The Things You're Drawn to Matter

Pay attention to what keeps catching your eye.

Maybe it's a certain shade of blue.

Old handwriting.

Flowers.

Uneven lines.

Bits of worn paper.

The same shapes appearing again and again.

We tend to think of these little preferences as unimportant. We like what we like.

We don't always stop to wonder why.

But the things you're drawn to can tell you something about your creativity.

When I look at the things I make, I notice certain colors, shapes, and materials showing up again and again. I don't necessarily choose them on purpose. I simply find myself reaching for them.

For a long time, I thought I should be trying something different.

Maybe I was using too much of the same color.

Maybe my work needed more variety.

Maybe I should move on to something new.

But I've started to think about it differently.

Returning to something doesn't necessarily mean you're stuck.

It might mean you've found something that feels like you.

We all have things that make us stop for a second and look a little longer.

It might be the faded colors on an old sign. The pattern on a leaf. A piece of fabric. The handwriting on an old letter. A combination of colors you see while walking through a store.

Those moments are worth noticing.

You don't have to explain why you like something.

And you don't have to turn every inspiration into a project.

Just pay attention.

Over time, you may begin to see patterns.

The colors you keep choosing.

The materials you enjoy working with.

The subjects you return to.

The kinds of marks that feel natural to your hand.

These small preferences are part of what makes your creativity yours.

You don't have to work hard to develop a "style."

You don't have to decide what your creative voice should be.

Keep making things. Keep noticing what you love. Keep choosing what feels interesting.

Your creative voice may already be there.

You might simply need to notice it.

An Invitation

Take a few minutes today and look around.

What catches your eye?

Notice a color, a texture, a shape, a pattern, or an object you find yourself drawn to.

You don't need to make anything with it.

Just notice it.

And if you find yourself drawn to the same kinds of things again and again, don't rush to change direction.

Maybe they're telling you something.