We are so thrilled to have our family from overseas visiting with us this week. Our son-in-law brought us a gorgeous vase made by hand from a solid piece of Korean oak. His sister, Jung Im, took three months to fashion it, and modeled it on a vase from the Choson Dynasty.
Although Jung Im is not a writer, her care and craft made me think of how writers are creative in many ways. Not only do writers write, but many play music, draw, paint, sew, or practice other endeavors.
I crochet blankets, although poorly. My family just has to say, “Oh, look. This is warm and made with love.” But I could never sell my crochet work at an arts fair. I am much more talented with embroidery and crewel work, though, and have given pillowcases, tablecloths, and pictures to friends and family. I don’t engage much in these hobbies now, but I’m still creative. Next week I’ll tell you how.
Your turn:
What creative endeavors do you enjoy other than writing?
Are your characters artistic?
Has your creativity outside of writing inspired your work?
I love photography (although only for family members and FB). I also enjoy singing. I was a worship leader for 17 years. Doing other creative things helps fill my creative tank when I am running on empty in regard to writing.
Tamela, I love working on home projects – finding ways to be more organized or efficient. This may not sound creative, but I have a small home, so I really have to think outside the box. More recently, I am learning to play guitar. My husband plays and we sing in church together.
As for my characters, I am currently working on a series about talented women. There’s a painter, clothing designer, and doctor in my stories.
That’s gorgeous! I used to teach high school art, so that helped when I wrote a character who was an artist. She saw things differently than others did: texture, balance, contrast, etc. Personally, I love drawing portraits, cross-stitch, and painting.
What a beautiful vase.
Photography is my other artistic endeavor.
I used to play the saxophone and piano. Now I only play the piano when my granddaughters are visiting. I love music though and usually include a character with musical talent in my stories.
Tamela – gorgeous vase! I enjoy gardening and playing handbells. Both are creative endeavors, but are so different from writing. They rejuvenate my mind.
I love being creative, writing and otherwise. I cross-stitch baby blankets, Christmas stockings, tree skirt, and pictures. I enjoy baking and decorating cakes. It is a wonderful release when I’m not writing.
Kelly, I enjoying baking too! That is one of my favorite creative outlets, and I agree, whole-heartedly, about it being a release. And it’s quite a delicious one 😉 Trying a new cookie or cake recipe and then taking the time to tweak and perfect it…. ah, the happiness! There is something satisfying about the challenge of it all. Oh, and my family totally appreciates the outlet too. I mean how could they not. Treats all around!
As for cake decorating, I have ZERO talent, and I give you props because my sister-in-law is gifted in it and it looks really hard. Which is why I appreciate looking at it. Oh great, I’m craving snickererdoodle’s right now.
And I use baking therapy to dream about various scenarios with my characters and plot. It really is quite a yummy break that helps gets the writing mojo going. I’m so getting my cookies on today.
I played accoustic guitar in coffee houses in the ’70s and early ’80s. Really fun. Still play for church and for fun.
I probably have too many other creative pursuits. Photography, needlework, and in recent years, interior decorating and jewelry-making. When my children were young, I made all their Sunday clothes. So…if I’m not careful, writing is overshadowed by other forms of creativity.
I feel sorry for people who have no creative outlet. When you have a hobby or a craft there’s never an excuse to be bored.
My first crafting love is counted cross-stitch. The more intricate, the better! Huge fan of Mirabilia–especially her mermaids, Chatelaine, and a ton of other designers.
Second is crochet and knitting. I crochet lace, and love the pineapple motif. For knitting I’ll do anything, but I learned specifically so I could knit socks. I do it with five needles and I love seeing the look on people’s faces.
And yes, some of my characters are crafty! The hero in my upcoming indie release paints with watercolors and never goes anywhere without a sketchbook.
In my youngster days I played some piano and taught myself guitar. Haven’t played either in a billion years.
My voice became my “instrument” and performed in college and later in adult choirs.
Lately my “creative outlet” has been teaching the Bible in chronological order for nearly nine years. It took eight to finish the history of Israel…from Judges to Malachi. Another six months to traverse the “400 Silent Years” between Malachi and Matthew. Currently on a journey through the life of Christ.
