Whose Creative?

A few days ago, I was talking with a friend and during our conversation she said that she “was not creative.” I was stunned by her comment because she’s a master natural hair stylist. She can take an afro and turn it into a beautiful array of patterned cornrows and knots. But her specialty is locs; creating gorgeous crowns on top of heads. When you leave her chair, your head is tilted a little higher. So for her to say that she wasn’t creative had me thinking. Oh I forgot to mention, she also has a unique style and wears accessories in creative ways. Why would she say she wasn’t creative when she literally takes a head of hair and turns it into a work of art? Why do we tell that to ourselves? As a matter of fact, I’ve heard it so many times from different people.

I myself, for most of my life believed this notion. Basically because I couldn’t draw. Looking back, I remember some of my art classes in elementary school but I did not take any art classes in high school or college. Also, my mother was naturally artistic so I didn’t think I had it in me. 

While on this creative journey, I have learned that all human beings are creative. It is a part of our birthright and we use it instinctively throughout our lives. Let’s look at the word create. It comes from the Latin word creatus which means “to bring into being.” Here is another tense of the same word, creare to “make, bring forth, produce, procreate, beget, cause.” 

It doesn’t say it has to be artistic, pretty, bold or eccentric. It just means to bring forth. Those little doodles on the side of your notebook, you are being creative. Going into the kitchen and whipping up a meal your way, you are being creative. Digging into the yard and planting flowers; you are being creative. Finding a way to fix that thingy, you are being creative. 

Art is a different story and I think many of us just haven’t found our outlet. And because that notion of not being creative was planted when you were little, you brushed off the thought of trying something artistic. Because you automatically assume you are going to be bad at it. Creativity mixed with curiosity is the cornerstone of an artistic practice. I have taken pottery classes and various jewelry making classes. I wasn’t afraid to try something new. The reason I started making jewelry is I was interested in it and took a class and enjoyed it. The next time someone tells me that they aren’t creative. I hope to gently remind them that they are and ask them if there ever has been something they are curious about? And offer a suggestion to explore their curiosity and look at it as time to play.

What creative endeavor would you try?