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Giving Yourself Creative Treats: Go On, You Deserve It...

By Dan Goodwin

Earlier this year I went with an artist friend of mine to the Turner Prize exhibition at The Tate Britain in London. For those not familiar with the award, here’s the official description from the Tate Website:

“The Turner Prize, established in 1984, is awarded to a British artist under fifty for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work […] It is intended to promote public discussion of new developments in contemporary British art and is widely recognised as one of the most important and prestigious awards for the visual arts in Europe.”

The four finalists were as talented, diverse and challenging as usual, and, as usual, much debate ensued amongst critics about which artist impressed most, which parts of their work were most emotive and affecting, whether ANY of their work was actually any good, and whether the Turner Prize should even exist at all.

As I walked round with my friend, we took in the sights of, amongst other things, a huge shed that was previously a boat and before that once again a shed, a 4 foot high bird splattered with multicoloured paint in a vast room with a silver chequered floor and the projection onto a screen of a few second long loop of film of a garden sprinkler.

To be fair, we were quite impressed with some of the art on display. However, the lasting thought we both came away with though, was not the about the originality and impact of the artwork. In fact it wasn’t even about the art at all.

We both turned to each other outside and said wouldn’t it be fantastic to have the resources, space and funding to be able to even begin such huge and complex works.

Few of us are in a position of having our own painting studio, craft workshop, or recording studio. For some it’s a struggle to purchase just the tools for our creativity, let alone having purpose built rooms and areas in which to create.

But sometimes, a little treat for ourselves, and our creativity, can make a big difference to our attitude and enjoyment.

How would your creativity increase if you had a beautiful set of brushes to paint with, a gorgeous hand bound journal to write in, a pair of the most comfortable and supportive ballet shoes, or a new set of strings for your guitar?

By regularly showing up to create, surely we deserve to give ourselves a reward from time to time, to acknowledge our efforts so far, what we’ve already created, and to encourage us to create further by making our instruments of creativity as desirable and easy to use as possible.

Incidentally the winner of the Turner Prize was the shed/boat/shed guy, and he was awarded £25000. Just think, what could spending 1% of that, £250, or even £25 have on YOUR creative enjoyment and output?

Think right now about how you might treat yourself and how it would help you go to your place of creating more eagerly and excitedly, and spur you on to create more.

Go on, treat yourself. You deserve it. •

© Copyright 2006 Dan Goodwin

About the Author | More by Dan Goodwin
Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin is the author of “Create Create!”, a FREE twice monthly ezine for people who want simple and powerful articles, tips and exercises to help them unleash their creative talents. Sign up right now and get your FREE “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook, at www.CoachCreative.com.

10/12/06