Karen S Flynn

Story maker art is born

We’re all creative. Creating is instinctual for children. Children pick up pots and pans and quickly discover the unique sounds that are made through the use of their hands or utensils such as a spoon or lid. Curious and fearless. They push their little fingers through the gooeyness of acrylic paint to create something of their own.

And as these children age, something happens to their creativity. It either is encouraged by a seemingly artistic ‘talent’ or discouraged because their ‘art’ isn’t conformist or someone pursed their lips in such a way to let them know they weren’t living up to an expectation. Perhaps that led to a path of channeling their energy into other areas which masked the magic of creating and what it does for the soul.

One day they wake up as an adult and – boom – have no idea what it means to live a creative life.

Mixed Media Original by K Flynn, 2014

As a child, teen and adult, I was around creativity and encouraged it with my own children. My grandmother, mother, father, uncle, cousins were/are so very talented — quilting, painting, knitting, sewing, cooking, car assembly, bus troubleshooting and repair, bamboo fly rod making, making dry flies, creating music.

Personally, to live a creative life means to look at the world in a non-conventional way. Having a hunger for expression.

Expression to me equates to curiosity. Curiosity equates to fresh ways to life live. New and fresh ways to life live equates to pureness of knowing you. Knowing you equates to being truly happy.

So if the end game to this life is to live it happy, we must create.

Mixed Media Original K Flynn, 2014

That is where story maker art was born.

During my transformation a few years ago, I was told that making a ‘vision’ board was a good thing to have. So I did it. But I didn’t do it like everyone else, I made it my own.

During that process, I explored using other techniques and just, well, dabbled (samples seen here in this post). I journeyed on my own with no instruction book or mentor. Just me, my thoughts, and my creativity — my happy.

This past weekend, I came together with a room of 300 awesome women to explore more on the topic of finding that ‘happy’ and to crack open hearts a little more through story telling and connection. Then it hit me. Why not a visual representation of our story or story maker art?

I’ll be working with a few of the women from this retreat on their story pieces and hope to grow this as a way to not only express myself more but to also serve those of you who would like to have their own visual story as a marker for who they are and what they represent. Stay tuned! I can’t wait to see where this goes.

Keep your eyes open. Listen. Follow your curiosity. Ideas are constantly trying to get our attention. Let them know you’re available. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert