Finding your true personal style is not easy, especially if you want to profit from your art. When looking for artists to do commercial orders, buyers usually look for specific styles and art forms. One of the most significant pieces of advice a young artist can receive is not to chase money at this point. If you start painting for money before you find your true style, you might never find it because you’ll get stuck in commercial expectations.

Increase the Size

To make an artwork unconventional, you can start experimenting with size, contents, or techniques, or possibly all three!

The first way to make your paintings stand out is the size of the painting itself. No matter the style you work in – realism, impressionism or abstract art, it can be magnificent if you increase the size.

Think of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, or Klimt’s Kiss. They were all made at different times by different artists from different countries. But what connects those artworks is their huge size and great detail. You can strive to create similar artworks by increasing the scale. Just be ready to spend some time creating them since they require a great deal of detailed work.

Add Texture

With Acrylic Paints

Another way to make your art stand out is by adding layers or width. You can pipe acrylic paint onto the canvas to create voluminous, textured pieces that catch the eye of everyone walking past. Layering acrylic with a palette knife or even a piping bag can give your painting a vibrant, almost alive appearance.

With Paper

Another way to add texture is to use unconventional media like paper. You can refer to the works of Domitilla Biondi for inspiration. She’s an Italian artist who layers paper on the canvas to create unusual, mostly white-on-white works. The images she creates with paper are mostly floral or inspired by nature, but you can go in any other direction if you don’t want to copy her work directly.

Another great example is Lauren Collin, who uses colored or painted paper to layer on top of her canvas and make her art unique. Her works are also often monochromatic, but they stand out greatly due to the texture and unusual media used. Her paper work resembles feathers or leaves of a palm.

With Textile

Using textiles in your art is another great way to try out something new and experiment. There are lots of opportunities and room for experiments when it comes to textiles. You can paint directly on clothes, embroider, dye textiles, layer them on canvas, or even add them to your oil paintings.

Anni Albers is a famous representative of this genre. With her works, she was one of the first people who challenged the dichotomy between art and craft. Weaving and printmaking were the most dominant mediums in her works. She achieved great fame despite the boundaries put in place for women and untraditional genres.

You can learn about using non-traditional materials from Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. He uses aluminum bottle caps, copper wire, and other unusual materials found outside. He creates large-scale tapestries, wall hangings and sculptures that focus on globalization and consumption, as well as reflect his African heritage.

Nina Kratz can be your inspiration when it comes to using textiles in canvas form. She carefully weaves fabrics together to create intricate and detailed designs. Her style reflects her Scandinavian heritage since her works are minimalistic and sophisticated. At the same time, they grab a lot of attention since they look like they are frozen in time.

If you’re interested in working with tread in combination with other somewhat random objects, you can refer to the works of Lisa Kokin. Some of her works feature leaves machine-stitched onto paper, bound by the canvas. Her most recent works are quite abstract. She tends to stitch her art onto a canvas of fabric, sometimes adding other materials.

Use Household Objects

It’s only natural that a beginner artist would not be able to afford a huge studio to store their unfinished 6-foot tall paintings or tons of acrylic paint to create heavily textured works. This is why we suggest you start experimenting with household items.

Look around your kitchen and you are bound to find interesting textures and inspiring images. The imprint of a box grater, a fork, or your house plants can create interesting shapes when applied to canvas.

Using bubble wrap or cling film can also help spice up your paintings. While bubble wrap can be used to create a honeycomb-like texture, with plastic wrap, you can manipulate the paints using your hands without making a mess. Old toothbrushes, hair brushes or combs can help you create random, or, vice versa, ideally symmetrical lines that transform your canvas into something else.

Wrapping Up

Creating art is not easy, but it shouldn’t be. To create means to give birth to something new, something unexplored and uncharted. If you start by creating art for sale, you might never be able to find your own unique style. This is exactly why, to be a great artist, one needs to have courage and be able to challenge oneself.

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Author’s Bio:

Olivia Walker, renowned for her exceptional dissertation help provided by Essaypro, has significantly impacted academic writing, guiding students toward scholarly excellence with her expertise and dedicated support.

The post Unleashing Creativity: Unexpected Tools For Extraordinary Paintings appeared first on Art Business News.

WHY ARE ARTISTS ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEPRESSION?

