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I am often asked by students why can some people whip up a masterpiece with just a few strokes while others struggle to draw a decent stick figure? Quite often this is also the response I get at a U Create Sip and Paint class…..guests will start the night by saying
“Good luck with me….I don’t have an artistic bone in my body”
The truth is, it lies not in our bones, the BIG secret to unlocking your creative genius lies in your brain—specifically, the left side of your brain. You don’t need to be born with talent, people like me can help you with that….but you do need a brain and luckily we all have one of those! So, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the colourful world of art, creativity, and the brain. And yes, there will be a bit of the usual Bess sass, humour and ramble…. lots of it.
The brain: well, it’s a tale of two halves
First things first, let’s understand the basics your brain is your superpower, like a dynamic duo and in charge of your wellbeing. We’ve got the left brain (Mr. L), this side is what we tend to use every day, our strategic thinking, analytical, decision-making side. Then there’s the right-side (Mr. R), this is where I mostly hang out! – responsible for our intuition, spatial awareness, CREATIVITY and our inner wild child.
Now, most people believe that creativity is all about the right brain. But I’m going to challenge that thought…. hold on to your paintbrushes, because I think the left brain plays a crucial role too, which means all your nerds, IT wizards, accountants and scientists have no excuse you can be creative too. Let me explain how art can support your wellbeing whether you believe you are left brain or right brain dominant...truth is we need it all.
Mr. L - the unsung hero
Imagine trying to bake a cake without a recipe. Sure, you might end up with something edible, but it’s probably going to taste like a science experiment gone wrong. This is where your left-brain or, Mr. L steps in. He’s the details guy, planner, the organiser, the one that says,
“Hey, maybe we should measure the flour before we dump it all in.”
(FYI……My mum taught me to cook by ‘eye’ and I never measure…. I know you aren’t surprised!!)
BUT we do need the help of our Mr. L so even if you are like me – you need to say Hi to it, make friends and lean on it because it can help your art. The left brain will help you to plan your compositions, understand proportions, and organise your creative thoughts. It’s the Ying to your creative Yang and ensures your artistic visions don’t turn into a chaotic mess.
Inspiration can strike in the strangest of places
Now, let’s talk about inspiration. Ever had an idea pop into your head while you were doing something completely unrelated, like taking a shower or walking the dog? That’s your right brain Mr. R at work, spontaneous, colourful, creative, exciting and a little edgy. So, Mr. R and Mr. L then need to get together and ‘have a chat over coffee’, your creative thoughts and wacky ideas need organising and processing and that’s where the left brain helps old mate ‘right brain’ to make sense from the ideas and information you’ve gathered throughout the day and connect the dots in new and unexpected ways.
There you go – The secret is out you have just unlocked your creative genius without even going to art school.
I thought I would share a good example of how I use Mr. L & Mr. R. How I tamed the creative beast of my mind to help drive my business.
I once got the inspiration for my kid’s afterschool art club whilst waiting in line at the supermarket. The sight of all the colourful fruits and veggies in my trolley, mixed with the smell of the freshly baked breads sparked an idea for the term: “Why not create a term focussed on Food?” And just like that, “Funky Food” was born and the following weeks the kids were making Tacos from cardboard, Cheeseburgers from clay and designing their own food trucks”
Creativity: IS the ultimate brain workout
We are all striving to improve the balance in our lives, to ensure we nurture our bodies, focussing on health and wellness. So often we forget our mind, our brain and yet it is the engine room for our whole self. Mental health is not just important it is essential and engaging in creative activities is like giving your brain a FULL workout. There is an assumption that Art is for those born with “artistic talent’ which is just nonsense. Art is for everyone and using your creativity is something we all need to do. Whether you are painting, drawing, or even doodling on the edge of your meeting notes, you’re not just passing time—you’re strengthening neural connections across both sides of your brain and boosting your brain function. It’s like going to the gym, but for your mind (and way more fun than doing burpees).
Art and Wellness: IS a match made in heaven
My mantra as some of you know is – “I am not an art therapist, but Art is my therapy”
Have you ever noticed how good you feel after spending some time creating something? Whether it’s painting a landscape or knitting a scarf, baking a sour dough bread, creativity has this magical ability to reduce stress, improve mood, and even alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. It’s like therapy, but with more colours and less talking about ‘PROBLEMS’. Therapy is defined as a treatment to relieve or heal a disorder. So, Art Therapy has the connotation of a tool used by clinicians to fix a patient using creative expression to interpret emotions.
I know, you are asking why is this relevant to you if you don’t have an existing mental health problem? It’s simple, by engaging in creative arts you are exercising prevention, promoting self-love and personal care. Exercising both sides of your brain regularly, will stimulate the neurons creating a firework of activity and keep our minds healthy, balanced and functioning at its optimum.
Go on embrace your inner Picasso
So, how can you tap into this creative power? It’s simple: start creating! Don’t worry about being perfect. Remember, even Picasso had to start somewhere (have you seen some of his early work? Yikes). Grab a sketchbook, some paints, or even just a pencil and start doodling on. Let your Mr. L help you structure your ideas while Mr. R adds the individual flair with a touch of crazy. Together, they make a pretty awesome team. In conclusion, art and creativity are not just for the “naturally talented”, Art is for everyone. Yes, including you who believes you can’t even colour within the lines …. in fact, especially for you!
By engaging both sides of our brains, especially the often-overlooked left side, we unlock a world of inspiration, innovation, and lots of fun. So go ahead, unleash your inner artist. Thanks for reading my 1st Blog post there will be many more to come so please subscribe to my newsletter, follow my socials…. you know the drill and I will slide into your DM’s from time to time with my chatty chat on all things arty. If you fancy having a creative go with a bit of support, you are in the right place, I’ve got your back and I would love to invite you to my FREE ‘Art for ME’ course. You don’t need anything to do the course, just something to draw on and something to draw. You’ll have me guiding you ever step of the way with a few laughs and a handful of stories. So pop in your email address and then wait for the course to drop into your inbox after U Create Art Online launches on Oct 1st.
Happy creating! 🎨🖌️
Love Bess.
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