Get Creative 2024!

January is always bursting with plans for new beginnings and new yous. How about this January, you get back in touch with your creative side? Join my month long challenge and get your imagination flowing.

There really is something special about getting in touch with your creativity and sometimes you just need an encouraging helping hand.

How it works:

1. Each week I'll review methods that you can use to tap into your creativity, whether you're doing so for the first time or coming back to it after an absence. Or maybe you're already enjoying a creative life and you just want to tap into the local artist community!

2. Need inspiration? Each week I will publish 7 days' worth of prompts that you can use in whichever medium you're working in.

3. Join our online community on Instagram using the #getcreative2024 and share your work (if you want to – follow the hashtag even if you’re not ready to share)!

Exploration is key so for the next month so don't be afraid to try things out and see what resonates with you most. Finding out what you don't like is also an important step in the process.

Creativity means many different things to different people and the general universal truth is that no matter the type of creativity you engage in, no matter if it’s “good” or “bad”, the ACT of creating is what matters.

And remember that creativity covers everything from drawing and painting, to writing and singing, making sculptures and making music. There's a bold world out there waiting to be explored!

Some questions to ask yourself:

• When you think of creativity, what does it look like for you?

• Have you any favourite artists or creatives in mind?

• What supplies have you readily to hand?

• Are you willing to give even 20 minutes a day to try it out?

• Is there a medium you want to try out?

For the challenge, I will be focused mainly on painting but that does not mean that you should limit yourself to painting if some other creative outlet catches your fancy.

This week's task:

Try out different mediums. It might be using your kids' colouring pencils, buying a set of acrylics, dusting off the guitar or using your smartphone to take interesting photos. It's not about having the most expensive supplies or being perfect ­ it's about engaging with your creativity and seeing what interests you.

This week’s prompts:

And use our prompts to get you inspired! You can choose which one resonates with you and feel free to use the same prompts on multiple days if you like. This week’s prompts are:

1. Flower power

2. Something in your backyard

3. Bricks

4. Trees

5. The house on the corner

6. Bird

7. Falling leaves

I’m excited to see how you get on. Don’t forget to link to #getcreative2024 and follow me on Instagram!