Where Does Creativity Come From: Nana
I often get asked about where my creativity comes from and it’s a question I find very difficult to answer. Is it learned or inherited? Am I creative because of the environment I was bought up in or is it programmed into my DNA somehow? Was it inevitable that I would take the creative path?
I do know for sure that I grew up in a family full of creative people. My sister is a designer maker, my Dad a graphic designer and photographer and my Mum taught me every single craft I know, so the language of art and creativity was spoken fluently at home. My memories of both sets of grandparents involve painting, crafting or making of some sort and each household was full of artwork created by members of the family. But where did all this come from? And what does it all mean?
Over the weekend my sister and I made one of our regular trips to see our Nana. She lives about 2 hours away so we go over for a whole day, drink lots of tea, eat cake and have big chats about life, the universe and everything! As I sat there is weekend it struck me that I was surround by Nana’s paintings and drawings, everything from colourful oil paintings to delicate drawings and watercolours, and it got me thinking about that question again?
“Where does creativity come from?”
Had Nana (and my other grandparents) passed down a special little gene to me that ‘switched’ on my creativity or was it the countless hours they spent showing me, explaining to me and encouraging me? As we have a lot of my grandparent’s artwork I thought it would be fun to showcase a little bit of their work while pondering on this nature or nurture conundrum! And perhaps even find a link to my work through the style and colours of theirs – a ‘genetic’ link in paint and ink!
So as her artwork re-invigorated the question let’s start with Nana!
Were you raised in a creative family? Did that make you creative as well? Or are you totally different from your family in that respect? What do you think it responsible for people’s creative talents, nature or nurture?
I’d love to hear from you – just leave me a comment below!
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I spent time with my grandmother (who is also “nana”) this weekend and that exact question came up! She swears that she’s not creative but I attribute my love for color and design and “making” comes from days and days spent in her sewing room as a kid. I love that you have her paintings- so special!
Hi Paige – it’s those vivid memories of thinks from childhood that really stand out isn’t it – my grandmother had some amazing fabrics in her house and I keep finding myself ‘re-designing’ them in my work. Day’s spent in your Nana’s sewing room sound wonderful – what fab memories to have
I do believe that we learn to be creatives with the environment we live into. My father painted a lot and loved to make things. All the time. And he was a lawyer. My mother is a very creative stylist and a marvellous embroider. I am also a firm believer that everybody has the “gene” for creativity, it’s a matter of exploiting it, allowing it to flousrish. A friend of mine told me once that she envyed my creativity and I just replied (and it was true) that she was also very creative, but in a different area: she’s a creative cook, in the sense that she invents new ways of making delicious food. And it has nothing to do with not following a recipe. It’s the way you add to the original recipe a little of a “you” twist that makes a lot of a difference, don’t you think?
my maternal grandfather painted as a hobby, but other than that there wasn’t a lot of creative activity in our house, although the arts were and are very much appreciated. we were all into playing music, but not the visual arts. my brother is very talented, but he never pursued a creative path. as far as i recall, i was the only one usually making something out of scratch so in my case i don’t think it’s genetic – at least i have inherited it from the people i know.
sorry, i mean i have NOT inherited it from the people i know.