These specific characteristics explain why artists may struggle with depression:

• Enhanced intuition – Artists possess the next level of intuition that helps them bring out deep feelings on canvas or screen. This, however, comes with increased sensitivity that can make daily life challenging for them. Living in a superficial, materialism-driven world can be difficult for an artist.
• Open mind – To understand the world on a broad spectrum, artists must be the ones with an open mind.
• Melancholic temperament –  The biggest percentage of artists with depression belongs to the melancholic type. They simply observe the world, absorb it, and express it through their art. Melancholy and increased sensitivity is tied to depressive disorder.

A combination of these traits outlines the link between a depressive state and creativity potential. In general, working in the arts is specific in so many ways. It asks the artist to be vulnerable, unique, and push the boundaries.

LONELINESS IS ANOTHER LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND CREATIVITY

Most great artists prefer to work by themselves, without external distractions. When alone, they can think, contemplate, experiment, express emotions, etc. Artists can be misunderstood precisely due to their creative streak. They often feel misunderstood by others who aren’t familiar with creative processes. Artists can have a hard time co-existing with the superficiality of the world and lack of care for deeper exploration of human emotions and experiences. Further loneliness and strained relationships with the world may push them further into a depressive state.

There are many famous artists who struggled with depression throughout their lifetimes:

• Michelangelo Buonarroti
• Vincent Van Gogh
• Edvard Munch
• Jacob Lawrence
• Edgar Degas

EXPRESSING DEPRESSION THROUGH ART

Some studies have even found that people with depression are more likely to be creative than people who don’t have the condition. This is likely due to the fact that depression can lead to a change in perspective, which can lead to new ideas.

The stigma around depression is still present. Thanks to artists, the message about the severity of this disorder reaches millions worldwide. Visual representation of an artist’s personal story makes others with similar struggles feel seen. Depression is the modern world’s most widespread disease that doesn’t discriminate. Artists, therefore, act as mediums between the deep and complex experiences depression entails and their audience.

Art therapy has been given a lot more credit recently. Through creative work, patients recovering from a major depressive disorder can express how they feel without using words. Their artwork serves as a mirror to their inner state and helps them understand what they go through. Moreover, creative work takes patients’ minds off worries, intrusive thoughts, etc.

FUNCTIONAL DEPRESSION IS COMMON AMONG ARTISTS

Artists who suffer from depression aren’t necessarily glued to bed and unable to leave their room or studio. Many of them are able to present their work in galleries and converse with others. Functional depression can be hard to spot, especially if a person learns techniques (way of speaking, posture, gestures) to conceal it.

DEPRESSION ISN’T NECESSARILY LINKED TO CREATIVITY

Depression and creativity are words that don’t typically go hand in hand. However, there is evidence to suggest that creativity can be improved when depression is treated. This is because depression can block the creative process by interrupting focus and diminishing motivation. However, treatment for depression can help to restore these key factors, leading to increased creativity.

PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN HELP ARTISTS AND THEIR FUTURE WORK

Like any other people, artists aren’t exempt from much-needed mental health. The mainstream notion that artists heal themselves through their art is far from true. Art is undoubtedly a healthy coping mechanism. However, it can’t replace psychotherapy, especially when it’s necessary.

THE BEST THERAPISTS FOR ARTISTS HAVE HAD ARTIST PATIENTS BEFORE

They understand the mindset and lifestyle of artists and what motivates them. Also, they know how to customize therapy according to the artist’s habits. The main goal is to help artists cope with depression the right way and therefore take their art to the next level. The process might take a lifetime in some cases. However, it does help in the long run.

CONCLUSION

So, is there a genuine connection between depression and creativity? The answer is – not entirely. It would be inconsiderate to say that depression is what drives an artist’s creativity. While depression indeed changes an artist’s perspective, it can also block their full potential. Adequate psychotherapy is there to help restore creativity and joy in life. It can also be a catalyst that helps artists move forward with their creative expression.

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Author Bio: Melanie Walker is a part-time consultant and contributing writer at Archstone Behavioral Health. After majoring in psychology and arts, she decided to bring her two favorite fields together through essays.

The post Is There a Connection Between Depression and Creativity? appeared first on Art Business News.

The truth is that everyone has the potential for creativity. It is not one specific characteristic but rather a way of thinking. Scientists, physicists, and mathematicians also must possess the ability to think creatively. It helps them solve a potential problem by looking at it from a different perspective. It is often said that creativity is like a muscle. The more you train, the better you are. Whether you are a writer with writer’s block or a marketing specialist looking for new ideas, there are a few simple ways to boost your creativity.

