π¨π»βπ¨ Rembrandt and the freedom within limits
And four other creative inspirations for your week ahead
I want to thank my loyal subscribers for sticking with me as I navigate this Substack space. As with any creative process, itβs a constant dance of tweaking and experimenting, noticing what resonates from a reader's perspective and what feels good to create. I must say that the last few posts have felt lush to create.
As Iβm learning, Iβve decided to keep these Sunday posts lighter with a simple sprinkling of creative inspiration to help you through the week ahead. The Creative Prescriptions, essays, and journal posts will follow during the week as posts and notes, so stay tuned for those.
I invite you to comment and let me know what you think, what you would like to see more of, or just to say hi ππ»!
Stay creative my friends.
π« Inspiration to draw on
Now, I donβt want to feed the myth of the starving artist here. However, some constraints can drive an artist to new and greater depths. Once upon a time, there was this 17th-century painter, pretty well known during his time, known as Rembrandt.
Turns out, despite his immense talent and success, Rembrandt struggled with debt and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1656. In spite of these challenges, Rembrandt continued to produce some of his most profound and innovative works during this period, demonstrating his relentless dedication to his craftβ.
The moral of this story?
Creative constraint - having boundaries or limitationsβlike specific rules, timeframes, or resourcesβcan actually spark creativity. I only draw in black and white, yet Iβve never felt more free!
Your constraints provide a framework that challenges you to think more deeply and find unique, inventive solutions. So, instead of hindering the creative process, they can actually help to focus and inspire more innovative thinking.
It's a bit like having a blank canvas: while limitless possibilities might seem freeing, sometimes it's the lines we draw that guide us to truly creative outcomes.
π΅ Music to move your pencil to: βοΈ song for summertime
Janis Joplin's rendition of Summertime is my ultimate anthem to get the summer started! There's something about her intense, soulful delivery, paired with that unforgettable rasp, that turns the song into more than just musicβit's a whole vibe. Love it!
ποΈ Get creative with visual journaling
If you love art and journalling, this one is for you.
I received this video in an email from Cult Pens (thatβs where I buy my fineliner pens - their bulk deals are pretty reasonable), which has sparked a love of creative journaling. My work is so precise that this method has given me a new freedom that Iβm relishing.
I shared some of my first attempts on Notes and Insta this week. There will be more to follow with a Creative Prescription on creative journalling in the next few weeks.
πΆ Good news break: human creativity and man's best friend
With all the bad news out there, I felt we all needed a break, so wanted to share a good news story for a change! This one is from a town local to me in Lewes, East Sussex. Itβs a wonderful example of human creativity and manβs best friend.
In a creative twist, backpack-wearing dogs are being used to rewild an urban nature reserve. Historically, wolves dispersed plant seeds, boosting biodiversity by carrying them on their fur. To replicate this, the Railway Land Wildlife Trust, funded by Ouse Valley Climate Action, has equipped local dogs with seed-filled backpacks to reseed the landscape. This innovative project is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. Genius!
π¬ And finallyβ¦a quote to live by
π A thought from me:
Intuition is a powerful guide. By pausing to connect the dots, we gain deeper insights and clarity.
π A thought from another:
βCreativity is just connecting things.β
~ Steve Jobs