Steve, you made me smile. When people ask what I play (instrument), I tell them, I play my voice. 🙂
Steve
Wow. That is quite an achievement. Learning the bible in chronological order is a challenge because it is not written as such. I read the bible from book to book and then did the chronological plan offered by bible gateway. I recently graduated from college at 53 – the 2nd oldest in the graduating class at the University of CT. I am now pursuing a master’s degree in comparative literature with a focus on Hebrew, in lieu of a degree in Systematic Theology. I always feel smart enough to know how dumb I am – meaning learning is a continuous process. But awesome way to witness and fulfill the commission. I will be looking for book! Totally need it.
Blessings,
L
What a gorgeous vase, Tamela!
As a creative outlet, I love to tend to my flower gardens. Each year for Mother’s Day, my husband and kids take me to the local nursery and I make all attempts not to buy out the place. 🙂
When I can’t write another word, I play the piano and sing, or I dig in the garden, or I make greeting cards or other paper crafts. Every winter I think I will teach myself to sew, but I haven’t done so yet. It’s so refreshing to switch creative gears.
Tamela, that vase is beautiful. And how wonderful to know the story behind the beauty.
For me, I love photography. I’m not great at it, but I love framing a photo just right. I’ve added more photos to my blog over the months, because I like sharing them. 🙂 I also enjoy stamping/scrapbooking, but I haven’t had much time to pursue these the past couple years. I love singing as well, but I don’t do much of it these days. So many “loves,” so little time!
And, I do like to have characters who have a creative outlet.
Gorgeous vase!! And I do a bit of antique re-finishing/ restoration, so I know just how hard it was to make that vase. WOW.
Creative? Gardening and antique restoration.
Tamela, I love the reflective surface of the vase. My creativity most recently – like Jeanne – has been with photography – capturing God’s creations with eyes of wonder. I also enjoy songwriting (guitar and keyboard) – capturing some of God’s joyful melodies in song.
Like many of you, I also enjoy photography and drawing in addition to writing. Lately I’ve been exploring a new passion: papermaking and bookbinding. Through some internet research, I learned how to turn yesterday’s newspaper into new a new journal. 🙂
I enjoy baking (NOT decorating) cakes and cookies. I don’t do it as often as I used to. I also love recipes. I probably have about 50 cookbooks in my house. I love looking at the recipes, analyzing how the recipe will taste. Sometimes, I love trying a new recipe, and other times, I’m disappointed when my new-recipe dessert does not come out as I’d planned.
I view my creative endeavors more as challenges rather than hobbies. I know that statement is just a matter of semantics but I have looked deeper into the “why” I choose to do something rather than the “what”.
Very early on in my life I learned woodworking, metal working, casting (of molten metal), welding and drafting. I was assigned to “industrial arts” coursework in junior high school because that is where every “problem” (the bad boys) or intellectually deficient (slower learners) were assigned. It was strictly boys only and you “did” things with your hands instead of “studying” things with your mind. The girls got “home economics”. The public school implication of these assignments in my junior high was that the boys chosen for “industrial arts” probably were not going to amount to a whole lot more than laborers in life, if that, and many of these girls were never going to be anything more than a “homemaker”. The really smart kids studied algebra, biology, trigonometry and so on. The last laugh is on the public schools in my city because more than a few of these educational “throw aways” went on to do well in life. Of course some turned out to be as disappointing as expected.
Many of these boys went on after high school (many without graduating) and were quickly caught up in the Vietnam war. They ended up as low ranking enlisted men or draftees in either the Army or the Marines and bore the brunt of the war, once again actually carrying out the “doing” instead of the “thinking”. Many of the “smart” boys got a deferment and went to college instead. God bless them all!
The point is sometimes what looks like a curse turns out to be a blessing. The curse of “industrial arts” gave me hands on skills that have served my tremendously well my entire life. Having the ability to make myself actually “do” instead of “thinking about” is the bane of any lazy bone that may act up from time to time. The curse of the Vietnam war has given me first hand insights, experiences, disciplines and abilities that I could not have obtained anywere else. What I learned there is not taught in any school on earth for any amount ot tuition. The payment required is not in currency. The stakes are not a passing or failing grade. Vietnam greatly deepened my personal well that I could draw from while making pursuits of any type including creative endeavors.
