If anyone ever tells you that being creative is easy or gets easier, look him or her in the eye and say, “You’re a liar.” Go ahead. I give you permission because here’s the grim, true reality: being creative is hard.
Creativity constantly presses you against your limits. You want to write or paint or draw or something, but the idea in your head fails to translate itself outside your body. Or, you get something onto the screen, but it isn’t what you intended. Sometimes, the new creation comes out better than the idea; other times…other times, it comes out worse, horrendous even. You scratch out the lines, blacken the page, crumple the paper, or shove away from the computer in disgust.
Ugh. Being creative is hard.
However, that’s creativity for you. It sucks most of the time. Plus, even when the creative juices seem to flow, you encounter other hardships. You must sit in the chair, face off against the screen, or endure the cold weather and traffic to capture a sound for a song.
Oh, and let’s not forget about editing. You think your job is done once the idea becomes a reality? Think again, my friend. The hard work is only just beginning. Now you refine and shape. You ask for feedback. At times, the feedback is all praise and congratulations. Wonderful. Take your ease. At others, it demands you rework the art, if not start the process all over again.
Like I said, being creative is hard.
However, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If the work were easy, everybody would do it. If the work were easy, I’d get bored—truly. I want to learn and discover new things. I desire to struggle with ideas and concepts to figure out what I think and believe.
The same holds true with creativity. I wish to struggle with it because the fight changes, if not the work, me. It forces me to try and try again. In doing so, it keeps me humble and leads me toward new, exciting things—things like working with frames or ink this year or shadowboxes last year. It draws up challenges and expects me to meet them. I accept that reality because, while being creative is hard, it’s also the most exciting and fun place to be.
Image: lookcatalog (Creative Commons)