I’m always having creative ideas, but not necessarily the energy and focus to bring them to life. I try to plan my time into manageable segments, but these can shrink or expand depending on whether it’s a good day, or a bad day. Thankfully, I don’t have many bad days, but they do exist.

Creativity is Organic

Creative ideas are like flowers. They’re organic and they don’t pay attention to the neat segments of time I’ve mapped out. Energy lapses can shrink time unexpectedly. Some ideas are tiny and inspirational, but require work to reveal. Others are shouting ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ Seemingly arriving fully formed. When I don’t have a lot of energy, sometimes I do pick the bigger, bolder ones. I tell myself that I’ll go back to the interesting, unformed ones, and I do, but sometimes they’ve bloomed and gone.

Viewed from a distance, you might think ‘Moments of Clarity Bloom Where They Must’ is about the big bright Button Everlasting Daisies in the top part of the painting. For me, much of the beauty is in the lower half of the painting. In the partly formed ideas which have not reached fruition. The Bluebells, Tea-Tree flowers and the bush tones of green, yellow, blue, violet and red. These recall moss, Sundew leaves, the changes of light over the seasons.

The possibilities excite me. The colours replenish me, reminding me of the feelings I have when I’m actually in the bush. Current research suggests being in nature is healing, and that has been my experience. If I need to feel calm, that’s where I’ll be, listening to birds, photographing plants, touching bark and leaves and breathing in the serene air.

Decisions and Sharing

Lately, with a change of medication, I’ve been thinking about art, illness and the creative process more than usual. The medication is keeping my cancer stable, but playing havoc with energy levels. With limited energy, where do I place my focus?

For me, I want to break the habit of sitting on a piece of art for too long before I let it into the wider world. So, this painting is now posted in a few different places online. The original painting is for sale by contacting me. On my RedBubble page you can see products such as art prints, including framed art prints, greeting cards, stickers, magnets, phone covers, journals, desk mats, t-shirts and more, all for sale.

100 Days of Art Challenge

I’m about to embark on a personal challenge of 100 Days of Art. If you like my style, consider following me on Instagram, Redbubble or Spoonflower, where I’ll add new work. You can find links to my profiles on my Link In Bio page.

Future Directions

Considering my energy levels, I’ve decided that some ways of selling my art are not viable. This includes art markets. Putting my art on products is something I can do from home. It means my art can be sold online, to people all over the world. I’m fortunate to live in a time where this is an option.

Question For Artists and Shoppers

For artists and online shoppers reading this, which online profiles do you use? Do you have a favourite Print On Demand company? I’m considering opening a profile on Gelato, Printify, and Art of Where, but have not done so yet. I’m really interested in your suggestions. It’s time to focus in and build the next stage of my creative life.