artist life | Annie Mason 3/3

Watching the many web pages, platforms, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, and other internet places where artists share their creativity is fascinating. When the pandemic hit in early March 2020, I experienced mixed emotions: What will I do? How will this affect my family and me? Whoa...I'll have much more time in my studio.

As the weeks went on, however, I would go into my art studio and find that I would wander around, pick up brushes, find something needing to be moved around, and end up doing nothing. The rest of the day was spent caring for family needs. I often check into Facebook groups (mostly art-related), especially when a notification catches my attention. Two Facebook groups that I belong to, All Animal Watercolors and Women Artists & their Art

I found it fascinating that so many were experiencing a lack of motivation or inspiration, which I was feeling.

Not much had changed. Start and stop. My creative juices were dried up like rotten tomatoes.

Soon, I let whatever was going to happen happen. Personal family issues had taken a lot of attention, and I knew this was another factor in my lack of inspiration and creative momentum.

Where does creativity come from? Why?

Sometimes, it comes from the natural progression of events: Over the last several years, I have set aside the illustrations I did for a book authored by Dr. Bertice Berry. I know how swamped she is...and I am very patient. We both share a "right time, right place" mentality. So this book is going to happen. Why not get it back on its course? I was unhappy with some of the pages...and over the years, I had honed my painting skills, and my confidence had grown. I went through and revised all 24 pages of illustrations to my satisfaction. This book is back on track and will be a real success.

My dearest friend called upon me to paint the canvas seat on a Director's chair for her grandson. I {sighed} because I worried the course canvas fabric and watercolor would not work on this project. I would be using acrylics (not my favorite choice). The design that my friend wanted was a "baseball theme" to match his bedroom décor. I love baseball (Go, Nats!), so this was good.

It turned out that doing something with paint that is not the norm and having the joy of making this for my dearest friend (who lost her husband not long ago) brought "creativity" back into my heart.

Is that where it lies?

CREATE. "Keep Creating Like No One's

Watching."

Creativity is fluid. It sits just below the skin. It simmers and perks while not brewed before its time.

It's spontaneous and cognitive, deliberate yet emotional, and, most of all, unexpected and unanticipated.

Why? Why not? We are all creative in many ways. Maybe no one's watching, or maybe someone is watching over us.

Addendum:

Flash forward to 2024. I have a new art studio in our new home. It's a pleasure to be on the ground level and not have to navigate two flights of stairs. My bones say, "Thank you."

I still question CREATIVITY. It's elusive, to be sure. Maybe that's the goal of every artist. The desire to forge new routes and make free and unique associations between ideas, concepts, emotions, memories, symbols, imaginative forms, objects, and words that can be developed into the most fulfilling and original artworks.

Since the original post from 2019, my portfolio has jumped to over 300 works. My style has changed. See A change of pace and style.

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.