Not me, you say! I don’t have a creative bone in my body.

I don’t believe it.

We are all creative. Some of us believe it, more than others. Some of practise more than others. Some of us are fantastic at drawing; others are incredible at problem solving. Some of us see the world in a unique way. There are those can create pictures with words and others who can make people feel safe, loved and accepted with their actions.

If you look up the definition of create, it is to bring something into existence or to cause something to happen as a result of one’s actions. We create all day every day and we don’t even realize it.

Can you imagine how amazing it would be to create beauty on purpose?

This 30 day Art Challenge is to inspire you to create beauty and fun for a month, on purpose. To practise creativity in an encouraging, non-stressful way. A practise is just doing something regularly in a habitual way.

We provide the theme. You put out the effort. There’s no judgement allowed. Especially self judgment. We just do it. We just create. Some days will be amazing. Other days might be challenging but the goal is to be intentional and purposeful about releasing creative energy on a daily basis.

We’d love to have you join us.