HOW TO BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY

Creativity is developed with practice. It is essential to understand that it’s not a passive process. It is not a result of random strikes of inspiration but a result of hard work and constant seeking of new ways to express yourself. Here are some techniques that can help you.

1. Seek inspiration

Sometimes, creativity finds you. Other times, you need to find it. Several things can be excellent sources of inspiration. If you’re an artist, try to find it in different works of art. You can read a book, visit a museum, explore art blogs, watch a movie, listen to music, and more. Each of these activities will generate new ideas and give you new perspectives.

Also, always look for inspiration in niches that are different from yours. Sometimes scientific theories can inspire works of art and vice versa. This is the case because imagination is the key to creating something new, whether it is a new theory in physics or a unique piece of art.

2. Distance yourself from the problem

One of the simple ways to boost your creativity is to create a distance. The more we think about a problem, the harder it becomes to find a solution. If we get “stuck,” the best thing to do is to distance ourselves and try doing something else.

Sometimes, the ideal solution is to replace overthinking with physical activity.

You can go for a walk, hike, meditate or do any other activity that relaxes you. The idea is to not think about why you are going through an artist’s block or how to solve a problem. Your brain will still unconsciously look for solutions, but it won’t be under so much pressure.

3. Confront your fear of failure

Sometimes, the fear of failure is what blocks our creativity. If you pushed “pause” and haven’t “used” your creativity for some time, chances are that you’re afraid to start again. When you’re scared of making a mistake or thinking that you won’t be able to accomplish what you want, you’ll hit a creative block.

If you find yourself in this situation, it is vital to confront this fear. You have to acknowledge that failure is part of the process. Sometimes, your ideas won’t be as good, but it doesn’t mean you’re not creative enough. You need more practice.

4. Dedicate yourself to creativity

If you want to increase your creativity, you have to commit yourself to this goal. It takes time and effort to develop any skill. The same goes for creativeness. It’s not enough to choose a few simple ways to boost your creativity and do them once. You have to be consistent. The studies suggest that creative arts develop problem-solving skills. So, to develop creativity, you need to practice it.

You need to make a plan and set your goals. Set aside enough time each day to practice your skills, seek inspiration, brainstorm ideas, and more. The more you engage yourself in creative activities, the easier you’ll find inspiration.

5. Become an expert

This doesn’t seem like one of the simple ways to inspire creativity. Becoming an expert in one field requires hard work and a lot of time. However, it is one of the best ways to develop your creativity.

You cannot create something new and innovative if you don’t understand the basics of your field. The more you know, the better your chances of creating something unique. Becoming an expert resembles the idea of the artist’s six stages of initiation.

There are many ways to become an expert. Follow new research, listen to the other experts, read, talk to people, etc. Also, you can speak to creative people and inform yourself about their processes and ways to boost creativity.

6. Use brainstorming techniques

One of the simple ways to get out of the creative block is to use brainstorming techniques. This is a widespread technique in both academic and professional settings. It helps solve problems, generating new ideas and perspectives.

Generate as many ideas as possible and analyze them from different points of view. Consider their qualities and weaknesses and whether you’ll be able to realize them. You can also talk to others about them and get some feedback. Explore a variety of solutions and possible approaches.

There’s no one formula for brainstorming. Apply what best suits you. Also, you can keep creative journals. This way, you can track your progress and maybe get back and develop some old ideas.

7. Use the six hats technique

The “six hats” technique refers to looking at a problem from six different points of view. People tend to focus on one or two perspectives when solving a problem. However, if you analyze it from six different angles, you’ll see it clearer.

• White hat requires you to look at the situation objectively and analyze the facts.
• Black hat refers to negative aspects. You need to find elements of the solution that won’t work.
• Yellow hat refers to positive aspects. Find elements of the solution that will work.
• Blue hat requires you to look at the problem broadly and think of a suitable overall solution.
• Green hat refers to creative thinking and looking for alternative solutions.
• Red hat requires involving your emotions and looking at the problem from an emotional perspective.

There are many other simple ways to boost your creativity. However, not all of them will be equally effective. You must consider what techniques will work best for you. Also, it is crucial to be consistent. The more you practice, the more your creativity will develop.

