The why

I've always considered myself a 'creative', more in mind and spirit than in practice. I have dabbled in several areas of 'creativity', I play guitar (self taught and hopeless), I have painted and sold some works (derivative stuff and very bitsy piecey), I took art subjects at high school (a period of time that seems to be rapidly descending in to the realms of 'distant past'), I have studied History of Art and Theory at university, I have designed and sewn some of my own clothes, remodeled vintage pieces (again, bitsy piecey).

My current passion or creative outlet is in Photography. A subject taken at High school, it is something I have picked up again in the last 18 months or so, having rediscovered my old camera (Pentax K1000, 35mm) and therefore the inclination to take photos. It should be noted that I did miserably at high school photography - I desperately hated 'artist models' and the personality of my teacher (retrospectively I was just a sh*t of a kid with an attitude - so no wonder she didn't find the 'spark of a genius' or any potential within me). But I loved what I took from the subject, capturing my environment from my point of view, learning the mechanics (although I brushed over alot of 'grudge' work that probably would have helped me now) and the developing. But then life took over, graduating, moving to university, boys and 'the grog'. This need for some creative expression was put into a tiny box in the background somewhere hidden behind a pair of corduory bell bottom pants I, for some godforsaken reason, though were stylish and several cases of cheap wine.

But now I'm older, quarter of a century and in need of something 'more' in my life, something beyond my studies and my job and even my wonderful boyfriend and friends. Something for me, to feed some selfish need I have to be 'special' and a 'creative', an 'artist'. But this want and need has led me to questions:

How exactly do I do this?

Where do I start?

What exactly are the boundaries of what is 'creative' and 'artistic'?

And how do I know when I am one.

So it starts here, I'm going to explore and digest and find what it is that makes others 'creatives' and 'artists' and see how I can do this for myself. I don't know the how yet, but I intend to jump in feet first and hope that I land in the right place and in nothing to unpleasant.