MusingsWithTime

Being ‘creative’ is not a word I would typically describe myself with. Growing up, I believed that creativity was an innate trait – you were either born with it or not. I considered myself to be in the latter category as I couldn’t draw or paint even if my life depended on it.  In Nigeria, where I was raised, I didn’t feel that creativity was encouraged; the arts were often dismissed as frivolous pursuits reserved for those who weren’t academically inclined. Consequently, creativity was rarely nurtured in Nigerian schools during my upbringing, leaving only the inherently talented children to develop their artistic skills further.

However, in recent years, I began to challenge the mindset that I adopted regarding creativity as an innate trait. I approached this topic from a biblical perspective as a Christian, believing in a creative God and the teachings of the Bible, which state that we were created in God’s image. I naturally concluded that if God is creative and I’m made in His likeness, it stands to reason that I possess some of that creativity within me. With this newfound perspective, I decided to put my logic to the test. Being a passionate book lover, my first approach was to seek out books to support my theory. I purchased and read several books including Think Like an Artist: . . . and Lead a More Creative, Productive Life by Will Gompertz and Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon. Both books reinforced the belief that creativity could be cultivated, beginning with a shift in mindset about being an artist or a creative individual. I also learnt that nothing truly creative is entirely original in the real sense of the word, which had previously been a limiting belief for me. I had doubted my ability to contribute any original creative ideas to the world.

The pandemic gave me much-needed time to do this exploration of my creative side. I decided to approach creativity with a growth mindset and to challenge my beliefs around creativity like a scientist – through experimentation. I began with gardening – growing and nurturing plants such as tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers. Watching the seeds germinate felt miraculous. I also ventured into learning to draw and paint, starting with watercolours before moving to acrylics as I quickly discovered that watercolours are less forgiving of mistakes. I took photographs of sunrises, sunsets and flowers on my morning and evening walks around the neighbourhood. I created a website on WordPress and began blogging. Not only did I surprise myself, but more importantly, I disproved my previous beliefs about my creative abilities. I realised that I am creative, and I can be creative. It was a profound revelation for me.

I am not perfect in any of these creative endeavours. I still have a long way to go before I can confidently describe myself as green-fingered, and I still rely on painting tutorials while painting. My website can only be described as a work in progress. However, I am not striving for perfection – my goal was always to embrace creativity, to imbibe God’s image as a creator and to see myself through His eyes. To that end, I believe I have been successful.