Creativity from THE creator.

As a new believer I remember hearing the phrase" Creativity comes directly from our C R E A T O R " and just sitting in awe. Wow. Yes. At the time I was new to my faith and also lacking any creative outlet. Let's just say that I am not an artist in the slightest.  However, around the time the Lord called me close to himself, I found this deep passion for photography. He had quietly always shown me how beautiful the world around me was but having the tools and knowledge to do something about it always just came up empty. Slowly, week by week and month by month, He filled that creative hole with digital art. Both photography and digital design became this absolute light in my heart that I was able to not only enjoy for myself but share with others. A light that was shinning inward simply to glorify the Lord in my heart and outward for the people around me. What a JOY that is right?

The thing about putting yourself into the world creatively is that a lot of people aren't going to like what you are doing and you really have to be ok with that. I actually find the most beauty in creatives that see things completely different than I do. To me, the most stunning art is created from people the are being exactly who they are supposed to be; Not taking ideas from others , probably being inspired by others, but standing true in who they are made to be. My goodness that is just gorgeous. The more weird and quirky and unusual the better! This is the salt of the earth right?

Putting ourselves out there as creatives also opens up a door that is a little more painful- the often revolving door of imitators. I'm sure any creative human that has experienced a copy cat knows the feeling too well but it is like your soul is being ripped out a smidge and is standing on display as someone else.  Sure it is said that " Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" but anyone that has been imitated without credit would probably insert quite an extended  eye-roll emoji here. The internet has made the possibilities of copycat creatives nearly endless! Even worse are when they come from the friend right next door. The brother or sister that shares the same market, the same audience, the same circle you stand in and claims their he(art) as your own. Ouch.

When I started making athletic headbands I had to be extremely intentional about this. My headbands were inspired by a few other brands I had worn over the years, but I had to make them my own. It had to be something that worked perfectly for me and be hopeful others as well. I needed to change the sizes, switch up the fabric, pray over it, mull over design patterns day in and out before coming up with what felt like ME and no one else. When going into a photography session I spend hours thinking about the lighting, driving to new locations, checking weather, planning out interactions with different family dynamics... then HOURS editing afterward until it feels just perfect to my own style. That the creative combination between my subjects and my art fit. The past few years I have really dug into digital design. This area the Lord is definitely still growing me in but I can tell you when I did this for our ministry locally I would spend more time crafting combinations of fonts and design elements than anything else in my week. The same goes for crafting an hour long workout class! It is all the ultimate JOY to work creatively and do it in a way that comes from my own heart and no one else's.


I'm positive that anyone in a creative field or hobby can relate to this. Creativity isn't easy but it is rewarding and ultimately comes directly from our perfect creator. When we put someone else's hard work and energy out there and call it our own- it simply messes with the foundational idea of art. It's too obvious when the heart isn't behind what you are doing and truthfully it hurts the person you are stealing it from. Just don't do it. Be yourself. It's a lot cooler than anyone else.

As creatives, let's start being inspired by others instead of copying. Appreciate someone else's he(art) for what it is and take a few ideas - but stop there. Do your own work, spend your own energy, and what you create will be authentic and then flow on to inspire others to do the same. And for GOODNESS sake if you are going to completely steal an idea of another person JUST give credit where it is due. Don't claim someone else's idea as your own, copying isn't cute on anyone. In fact it makes a lot of creatives stop sharing their work publicly when it's just going to be stolen and that is a sad day for all of us. Just do you and let the Lord use what he's put in your hands not what he gave your neighbor.

Finally... off my mini internet soapbox... if you aren't creating right now DO IT. Find the space lose the excuses. Do something with your brain and heart and hands whether it's cooking, singing, drumming, dancing, making jewelry, sewing, working on cars, building computers, planning parties, WHATEVER on earth is a passion in your heart is there for a reason and your life will be better and more fulfilled if you just make some time to create. Be used to create your own brand of beauty. ( WHOA cheesefest. I'm going to bed on that one)

This is all.

XOXO
B