Yet some people are recognized for special creative abilities from an early age. The visual arts, music, writing, design and performance, are just a few of the disciplines that continue to transform our world daily. Creatives bring the gift of new perspectives to the world, often challenging the status quo in large ways through their works, and in even small ways through the way they dress. Some creatives, rather than challenging society, simply call the rest of us to notice things that most people take for granted. Their paintings, their music, their words, shout, “Look here! Pay attention to this! Don’t forget, people. Be mindful.”

Our sensitivity is what gives us our heightened awareness of the world around us, and enables us to interpret shared experiences in new, previously unimagined ways. It can also make us seem self-absorbed, anxious or distracted. Or even baffling. All creatives are driven to create. We may credit different sources of our drive or inspiration, or not know where it comes from, but generally we acknowledge there is a source that feeds our creativity beyond our own conscious mind. Creatives often go into a zone where, while we are creating, time seems to stop. Sometimes these moments of epiphany are few and far between, and we have to discipline ourselves to keep creating through the less inspired moments. We may become moody during these times.

This allows us to thrive, and create our best work.

We often feel misunderstood. Sometimes we don’t understand ourselves.

We may look different or even choose non-conventional lifestyles. We may mingle with others that don’t fit into neat molds as defined by society. Or we may seem very “average”…until you get to know us! Please don’t judge us.

But bring us cookies and tea once in a while as we pound out that manuscript. Text us and ask how the painting is coming.

Encourage us to get past our fears and take risks in the world.

Encourage us to bring our creative work to completion, mail it off to the publisher, post it online, or share it at an open mic night. Our work is meant to be shared but we may have a fear of taking that step.  Acts of creativity are fraught with risk and fear. What we create, after all, comes from deep within and is a direct reflection of us. Our creations are sort of like children. And like our children, at some point we have to let our creative work go and make an impact in the world. Remind us of that.

Visit an art fair, or the latest museum exhibition. Go to concerts and live performances. Go to a botanical garden or a restaurant known for its fine foodcraft. Talk with street performers. Feed your creative’s soul. You might find your own creativity awakening as well.

It may seem like our latest creation sucks. But maybe you just need to understand where your creative is coming from. Ask gently about what the painting is about, or what the poem is referring to, or how they chose to include a certain sound in their music. If you know that our latest creation is not our best work, it’s also better to challenge us with love than to dismiss it. We need constructive criticism. As long as it’s constructive. Helpfulness is good. Sugar coating is bad.

Sugar coating the truth or your confusion under a insincerely mumbled, “yeah, it’s great.” does not do your creative, or the world, a favor. We creatives should not be coddled by those who love us. Because then we get big heads, present our mediocre work to the world and get smacked down pretty quick. It’s better to love us, encourage us to do better, and remind us that our talent is to be continually developed and we can’t coast on last year’s best seller.

Promote our creative work to others. Especially invest in your highly creative children. All children are blessed with fertile imaginations and seemingly boundless creativity, but some children are also blessed with certain talents that allow them to channel their imagination more effectively. They may get accolades from teachers and even some peers early on, but they will also be met with jealousy and misunderstanding.

Perhaps your child was the best artist in the entire elementary school. Suddenly you turn around and she’s a high school junior talking about attending art school. Encourage her, and banish your fears of her graduating from art school into the job title of “Starving Artist.”

There has never been a better time to be a creative. As our society becomes more sensory-driven and globally-oriented, the opportunities for creatives are exploding, Beautiful, effective design matters. Amazing works of art matter. Powerful music will continue to speak where words cannot. Videos that tell the stories of our shared humanity matter. Our culture craves creative expression, and our technology provides ways to express our creativity in ways that were unheard of only 20 years ago. What young artists need nowadays to tap into that creative world is not just the gift of their talent, but knowledge of how to promote themselves and their art, network with others, and seek opportunity.

 

Connie Kottman has been creating art since she was a small child. She loves to sketch, paint and create digital art on her iPad. Her calling is to encourage and equip Christian creatives to live into their faith and art. Her upcoming blog, praiseandcreate.com (launching in December) will serve as a resource for this equipping. She serves on her church’s tech team as a graphics producer. Her professional field is promotional communication in higher education.