Seeing Beauty Everywhere
How to Be Creative Anywhere Anytime
When I say I live a creative life, what does that mean?
I choose to see many aspects of my life as part of my artistic practice, not just the time spent in my studio. If I limited my idea of artistic practice to just time in the studio, then I would be much more frustrated. But I had a perspective change when I read Edith Schaeffer in The Hidden Art of Homemaking. She talks about how a mother can make her home a place of beauty, and I took that advice to heart when I was a young wife. I work at making my home beautiful, though comfortable is a more accurate description right now. I cook beautiful meals. I arrange things in my home in pleasing ways. I see organizing as a means of bringing beauty through order to the other humans in my home.
Many women want to pursue their own things. And our culture in general views children as distractions. But as a mother, we know our children our interesting and exciting little bundles of potential. It seems wrong to also see them as frustration and distractions from the ‘real’ things we want to do. As if motherhood wasn’t real. As if a career is more important than the beloved tiny humans given generously to us by a good Father of Lights. But child-rearing also requires creativity. Rather than see kids and responsibilities as distractions from my art, I embrace all of it and roll it all into my practice.
And if by the end of all my daily efforts, I also have some energy for painting in my art journal, great! But if not, I haven't lost anything, because I have been making beautiful things all along.
You may want to interrupt here: But Sarah, isn't that giving your art the lowest priority? Leaving it till the end like that?
Nope. The real priorities of life, worshipping God and caring for my family, absolutely must come first. And I am a happier person at the end of the day, knowing the other humans in my house are content. That happiness often propels me out to my studio, and my art overflows from my contented heart. Besides, by seeing and incorporating beautiful things into my life all day long, my artistic spirit is lifted and encouraged. One can’t seperate motherhood, child-rearing and creativity.