Practising Creativity As An Adult
Words by Alice Brown (she/her)
Pablo Picasso once said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
It’s time to be artistic again. For some, that might mean signing up to that life drawing class; for others, buying an infamous adult colouring book. But for all, you can read this art issue of Salient.
Kia ora, my name is Alice Brown and I am Salient’s Designer. This week Janhavi was kind enough to let me co-edit our Art Issue which is all about reclaiming creativity through visual art.
As children, we are fiercely encouraged to draw, both at home and in school. But as we emerge into adulthood, our artistic capabilities are left behind. In an area plagued by productivity and perfectionism, visual arts are not prioritised. Not only is art an act of rebellion and self expression, but it’s generally great for you.
Research proves creativity is great for the brain. Engaging in creative activities enriches people’s psychological states, improving quality of life and wellbeing. Being artistic and exercising your creativity also manages stress levels, soothes the body, and releases dopamine.
But we are far too quick to judge our own art. Being creative isn’t about making something worthy of selling on Etsy, it’s about feeling good and relieving stress. Making creative decisions and relaxing into it is far more important than producing a product or tangible outcome. Contrary to popular belief, artistic capability isn’t something we are born with, it’s a learnt skill. I sure as hell didn’t come out of the womb with the ability to illustrate for Salient. There are still times when my art looks shit after over 20 years of practice, so it’s expected yours will too.
Creativity isn’t something you have to experience alone. It can be a great tool for socialising and meeting new people. There are plenty of creative events that can be found easily on the Facebook events tab. Sign yourself up to a paint and sip night, or take your hot Tinder date to the art gallery.
Although this issue is focused on visual arts, there are many different ways to tap into your creativity. Try checking out a local gig, arranging flowers you find on the roadside, dancing, completing a Salient sudoku (see page 40), or jotting down a poem or two between classes.
A note for neurodiverse individuals:
Using creative tools is even more beneficial for our active mines. It only takes a quick google to find endless studies concluding that the act of creativity is great for our inhibitory control; the ability to control our behaviour, emotions, and cognitions in order to adapt to our natural and social environment. One study (Whitea & Shahb, 2006), found that people with ADHD out-performed neurotypical people in this area. So enjoy this win.
In our features: Lauren delves into the romance and drama behind some of the world's most famous surrealists, Zoe investigates tattoo culture in Pōneke, Maia interviews a local art collective, and I give you the rundown on zines.
Jump on in and reclaim your creativity.