If you have been around here for long, or have taken any of my classes, you will know I am BIG into curiosity. I am big on the what if and I wonder why questions. I am SUPER big on stopping, slowing down, and really seeing. Not looking, but seeing. And being ok with getting that giddy kiddy feeling of immense, sometimes almost overwhelming in an all-the-big-emotions way at how bloody marvellous this planet we call home and all the beings here with us are.
And occasionally remembering to breathe.
I thought I might try a little something new here. Get curious, you know? See if it sticks. See what you think.
We’re going to start with some words I would like you to say to yourself. Maybe take a deep breath first. Maybe put your hand on your heart or your belly. Maybe say it more than once.
I embrace curiosity as my guide, allowing it to lead me deeper into the wonder of the wild and the joy of creation.
Curiosity is everything. Creativity wise, and human kindness wise. So many things could be amended, fixed, prevented, if some kindness driven curiosity were employed
Curiosity in creativity is how we begin to uncover those until-now unseen (by us individually) hidden wonders of the wild world. It's that desire to look closer, to see beyond the surface, and to explore the intricate details that make up the tapestry of nature, of the wild being we are studying, of ourselves.
When we approach our creativity, our art, our connection, with curiosity, we open ourselves to the infinite possibilities that exist within every leaf, feather, and living being we encounter. The thrill of discovering the delicate patterns on a butterfly's wings, the way sunlight dances through the veins of a leaf, or the subtle textures of an animal's fur that changes depending on anatomy and season and so much more. Each of these are little glimpses of magic.
These moments of discovery are what fuels our desire to capture the essence of the wild with the most simple of tools, with our willing hands, and with our open (wild) heart. Through curiosity, we not only enhance our artistic skills but also deepen our connection to the natural world, allowing us to see it with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of wonder. Celebrating that child-like-wide-eyed wonder, that beginner’s mind, draws us closer to the wild inside and out, inviting us to see, explore, and connect with all its…incredible beingness. Our creative journey gets to be a life-long celebration of this childlike curiosity, an insatiable desire to understand and capture and experience the essence of the wild.
A simple graphite pencil is a tool as unassuming as it is powerful. With this mineral wrapped in wood, you have the ability to transform a blank page into more than a sketch or a drawing. It is poetry in pigment. The song of the wild. A sonnet. A prayer. An act of reciprocity. Curiosity fuels this transformation between thought and vision and movement and hope. It’s what drives us to study that glimmer in an animal’s eye that you also recognise in your own. In these moments of close observation, we find ourselves marvelling at the intricate beauty of the natural world because we also get to remember we are also part of it all, not apart from it all.
Curiosity in observation of your subject extends to the creative process itself. What happens when you loosen your grip on your pencil? What about holding it way back on the barrel? How does the paper respond to a lighter touch? What new textures emerge when you experiment with different strokes? Every mark you make is a question, and every answer brings skill building and pleasure and frustration and the desire to ask more questions, empowering that infinite loop of query and learning to continue, well, infinitely.
Creativity - like anything (no, seriously, like everything - walking, talking, driving) - is about practice and skill building, and in this act, curiosity is imperative. It encourages you to keep pushing the boundaries of your knowledge and abilities, to embrace what some might call mistakes as learning opportunities, and to relish your process over any outcome. Curiosity soothes frustration and disappointment, reminding you that there is no “finished” in art - it gets to be a lifelong exploration. Not a sprint, or a race to see who can burn out quickest, but a gentle wander through your ideal forest or landscape. It is your time to get present, to ground down, to unfurl. To remember your wild animal body.
When we approach art with curiosity, we also approach it with a deep sense of reverence. We begin to really embody, and not just intellectualise our subjects as living beings with their own stories, their own place in the intricate web of life. This reverence becomes a mirror of sorts, and allows that same compassionate extension to ourselves as well. A compassionate reminder to be gentle with our journey and patient with our progress.
And to wonder what if over and over…
I hope you can get a little curious today. Maybe pick up a pencil and just play for the fun of it. Or find a new muse to honour. I am curious to know what you do!
PS: How about we do some wondering? Get curious in your journal or go for a walk and think about it:
Do you remember a moment when curiosity led you to discover something new in your art or creative practice. How did this discovery impact your creative journey?
I adore your sketches. Simply amazed on how you are able to draw like that ✨
I loved this post, that little quote of poetry in pigments will stay with me. I have not thought about it before, but curiosity really is a huge part of the creativity in me. I am usually curious on how things are, how they look, how they blend in together. Instead of thinking "I can draw this" I have gradually been shifting towards "I wonder how they draw this" and then I try. Funny how the less you are preoccupied with perfection, the more you are able to do.
I will have these two words with me from now on! ☺️
Those wolf sketches are so woow! Love wolves 😍