One thing I hear constantly is: “I just don’t have time to be creative.”
And I completely understand that. Life fills up very efficiently all on its own. Work, family, responsibilities, the mysterious disappearance of entire afternoons to email. It happens.
But here’s what I’ve noticed after years of painting, writing, running businesses, and generally trying to live a creative life in the real world:
You don’t usually find time for creativity. You notice opportunities for it. That might sound subtle but really it changes everything.
Why? Because creativity rarely arrives as a perfectly scheduled two-hour block where the light is flattering, your desk is tidy, and inspiration is patiently waiting. (If that’s happening for you regularly, please write a book. We all need it!)
More often, it shows up kind of sideways.
It’s the colour combination you suddenly notice while walking past a shop window. Or a phrase someone says that sticks in your head. (This happens to me A LOT). It could even be a texture or a mood you want to hold onto a little longer.
That’s usually how paintings begin for me. Out in the world, sometimes when I absolutely should be concentrating on something else.
And here’s the interesting part: once you start noticing, creativity becomes less about effort and more about permission. Specifically, permission to be curious. Permission to go down that rabbit hole, even when it isn’t “productive”.
This is actually one of the reasons I believe so strongly in living creatively, not just making art. The mindset changes how you experience everything. Suddenly a random Tuesday can feel a bit richer. Slightly less autopilot.
When I’m painting, I’m often thinking about that experience rather than just the subject. How colour or composition makes you feel. I want the finished piece to carry some of that energy into the space it ends up living in.
Because the best feedback I ever get from collectors isn’t “this matches perfectly” (although interior harmony is always welcome!). It’s when someone says the artwork makes them stop – or notice things more. Or feel a little calmer, or happier, or simply more present in their own home.
That’s when I get excited. If you’d like to explore my latest pieces, you can see them here.
And whether you’re collecting art, making art, writing, gardening, cooking, or just trying to inject a bit more colour into everyday life, my gentle encouragement this week is simply this:
Don’t wait for creative time to appear. Notice where it already exists. It’s usually closer than you think. And occasionally hiding in plain sight!