THREE WAYS TO INVEST IN YOUR CREATIVITY.
It seems a little strange to think about creativity as something to invest in. Investing is something you do when you want to profit as a result in the future, right? And not all of us make art with the intention of making money from it. Well, not all profit is financial. When we're serious about living a wholehearted and intentional life of creativity, investing - whether that's our time and energy into a new skill or project; or in seeking external support and accountability; or even trying out some new tools or materials - can be a game changer for our mindset.
It sends a signal to the universe, and more importantly to ourselves, that we are committed to our art. It helps us start taking it seriously, builds confidence, and can be hugely beneficial in helping us develop and hone skills.
Investing is a way of making a kind of promise to ourselves. It gives us the means, and crucially the motive, to show up and keep showing up. It gives us the push to grow into the artists we're meant to be.
It doesn't have to be only money you invest, either. There are plenty of ways to make that promise to ourselves and our creativity:
Time.
Putting in those hours really adds up. The regular, consistent practising of a skill is one of the best ways to improve. Whether it's sketching or painting or writing, the more time you can spend actually inside your craft, honing your process, the better you'll get.
Taking the time to recharge is another investment you can make in this area. Creativity is a well that must be taken care of and refilled in order to keep flowing with ease and joy. Here, investment could look like regular time spent reading, engaging with other artists work in galleries or museums, or just taking a short walk outside to gather inspiration.
Knowledge.
Lots of creative skills can be self taught, and that driven, experimental way of learning can be very liberating and empowering. But sometimes we need a little extra guidance, here, investing in external education can help us build confidence in new-to-us areas, and gain proficiency with more advanced techniques or tools. Sources of creative education can be found anywhere from in-person workshops, online courses, or programmes on platforms like Skillshare.
Alternatively, investing in supplies and experimenting with new materials can be a great way to broaden your craft. Trying new things and learning with a different medium can really help to refresh a creative practise, especially if you've been feeling a little bit stuck or blocked.
Support.
Maybe you're ready to take a step up with your art and need a little external support. You might consider investing in something that could help you start pitching your work - like an editing service, or something that could help you start selling or simply sharing your work - such as professional photography or a more advanced website.
Investing in support might mean looking for someone who can support you one-on-one, like a coach or mentor. Here, you'll have direct access to someone who can really root for you and provide you with the accountability, structure and guidance to really grow as an artist.
If this is something that sounds like it could make a big difference to you as you navigate a more creative path, take a look at my mentoring programme to see if we'd be a good fit, or email me to chat about how I can support you one-to-one.
Ultimately, when it comes to deciding how to invest in your creativity, it all depends on what you're looking for and what you're prepared to put in to get there. By identifying some of your goals, ambitions and dreams, you should be able to get an idea of what kind of investment would suit you best at this stage in your journey. Start small, keep it consistent and keep a note of the results - even just by tracking mood and confidence through journaling.
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