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Author Bio: Joana Watson is a content writer who has always enjoyed painting. She writes on various topics, but artistic ones are her favorite. She has been writing for Ben Hur Moving & Storage NYC about interior design and DIY projects for the past few years. Besides painting, Joana spends her free time experimenting in the kitchen.

The post 7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Creativity appeared first on Art Business News.

Do you want to get involved in creative work? Are you thinking about getting serious about illustration? Worried that you won’t make enough money and that the competition in this profession is too high? There is still room for you in the niche that interests you! Read this article to find out how to become an illustrator, what training to take, and what difficulties you may encounter.

Who is an illustrator?

It is a person who creates images, graphics, and artistic images for different fields. Most of the images we encounter in everyday life are the work of an illustrator, from cute drawings on postcards to bright and eye-catching product packaging. This profession is perfect for those who live drawing and can’t imagine their life without it. As a rule, an illustrator is not bound to a specific schedule or place. You can paint from sunset till dawn and take breaks whenever you want.

Surprisingly, you don’t have to know how to draw to be an illustrator. Nevertheless, any illustrator should know: fundamentals of composition, color science, and fundamentals of plastic anatomy. These skills are within everyone’s reach, they are built up through frequent practice and exercises. There’s a lot of competition in this profession. To stand out and be noticed, you need to constantly evolve, follow trends, and look for new projects.

Where illustrators can apply their skills

There are an incredible number of areas in which you can work as an illustrator. Everyone will be able to find what they like. Here’s a list of the most interesting and in-demand types of illustrators.

Children’s illustrator

Here the illustrator creates illustrations for children’s books or other children’s products. You must have a certain vision of the world and a unique style.

Children’s illustration consists of several areas depending on age: 0-3 years old, 4-7 years old, 7-12 years old, and teenage illustration. Book illustration will suit those who have perseverance and like to draw not just one illustration, but a series.

Fashion Illustrator

Fashion illustration is the conveyance of fashion and modern trends. It is any illustration that relates to fashion, accessories and clothing. Where can it be seen? In fashion magazines and blogs, in the publishing industry.

Printing Illustrator

Magazines, newspapers, brochures, booklets, banners, business cards, invitations, postcards and, of course, the very pens, stickers and calendars that we often get at some kind of event. All this is the work of a printing illustrator.

Web illustrator

Not to be confused with web design! Web illustration is about creating images from scratch. Not photoshop, collage or icon design. More often than not, a web illustrator is tasked with the creative part of a website concept, which requires drawing something new and unique without using hackneyed images.

Game design

We’re sure that every one of us has played Sims at least once in our lives. This unique game was developed by game designer Will Wright. It has become one of the most influential games of our millennium, largely because it offered open and accessible game design for the first time. If you know games and have an idea how to improve them or make something radically new, it’s time to try your hand at game design!

Food illustration

Who doesn’t love to eat good food? Food illustration will always be relevant and in demand. It’s a true art to portray food in a juicy and attractive way, to taste the food in a rich way and to whet one’s appetite.

Architectural illustration

Architectural illustrators make a drawing come alive and turn it into a neat and clear picture. The illustrator’s job is to visualize and detail an architectural project in an attractive yet accurate manner.

Advertising Illustrator

We encounter advertising every day and feel dizzy with its abundance. However, each of us saw something that attracted the attention so that it forced us to stop and take a closer look.

The ability to create not only a bright corporate image, but to add to it attractive details that will make it stand out from the layer of competitors. That’s what an advertising illustrator strives for.

What is like to be an illustrator

Illustrator is a creative and free person, so being an illustrator you (let’s move to the future, where you can do everything and have already become an illustrator) can choose which income option is closest to you:

1. Working with a customer. You fulfill orders and work on the client’s projects, offer your visual solutions and listen to comments.
2. Selling merchandise. This can be stickers, posters, badges, or textiles (from t-shirts to shopping bags) with your artwork or even sketches.

While it probably won’t make you a multimillion-dollar fortune, it can be a good PR move that will boost your popularity and be much more important than the money.

3. Creating your own info products. As an illustrator with a multi-faceted portfolio, you can teach others who are just beginning their journey into the world of illustration. Whether it is a course for illustrators, a checklist, or a marathon is up to you.
4. Working as an in-house illustrator. Typically, these are companies that need an illustrator to fill a website, app or product packaging with visual content. Or it could be an editorial or publishing house where an illustrator draws covers for articles.

