The Creative Flow
When The Feeling Comes Over Me, It's A Gift.
It Doesn't Mean That It's Art, But It Is A True Expression Of The Self.
I often describe myself as "possessed" when sharing my passion for photography. But what does this mean? For me, there are times when an overwhelming gnawing feeling takes over both my body and my mind - telling me there is a need for something to be expressed. This is my experience of The Creative Flow.
One of my strongest experiences of this flow state has come through creating my Betrayal Series (showcased above). When this project began, I was doing everything in my power to make sure my kids were healthy and stable, but this left me brewing with raw emotion that needed an outlet. At that time, I was working with a mentor to improve my art, and he shared the following creative exercises: use your camera upon waking up, going to bed, in between activities...without gatekeeping. Through repeating this exercise for several months, I learned to lean into my photography as therapy and not judge any frame.
I made these pinhole photographs in 2019, but they have never been shown before. I remember looking at the larger portrait and thinking "who would want to see this 'raw' version of my emotionally distraught and aging self?"
But now with passage of time, I look at the portraits differently. I often don't feel connected to the woman captured in these frames. Yes these are self-portraits, but I feel that they go beyond myself. This is a perfect example of not judging oneself or one's art at the height of Creativity, but instead leaning into your creative energy even without the intention of ever showing the work. Sometimes all we need is years not looking to finally see what we've created.
Tools for finding your Creative Flow:
Tap into your awareness when you feel any urge to create
Take initiative in some form as immediately as possible (whatever means of documentation that is accessible to you - clay, camera, painting, writing, tearing up paper, video...)
Stay objective and non-judgmental as your emotional state is fully realized
The Creative Flow is easy to ignore, there is a discipline to learning how to act upon it