The Creative Process by Joelle Circe

I came across this wonderful article on Facebook and just had to give it mention. If not for other artist's then for my own purpose to read again:

I ponder this a lot, I used to think I wasn’t a very creative artist thanks in part to a background inlaid with naysayers, discouragement, indifference and eventually, my very own intense self-doubt about my creativity. So, I figured the best way for me to demonstrate to those who kept telling me how nice my drawings and paintings were but that this pursuit would not amount to much of anything and that I would be better served finding and keeping a real job, was to learn all I could about drawing and painting and become real good technically. I thought for sure this would help explain my love for what I do, it did, a bit, but not really as they continued to see this more like a hobby / pass time than the very real and professional activity it truly was. This was terribly hurtful and came close to discouraging me on many occasions, but it didn’t.

Still, for the longest time, I saw myself as a smart person and pretty good artist when it came to techniques, I could draw with the best and paint in a variety of styles if I wished to, I can work in impasto or glazes and even combine both plus allowing for unfinished, wash type effects all in one piece. I felt somewhat vindicated but still quite empty as this was but a part of what I knew I should, could be.

Now, it turned out that what I was wanting to be, I already was but it was smothered under layers of fear and doubt and I could’t see beyond the broken shards of a very fragile ego.

Like I mentioned above, I have been pondering this quite a bit and for some time, even having conversations on creativity with my sister on our walks. I think that I needed a good and continuous degree of validation about my art ( which I have received for the past few years now ) in order for me to start seeing what I do as being in fact, creative.

Yes, I am creative, there I’ve said it out loud and claiming this aspect of me. It took me a while to own this, I was afraid of not being right, of  being anything but creative. And then, I began looking back on my career, of the art I’ve created and even in the most brab pieces from the past, I can now see my creativity at work, even when I was sure this wasn’t so. 

Yes, it is a process, one born from intelligence, observation, processing information, comparing and counter-imagining. Even having gone to school to learn techniques is part of my artistic process as it comes into play when I work out compositions, scenes, messages and so on. It is, after all, upon these foundations, that my ideas are born and take flight. 

Sometimes, ideas come to me seemingly out of the blue or after a conversation or from reading a book, thing is, I then take it in and play with it, questioning my knowledge of a given topic or subject matter, ruminating the possibilities. Sometimes and idea will be with me for months, even years but often they string forth, ready for the canvas.  Once I’ve figured out what it is I want to do, I go all out, become a little manic about it and wanting to do it immediately. In some occasions, I can have many ideas in the same period of time and see myself taking on a few pieces at the same time, that can be wonderful as well as very demanding as I then jump from topic to topic in a small period and can even feel as though I need to work on this painting but cannot delay that other one either. There are worse situations to face in life.

When working out the composition for a scene, I need to see where it’s basic idea will lead me, will it be good, will it be understood. I go through a lot of working out what will be good and what won,t be and then of course, I continue working on paper and or canvas. I have come to realize that even my choices are creatively conceived and issue forth from who I am, my universe and the topics I am most interested in. I really think that it’s through my working on painting and drawings dedicated to women that I was finally able to understand my art as being creative.


Naturally, I still don’t know beyond the shadow of a doubt if what I’ve undertaken as the main theme for all my art is worthwhile or even very original though it is to me. My fascination with the lives of women, our issues and concerns, of the queer component and the erotic will likely be front and center until I’m done.