Keep on Creating.

One thing I was worried about when I chose to study law was losing my creative side – but as it happens that hasn’t been an issue…

Since I was young I’ve always loved drawing after being inspired when I was a child by Vincent Van Gogh. I even stayed in at break time to finish a piece of work about him once, which was a big deal back in the day! His work and unrelenting passion is what helped me to discover my obsession with art.

I always found that getting all of my emotions and putting them onto a piece of paper, whether that be through still life or abstract work, was so therapeutic. I can sit for hours on end, for weeks sometimes, working on a piece. I even used to scribble on the desks in my Spanish class because I couldn’t keep in all of the ideas I had locked away inside my head. Once I found some inspiration the creativity would uncontrollably burst out of me.

It is such a wonderful feeling and so when I saw the sunflowers in the National Gallery for the first time I felt a lifetime’s worth of emotions – resonating from every piece of art I had ever created. I was overwhelmed.

My drawing, however, has gone through peaks and troughs throughout my life – sometimes I just haven’t had any inspiration and don’t feel like it. It’s never that I don’t have the time (as I never regard that as an excuse for not pursuing something you love), I just didn’t have the urge to create.

Every summer I take on three creative projects so that I don’t lose myself in the books whilst at law school. I take on the challenge of mastering a new skill! So far I’ve learned how to do henna, calligraphy, write a blog, bake, knit, and a few other things.

Recently, though, Lucie and I have been absolutely bursting with passion and fire and just full of creativity. Our imaginations are buzzing! Although, we express this in different ways; Lucie has her graphic design, and I have my love of the good old classic – paper. Hence, after buying a few little canvases a few months ago – I began to paint.

Painting is a new thing for me – it’s not a skill I have mastered and I am extremely unfamiliar with the tools. But you’ve got to love being a beginner, right? Learning is absolute magic, and so the adventure began!

It’s been crazy ever since, really. I’ve got this overwhelming urge to create so often now! Maya Angelou sure was right when she said ‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’

I’m finding the time, too. In between all of my societies, studies and running the Law Soc I’m painting, doodling, sketching, illustrating, and henna-ing (if that’s even a word). I am finding it so motivating because I’m in this crazy bubble of imagination where I feel so at peace and so free. It’s almost meditative.

I’ve made a folder for all of my art on Facebook so that I can share these works of art with others around me. Art is something so liberating for your mind, and is something so awe-inspiring that it has to be shared. If you find something great in this world, you’ve got to share it. Shout it from the rooftops! Take every opportunity to make the world a better, more wonderful place. One thing I’ve learned this month? No matter who you are, what your talents are, what you study or how little time you have – you can always create something that makes life more jam-packed full of hope and beauty.

Inspire others. Inspire yourself. Just keep on creating.

-Scarlett