Six Principles for a More Meaningful Creative Practice

There's a lot of debate about what art is. But perhaps an equally interesting question is: what shouldn't it become?

The Making Practice exists because I believe creativity has an important place in everyday life. Art isn't simply about producing beautiful objects or becoming technically skilled. It is a deeply human activity that helps us explore ideas, solve problems, connect with others and understand ourselves.

Like many creative people, my views have evolved over time. The more I've made, the more initiatives I've been part of and the more I've reflected, the more I've realised that there are certain directions I'd rather my own creative practice didn't take.

These aren't rules for anyone else. They're simply principles that help me stay connected to the reasons I make art in the first place.

1. Art should not be destructive

Creating something beautiful shouldn't come at the expense of the world around us.

As artists, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing we need the latest materials, expensive supplies or a constant stream of new products before we can begin making (or just enjoying the thrill of buying new art materials). Yet some of the most satisfying creative sessions I've ever had have come from using what I already had lying around.

Old packaging becomes collage material. Scrap paper becomes a sketchbook (see this post about what's in my junk journal). Offcuts become texture. Everyday objects become tools.

Working within limitations often makes us more inventive. Whenever I take a selection of materials to work away from the studio, I inevitably forget something and it keeps things fresh by forcing me to try different approach.

This doesn't mean we should never buy art materials. Rather, it means asking ourselves thoughtful questions:

• Could I use something I already own?

• Could I repurpose this instead of throwing it away?

• Is there a more sustainable alternative?

  
  

Even materials that many of us use every day—such as acrylic paint—raise interesting questions. Acrylic paint contains plastic, and while it has many wonderful qualities, it's worth considering how we use it, how we dispose of it and whether there are occasions when another medium might work just as well.

A more sustainable creative practice doesn't usually happen through perfection. It happens through awareness and small, intentional choices.

2. Art should not be solitary

Modern culture often imagines the artist working alone in a studio, hidden away until a masterpiece finally emerges.

But humans didn't evolve making art in isolation.

Our ancestors created together. They told stories, decorated objects, made tools, painted, sang and danced as communities. Creativity helped people communicate, cooperate and strengthen social bonds.

That's why sharing the creative process can be every bit as valuable as sharing the finished piece (see this video for a full explanation)

Of course, quiet time is important. Many creative activities benefit from periods of concentration, and many great ideas come to us when our minds are not actively focused on something. But if you find yourself constantly feeling that you have to isolate yourself to make art, it may be worth asking why.

Could you sketch with a friend?

Could your children make alongside you?

Could you join an urban sketching group, attend a workshop or simply share works in progress rather than waiting until everything feels "finished"?

Sometimes the conversation around the artwork becomes just as meaningful as the artwork itself.

3. Art should not belong only to those with money

One of the biggest myths about creativity is that it's an expensive hobby.

It isn't.

Art belongs to everyone.

Some of history's most interesting artists have worked with found objects, recycled materials and whatever happened to be available. Creativity has never depended on having a perfectly stocked studio.

Nor does art need to hang inside prestigious galleries to be valuable.

Children drawing on recycled paper are being creative.

An accountant keeping a sketchbook during their lunch break is being creative (see this post about how working from home has provided these opportunities)

A parent pulling together a tasty family meal from whatever ingredients they can find is being creative.

Someone making a knitted cardigan for their grandchild is being creative.

When we tie creativity too closely to money, expensive materials or exclusive spaces, we risk making people feel that art isn't for them.

The Making Practice exists because I believe the opposite is true: creativity is one of the most accessible things we possess.

4. Art should not stop at copying

Many adults say they "can't draw."

Usually what they really mean is that they can't draw something realistically and that's somehow become synonymous with being good at art.

While copying has lots of benefits (see this video for some examples), the important part is what comes next.

Eventually we begin asking our own questions, following our own curiosity and developing our own visual language.

If copying helps you build confidence, embrace it. But if it doesn't, don't stop there.

Creativity is about gradually discovering your own way of seeing the world.

5. Art should not become a chore

Art should never feel like a production line.

Many of us accidentally turn creativity into another task on the to-do list. We pressure ourselves to produce more work, post more often, finish more projects or become more productive.

Eventually something begins to disappear.

The curiosity.

The play.

The excitement.

If you consistently find yourself avoiding your creative practice, feeling bored or resenting it, don't simply push harder.

Instead, get curious.

Ask yourself:

• What am I genuinely interested in right now?

• What would I make if nobody ever saw it?

• What part of this process still feels enjoyable?

  
  

Creative people are naturally curious. It's perfectly normal for interests to evolve over time.

Following those changing interests isn't a sign of inconsistency; it's often a sign that your creativity is still alive.

6. Art should not be restricted to galleries

Galleries are wonderful places.

They preserve important work, introduce us to new artists and encourage thoughtful conversations about creativity.

But they are only one place where art exists.

Art lives in community murals.

It appears in handmade birthday cards, beautifully planted gardens, carefully prepared meals, decorated shop windows and illustrated journals.

It appears in neighbourhood art trails, public sculpture, homemade quilts, children's paintings on the fridge and chalk drawings on pavements.

When we broaden our definition of where art belongs, we also broaden our understanding of who gets to participate.

Art doesn't need permission.

It doesn't need a white wall, a frame or an exhibition opening.

It simply needs people willing to notice, make and share.

A Different Way of Thinking About Art

Perhaps the biggest shift I've experienced is this:

Art isn't primarily about producing objects.

It's about nurturing a way of being.

A creative practice can help us become more observant, more resourceful, more connected, more playful and more curious about the world around us.

When we remove unnecessary barriers – expense, perfectionism, isolation and productivity – we create space for something much more valuable.

Not just better art.

But a richer, more creative life.

At The Making Practice, that's the kind of creativity I'm interested in cultivating.