Emma Shields - Inspiring Creative Stories

Emma Shields and I have known each other for a number of years now and her energy, enthusiasm and inquisitiveness always inspire me. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Emma inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living for the past five years.

Her days are full as she works full-time, and yet she absolutely loves to be creative. So she shares how she weaves mindful creative expression into her days, and how it supports her in her work.

Since I don’t work full-time in an office environment, I love hearing how Emma and other creative hearts manage to carve out time to take care of themselves and express their creativity as part of their days.

Emma took the time to answer my interview questions late last year and I’m so happy she did! I love seeing her creative space, hearing how she sets up for a creative date and much, much more. Let’s dive in!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your paintings? I would love to know what led you to pick up a paintbrush.

Sure! About me.. I’m an INFJ; Relator is my top Clifton Strength; and astrologically speaking I have a Cancer Sun, Virgo Moon and Libra Rising 🙂 I identify as a triple-threat empath, and my pronouns are she/her.

I was a creative and imaginative kid who would get lost in books and crafts. I remember being the only kid at folk art lessons and workshops with the CWA members in the small town I grew up in, and making up beautiful fairytales about spirits living in the knots on trees on the farm where we lived. 

When I started to receive more recognition for my academic achievements, my creative expression fell away, and for many years the stories my inner critic told me went along the lines of, ‘I’m not creative or artistic,’ ‘I’m not good at painting,’ and ‘There’s no point – it’s not a productive use of time!’ 

Eventually, the yearning in my heart to express myself creatively became so loud I couldn’t ignore it. I jumped on the first-ever round of Flourish and never looked back.

Since then my creative practice has evolved to support the many changes in my life: meeting my partner Doran; a career change from being a yoga teacher back to a full-time job; and an interstate move to Melbourne two years ago with Doran and our dachshund Stella.

Creativity is such a beautiful outlet to practice self-awareness, compassion, play, trusting the process, and connecting with other creatives. 

What do you love most about being creative?

What I love most about being creative is the sense of freedom, and the learnings I take from my creative process into life. When I make something out of nothing, I feel resourceful and capable, like anything is possible. The process of raw materials transforming into something beautiful reminds me that magic is real, and nothing ever really ends, it simply transforms.

I exercise my ‘no’ and trust my gut.

I feel free to express myself and do whatever I want without considering anyone else in the process, and I have total control over the outcome. I also enjoy the process and the outcome a lot more if I don’t control it so much 😉

And what are some of the challenges?

Starting can be the biggest challenge! I’m learning how to navigate preparation vs procrastination in order to start.

Another challenge is the inner critic. I love the freedom I feel from creativity, and the inner critic is the gatekeeper to that freedom. My inner critic loves to keep me folded in on myself, small, and silent. It’s been so deeply rooted not just in my mind but in my body, in my nervous system. I find movement like dance or a walk outside really helps me move through my insecurities.

And being gentle with myself and trusting the process!

Can you please describe your creative space? Where do you like to create?

I’m grateful to have a dedicated creative space!

I’ve recently started studying massage, so my creative space has transformed for creative bodywork and my art supplies are now cohabitating in Doran’s creative space. It’s not ideal – I prefer to have solitude – but it’s an evolution in my creativity that I’m happy with for now! And I’ve painted a gorgeous painting in the co-creative space recently. Another lesson on just getting stuck in and going with the flow!

PS – in the photos it looks tidy because I’ve just moved everything, but it usually looks like an explosion and it’s not going to stay tidy!

How do you like to set up for a creative date?

I like to set up by clearing the decks! It’s simple.

Being well-rested; movement, like a walk, dance or play with tumbles/cartwheels; being fed and hydrated; dedicated time and space; clean water, brushes, choosing paints; and finally a big automatic writing session to clear out any to-do lists, worries, or other ideas that I don’t have time for in that session. 

How did you develop your skills?

Lots of experimentation with different styles; attending local in-person workshops that pique my interest; plus guidance and inspiration from Nicola and other creatives.

Has anyone ever made you feel discouraged about your creative expression with their criticism – I hope not – but if so, how did you navigate that experience?

I’m really lucky to be surrounded by enablers! Ha!