Illustrator’s earnings depend on several factors:

• The projects the illustrator works on. It depends on the illustrator. The competition is high, you need to constantly look for ways of promotion, new customers, and to improve your unique style.
• The field in which the illustrator works. Different areas of work are paid differently.
• Purchasing power of the customer. For different clients and companies, the price of the same illustrator’s work may vary.
• Market averages.
• Popularity and demand for the illustrator.
• Volume of work, time, personal interest, course certificate, and so on.

It is important to remember a few simple rules:

• The greater the responsibility, the higher the cost for the work.
• The more introductory information is given and the fewer the edits at each stage, the less the illustration costs.
• Little-known customers are often willing to pay more than the big brands.

Illustrator tools: what to buy for a beginner?

To work as an illustrator, you need a graphics tablet and a monitor with good color rendering.

To create a variety of images, you need to master: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or their alternatives: SAI and CorelDRAW.

How to become an Illustrator?

There are countless video tutorials on YouTube, which help to understand the technical programs and understand what, where, how, when, and why to click. But an instructor in a video clip won’t give you a hand personally and won’t point out your individual mistakes.

To get a real overview and entrance to the illustration profession, take illustration training courses. There are both online and offline illustration courses, and these will make you comfortable diving into a new field.

If you’re not yet sure if you want to work as an illustrator, take a small course of 3-5 classes. This kind of training, respectively, has a low price. And can be a great way to evaluate your next steps toward an illustration career.

Author’s bio: Jean Hartley is a professional content writer. She successfully works for an essaywriters.nyc service and also manages remote projects. Jean has over 3 years of experience in a worldwide marketing agency.

The post Essential Details You Need to Know About Illustrators appeared first on Art Business News.

Individual appreciation of art makes it difficult to develop a single conclusion on the value of art in the life of a person. For instance, some people appreciate paintings while others would rather enjoy music. The beauty of such music or painting is not considered uniform. For this reason, there is no agreement yet on the value of art in generating happiness.

That notwithstanding, art is individually pleasant. The enjoyment of music, for example, does not require the approval of other people. Here is how art generates happiness for consumers and creators.

Consuming Art

There are successful artists in the world, each operating in a particular sphere. It means that most of people around the world are consumers of art products like music, paintings, sculpture, embroidery, and jewelry, among other forms. How does the consumption of such art bring happiness? Here are a few insights.

• Relaxing

Art is relaxing, moving you to a realm of happiness. Think about music and how it helps listeners to calm down. It gets better when you sing along to the verses or perform music prepared by other people.

Music is also used as a form of therapy during reflection and yoga. Music relaxes the mind, helping you to deal with anxiety and tough situations in life. In a relaxed state, your mind is calm and can handle tougher situations. If you want to calm down the mind and feel at ease, enjoy your favorite or art.

• Relieves stress

Art is a stress reliever. Tour a gallery or attend a festival while your mind is bogged down by heavy thoughts. Dance to music or visit an art gallery. You may also paint to express your anxiety and keep the mind occupied so that you do not get lost in negative thoughts.

Music therapy has been in use for years. Kings, patients, and children enjoyed the music during tough times. It will change your mood instantly when you engage in one art form or the other. Luckily, there are no side effects to using art as a stress reliever. Further, you can enjoy a lot of art free of charge.

• Ignites Creativity

Do you want to be a more creative individual, entrepreneur, or worker? Embrace art and your perspective of life will change. A lot of sadness comes from being stuck with a situation or failure to find solutions. Once you engage in an art like poetry or painting, your imagination limits expand. You begin to see possibilities. What appeared impossible now becomes possible.

A creative person is a happier human being. You first enjoy your ability to solve problems through creativity. The solutions you provide may also come with monetary rewards. This creativity will also send more information into your brain, leaving you more energetic and innovative. All these are ways of deriving happiness from art.

• Builds Beautiful Memories

Visiting new places and engaging with people is one way of packing beautiful memories in life. When you dance or tour a gallery, you are building an album of memories that will become a constant source of happiness. During some of these engagements, you participate actively. For instance, you may paint or sing in a karaoke. You experience instant joy and will live with the memories through the years.

