There’s a common misconception that creativity is only an artistic pursuit, which is wrong. Throughout my career as a teacher of art, I regularly had to correct people who would state that they weren’t creative. We are all creative. Whenever we create something new, or novel that hasn’t existed before; we are creating. When we put a new outfit together for a special occasion, when we decorate our homes, when we concoct a new recipe, when we plan a journey, humans cannot help being creative. It is built into the very fibre of our being, and it isn’t dependent on artistic ability. 

However, I am artistic. Creating new things is both a pastime and a career for me. It is easy enough to do it, but to do it well is another matter; to become successful and recognised is something again. Working hard is mandatory. We all do that. Those that become successful have either had a leg up, they are in the right area, or they have successfully navigated their way through the barriers that creatives must overcome. Rarely is it simply because they are outstandingly brilliant, but it can happen. An artist must spend 10% making art and 90% selling it. It takes long hours promoting, flogging, selling, persuading. To get an agent, that is the dream. Many successful artists only became so because someone believed in them and did all that legwork. Van Gogh only became famous when, after he had died, his sister-in-law devoted her life to selling his collection. 

Creativity is, more often than not, an anxious process. We compare ourselves to others and judge ourselves against those we think are better than us. Even the most successful artists endure this. This is the struggle of creating. This is the reality. It is difficult, but also bloody brilliant, and I’m blessed to be able to do it.