Seriously though, being a sensitive soul, I tend to take things personally, so about two years ago I made a conscious choice to not share my creations publicly so I could get to know myself and my process, and grow solid roots for my self-worth and boundaries.

I share only to people I know who are kind and compassionate, and who have skin in the game by being creatives themselves. I’ve built confidence through remembering that everyone has different tastes – they can have an opinion but I don’t have to listen to it!

Seeking constructive feedback and coaching from Nicola as part of the Flourish course this year was incredible for confidence building.

What do you find inspiring? How do you nurture your inspiration?

I find other creatives incredibly inspiring! Seeing others’ creations, and learning about their processes or journey, nurtures my inspiration instantly. The fact we all make our way through a creative process and our inner critic’s story is to be celebrated! And I love getting a sense of a person through their creative expression.

I love going to local galleries, finding new artists, life drawing classes, and researching different techniques or approaches.

I also love walking and taking pictures of tiny details, challenging myself to find different perspectives, or trying different mark-making techniques. 

What is your creative process like? Do you work in seasons, picking up and putting down your creative projects, or do you have a consistent routine?

Both! It’s interesting, the more I’ve grown my creative muscles, the more freedom and less consistency I’ve preferred. Now, I consciously choose what I do consistently, rather than letting habit take over.

Consistently for me looks like rituals. Journalling or automatic writing is something I do every night, as well as tracking my menstrual cycle. I also have monthly rituals using menstrual energy for manifestation.

My creative process seems to involve a lot of thinking, dreaming, resting, percolating; a short period of creative tension without action; followed by a structured time for action. Then there’s another period of rest and review.

I’m still learning and surprised by this process constantly! 

When do you like to be creative? How much time do you spend in the studio during the week on average?

I usually set aside a weekend morning once every few months for painting, although I’d like it to be more often.

I’m currently experimenting with daily doodling as a transition ritual to switch off from ‘work mode’ in the evenings, which is a delight to my heart! 

Does your creativity support you? If so, how do you find it helps? 

My creativity supports me in so many ways. The more I focus on my creativity, even in small mindful moments during the day, the more fulfilled and content I feel in my life.

I’m a better partner, employee and friend when I exercise my creativity.

Have you experienced any gifts in the midst of deepening your relationship with your creativity?

An incredible gift of deepening my relationship with creativity is having a deeper and direct experience of spirituality. It’s gifted me the experience of the divine residing in me and working through me, rather than perceiving it as a concept like ‘the universe’.

I can actually feel a visceral sense of the divine when I’m creating now and I know that I’m part of it, not separate to it.

What have been your emotional/spiritual/physical responses to creative living?

Through creative living, I’ve felt more freedom in my emotional expression. I feel big emotions easier because I know there is an outlet for it. I can see my creative energy is used for everything!

On a physical level, creative living looks like using my menstrual cycle as a creative template. Following that rhythm means I’m more gentle with myself, and manage adrenal fatigue and build energy stores by trusting my body’s creative wisdom and rhythms.

I’ve grown compassionate with myself at my corporate job by harnessing creative living there too. It’s been a wonderful place to observe and document my creative process – even with spreadsheets, committee papers and program delivery! I save as many of my deadlines as I can for my ‘inner summer’, the peak creative season of my menstrual cycle. And when I have deadlines outside of that, it’s about taking more time for cups of tea, a slower pace and asking for help and support when I need it.

What are you reading* / listening to* / cooking* at the moment?

I’ve just started a book called ‘Pleasure Activism’ by Adrienne Maree Brown. I finished her other book ‘Emergent Strategy’ recently which was an epic read, thought-provoking and inspiring.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone wanting to deepen their relationship with their creativity?

Just start!

It’s a practice, not a perfect – make a mess and let yourself enjoy the process!

And to learn more about and optimise your own individual creative process. I’ve found tracking menstrual, moon or other nature-based creative cycles to be a great model for creating balance and ease in my process. 

Thank you so much for sharing your creative life with us, Emma!

Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is open for registration now for the 2020 intake, for a short time. If you would like to make creativity a priority in your life this year, I would be honoured to paint with you and support you in making that intention come true. Please explore the program and details about this fun-filled, supportive, year-long creativity school, right here.

We start in just a few days!