• Keeps you Healthier

A healthy person is a happy person. The reverse can also be true. Once you are happy by engaging in art, you improve the quality of your life, leaving you healthier. Touring beautiful places, participating in art, and engaging people is a great source of happiness.

Participatory art takes the benefit of good health a notch higher. Once you dance for a few hours, the body counts that as physical exercise as well. It sends happiness hormones to the brain, leaving you healthier. Even the avoidance of stress or relieving anxiety through art will count among the contributors of happiness through art.

Art for Artists

Art creators enjoy multiple benefits beyond those of consuming their own art. The process of creation is a great source of happiness. Here are insights on how art will make the creator happy.

• A form of expression

Artists use their creations to express their inner emotions and situations. For instance, a painter may draw a picture as a form of therapy to deal with emotions and frustrations. It also happens when singers release happy and sad songs to express their current state of mind. Once these emotions are released, the artist remains a healthier person going forward.

• Takes you to beautiful places

Art will get you to places you never imagined. Examples are the exhibitions happening in different cities across the world. Traveling with your art comes with incredible joy and fulfillment. At the same time, you meet global celebrities, leaders, and icons in different sectors. Such an experience comes with a lot of excitement, memories, and joy. Without art, such an experience would be impossible.

• Comes with appreciation

The world is made of good people who appreciate beautiful art. Their appreciation gladdens your heart, leaving you happier and satisfied. The satisfaction is only understandable to art creators.

• Source of income

Art is a source of income. The income helps you to improve your quality of life. At the same time, you can use the money to travel or enjoy the good things of life. Such enjoyment of traveling is an incredible source of happiness.

The joy of art is in building a community, offering livelihood to creators, and the overall experience of participating in art. Whether you are a creator or a consumer, you have endless opportunities to draw joy from art. Choose your most pleasant art and build beautiful memories around its creation or consumption.

Author Bio: Anna Johnson is a freelance writer at Mypaperwriter.com specializing in college experience, entrepreneurship, and freelancing. Having worked in these areas, she gives practical and actionable tips. Her joy is to see students create the best college experience and make maximum use of their youthful years.

The post Can Art Really Make You Happier? appeared first on Art Business News.

Where in the world does creativity thrive the most? Canva looked at four countries selected as some of the “most creative” in the latest ranking of the Global Creativity Index and found that the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand contributed around $1 billion in total last year to their respective governmental art programs, which seek to inspire and encourage art and creativity that in turn further build their economies. 

The data shows that the UK has invested over 300% more government funding of their central arts programs than the US and has increased funding by 11% over the past 10 years. Australia has increased investment into their arts programs by 18% and New Zealand by 33% while the US remains the same as it was 10 years ago with no increase in funding.

This means that federal funding in the US is just $0.47 per capita compared to the UK which is $9.46 per capita, Australia which is $5.2 per capita, and New Zealand which is $5.8 per capita.

However, this has not affected the revenue they have witnessed in their creative industries, with the US creative industry worth a massive $804 billion, followed by the UK at $130.6 billion and Australia and New Zealand at $58.7 billion and $2.4 billion respectively.

Canva also investigated the number of creative art degrees completed in the four countries over the past 10 years and found:

• The number of completed visual and performing arts degrees in the US has risen by 7% since 2006-07
• The number of completed creative arts & design degrees in the UK has risen by 17% over the past 10 years
• The number of completed creative arts degrees in Australia has risen by 21% over the past 10 years
• The number of completed creative arts degrees in New Zealand has dropped by 0.5% since 2009.

These increases mask the threats to creative industries and creativity across the world. Terry Flew, Professor of Creative Industry Studies, Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, says, “If there is a global economic downturn, this will disproportionately affect the creative industries. The challenge of digitalization is strong, too, but I also think that imagination exists to make this work, if digital platforms can be convinced (or compelled if required) to be supportive.”

He also cited policy indifference as one of the largest threats to creative industries and creativity across the world at present: “The resurgence of populist nationalism is also an issue, since cultural and creative exports tend to be connected with a more cosmopolitan mindset and openness to cultures from around the globe. They also face existential threats from the power of digital platforms, and their capacity to control distribution to the detriment of content creators.”

