Unlocking Creativity

Why creativity needs practice not talent

Creativity is not a talent. When we step away from it, be it from a lack of time, fear of comparison or judgment, we unlearn how to be creative. Part of the work is understanding what got in the way. For some of us it was a teacher who said we were not talented. For others it was simply life getting busy. Naming that is often the first step back.

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Art-making is also a tool for self-discovery. Losing touch with creativity is often a loss of a part of identity. Reconnecting with it is not just about making things. It is about remembering who you are outside of your roles and responsibilities.

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The good news is that research shows creativity can be recovered when we engage in process-based making with no fixed outcomes. When we give ourselves permission to play with different art materials we activate the default mode network (DMN), the part of the brain associated with imagination, daydreaming and making unexpected connections. This is the same network that goes quiet when we are stressed or overstimulated. Making art wakes it back up.

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What we explore together

Each session opens with a grounding practice and a short reflection, then moves into making. The pace is yours and nothing needs to be finished.

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We work our way through a range of materials: watercolour, tempera sticks, crayons, collage, clay and recycled materials. With each one we slow down and notice. What does this medium feel like? Where does it take you? Does it open something up or does it close down?

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Short evidence-based reflections along the way help make sense of what you are noticing. Different materials activate different parts of the brain and knowing that helps you choose what you need, not just today but long after the series ends.

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We close with a mixed media self portrait that reflects your creative self, combining the materials that felt most alive to you.

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What you take with you

A clearer sense of your creative self and what that means to you. An understanding of which materials and techniques put you into a state of creative flow, so you can return to them whenever you need to. A mixed media self portrait that reflects your creative journey through the series, something personal and made entirely by you.

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This series might be for you if

• You are looking to reconnect with your creativity

• You enjoy making and trying new things

• You were creative in the past or are not sure where to start

• You have always wanted to try art-making but never gave yourself permission

• You are looking for a space to make alongside others
   

No previous art experience is needed. You just need to be curious.

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Format & Booking

This workshop can be booked as a single 90-minute to 2-hour session, or as a deeper series of 3 or 6 sessions, 90 minutes each.

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In-person sessions include all materials. Online sessions require a small set of basic supplies that participants bring themselves. A materials list is sent ahead of time.

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This series is available to organizations, community partners and individuals. If you would like to bring this to your community or team, or join an upcoming individual session, I would love to hear from you.

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