I really got into painting (oils only) and drawing (in support of painting). It was a long hard road with many obstacles. Again, I learned things that cannot be acquired by any other way than “doing”. Many of the disciplines and knowledge required to become proficient in painting definately transfer over into other creative branches. For example, texture, color, passion, image, harmony or dissonance as required, volume (brash or subdued)continuity or specific witholding thereof, mystery, story and many other factors and how they are assembled are all elements of PAINTING. Yes, painting.
I have found that these elements and more are also key to MUSIC. WRITING. DANCE. POETRY AND even COOKING!
a. Other than writing I like visual arts, music, some dance.
b. My characters are artistic in the sense of life’s challenges and the way with which they must deal/cope with them.
c. My creativity outside of writing has GREATLY inspired my writing.
2 Chronicles 2:7
“Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided.
Hobby
1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation:
Fellow writers, have you examined the “why” you’ve chosen to write rather than the “what” (the what being a hobby)? For me it is because I have been moved to write (spiritually) and for the challenge of writing with excellence (earthly). I have to admit, much of the time it isn’t all pleasure or relaxation. However, it can be very gratifying, particularly if it is of benefit to the Kingdom of God.
That is one beautiful vase! Wow!
If it’s creative, I tend to do it. Dancing, decorating, painting, baking. I can’t sing worth a flip, however, so I can’t include that. Would love to learn to play an instrument—in theory—but I’ve come to admit the sad fact that if it doesn’t come easily and naturally, I won’t put in the effort to refine it. Thus, I stick to clapping as my instrument of choice, LOL.
My goodness! All of you are so talented – and blessed. I dabble just a little in this, that and the other, and not good in any of those areas. 🙂 But ask me to organize anything – drawers, closets, offices, meetings or parties, and I’m in my zone!
I’m amazed so many lists are the same! I stop writing to play the piano if I need to remind myself I’m actually good at something. 🙂 I also enjoy photography and sewing. Baking, not so much.
Hi, Tamela!
Love this post. It’s sometimes good to know that we creative types are not alone.
Piano instruction and photography are my day jobs. I learned crochet from my grandmother, who learned from her aunt, who learned from her aunt. Painting, sewing, jewelry-making and gardening are among my failed pursuits.
My characters are artistic as well. In my completed manuscript, the hero plays guitar at local gatherings and the heroine is a piano tutor who enjoys concocting confectionery treats when she is not picketing outside the local saloon.
In my WIP, the heroine is an Appalachian scented-candle maker, a craft I haven’t tried, but hope to.
The vase is beautiful! I have always admired embroidery and used to cross-stitch when I was little, but writing has now taken precedence over the majority of my “to-try” list. Maybe I can slip in a few in the future under “research.” 🙂
I’ve always thought creative people were just creative and there had to be crossover. Personally, I am a writer and that’s where most of my creative outlet goes. Recently, I realized graphics is another area I like to play creatively. Then, at Comic Con, my daughter mentioned how I am creative in making her cosplay outfits and taking pictures of things and I’m back to my original thought – creative people are just creative. Interestingly, my daughter’s creativity, while mostly focused in writing, doesn’t show up in other traditional forms, but rather in how she thinks… kinda cool and makes me wonder if there’s something to be a creative thinker in other areas that aren’t specifically arts…
I never would have guessed that vase was made of wood. Amazing!
I raise sheep and spin the wool into yarn. Then I knit it into various types of garments. I enjoy creating my own knitting and counted cross stitch patterns. Music is another outlet, I play saxophone and tenor recorder. I also enjoy gardening and cooking. I feel very creative in the kitchen. Recipes are for wimps! 🙂
Tamela
Thank you for sharing the story of your family. I’m starting like this dialogue between writers.
My creative outlet has always been singing and playing the organ. Funny that you posted your story about the vase this week because I having been seriously thinking about taking a pottery class because I often use the process of making a pot metaphorically in exhortation. I know there are more lessons to learn from that activity as well as bread making. Both require discipline and technique of scientific proportion. Both require humility and patience. It is a good thing to step outside of writing sometimes, just to stay mentally and emotionally healthy. I would say to my fellow respondents look closely at the word “healthy.” Heal thy-self with other activities. I find myself becoming more reclusive while writing, even though I know my mother matters and my father matters. We have to continue to cultivate relationship with God and family, and to enjoy the beauty of things other than words and punctuation.
Blessings
L.