But despite challenges, countries can still thrive, and even without the hefty funding as in the US and the UK. Some regions cannot afford to invest into the creative industries or have various other demanding priorities to address. Professor Flew speaks about the bottom-up nature of some regions, such as Nollywood in Nigeria: “Lack of development is also often tied to problems in state capacity, such as corruption or excessive military spending, which in turn inhibits development. In these regions, CCI development is often bottom-up in nature, for example Nollywood cinema in Nigeria – a key challenge is to “formalize” these often informal sectors while retaining their market dynamism.”

Developing creative regions such as Latin America and Africa does seem to be showing some strong positive movements. The British Council’s report on the Brazilian Creative Economy found that there are one million creative jobs in Brazil and 200,000 creative businesses that account for 2.64% of its GDP—an almost 70% increase in the last decade. This is growing at an annual rate of 4.6% per year–more than double the growth of Brazilian economy overall. Fashion is the leading creative industry, followed by music, film and online media, which are all growing in Brazil. Meanwhile, Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world, and the growth of digital and mobile technology and systems means there’s many opportunities for progress powered by creative minds.

As Professor Flew mentions, Nigeria’s booming film industry, named Nollywood, has become the second largest film industry in the world, producing around 1,500 films every year–definitely an impressive number. Over a million people are employed in the industry, making it the country’s largest employer after agriculture, while also making close to $600 million annually, highlighting the wealth of creativity and demand for consuming it across the continent.

Indeed, the worldwide streaming service Netflix, worth billions of dollars, and a juggernaut of creativity and distribution online, has acquired films made in Nollywood and has even been inspired by Africa. They have recently announced the release date of “Queen Sono”, an spy show which will ”showcase an African aesthetic onscreen that the rest of the world has never had a chance to see… exploring the origins of contemporary trends through African eyes and the breadth of ideas that this vast continent has to offer,” according to Dorothy Ghettuba, head of International Originals for Africa at Netflix.

With African art and creativity clearly in high demand, I spoke to the founder of Afripedia, a website where African creatives worldwide can collaborate, create opportunities and inspire the next generation. “While producing the Afripedia series, it became evident that there was a significant group of talents across the continent who had remained underrepresented in the global creative industry,” explains Teddy Goitom, who co-founded the Afripedia project alongside Senay Berha. “Our aim is for Afripedia to serve as the premier search engine to find the best creative talents of African descent, a platform for creative collaborations across Africa and her diaspora, and a global employment pool for future top talents,” says Goitom.

Creativity drives success in every country that supports it. Whether it comes from government sources or independent organisations, investing in arts and culture has a significant beneficial impact on countries as a whole. And with this comes the growth, innovation and fresh ideas that will shape the global society of the future.

About Dan B. Shaw

With many family members working inside the world of art as designers, students and graffiti artists, Shaw has been inspired by artists and creativity his whole life, and remains an interested observer of all things art, using inspiration from all around him to draw on in his current path of digital and marketing.

Canva is a graphic-design and publishing tool for designers and non-designer alike. Canva seeks to inspire creations for use in a wide variety of industries. As advocates for creativity and innovation all over the world, Canva conducted this research to explore, understand, and highlight how important the creative industry is for people everywhere, and what more can be done to open up the doors of creativity for aspiring creatives globally. 

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She was afraid. Afraid she won’t be able to connect with the muse again. Afraid she’d made a choice to have a family, a proper job, and now that part of herself; that wonderful, wild artist is gone forever. Being an artist was something she used to do. What right has she to go back now? It’s not possible to hit the rewind button on your life.

I understand. I spent many years nursing a career in the art business. Only I was promoting other people’s work, not my own. I’d pushed the pause button in my creativity. When I heard the call to return to it, I succumbed to guilt and fear at first. “It’s too late now,” I told myself. It takes years to build a creative career. Why, I could be 50 years old before I saw any sort of success!

But then I went deeper, fast-forwarding into the future. With any luck, someday I’d be 50 years old anyway. How did I want to spend my time getting there? What did I want to show for it? That little voice that’s urging you to make new work or rededicate yourself to your creativity isn’t there to make you feel bad, or to shame you. That little voice is your creativity inviting you out to play. Work doesn’t work without play, you know.
Especially art work.

So forget about having to create a masterpiece or undertake a big project when you’ve
been away from your art for awhile. Forget about the fears and the questions. Take that pressure off, it’s not helpful. Instead, play with your creativity and connect again with the joy that it brings. And then follow that. It will lead you on a journey that will last all your days.

So to restart your creativity, first press “Play.” And then dance to the sound of your own music.

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