Creative Thoughts on Covid

 Since the COVID stay at home orders arrived I’ve been trying to stay home and only go out for doctors appointments and grocery shopping. Staying in touch with friends has meant daily check in phone conversations. It’s not the same as a face to face with a cup of tea or coffee but you do what you can. Many of my friends are creatives of one type or another. In our morning call we always seem to get to the big question of “Have you been in the studio? Creating? What are you doing?” It seems that the COVID lock down has either made them feel like they’re in a creative desert and unable to do anything or they’re on fire and producing more than ever. There are some who flip flop from one reaction to the other but mostly it does seem to be one or the other.

As for me, I seem to be painting more than usual. I have found the lock down has been good for me creatively. I like painting in the studio and I’m not totally dependent on being in nature or surrounded by other painters to paint. I rely on the references I have photographed and the memory of the experience. Not being able to go and hang out with friends at the cafe or for lunch has freed up my time and so I have more of it to spend creating. This has been a learning experience about how my time can be eaten away so easily with socializing and running multiple unnecessary errands. Don’t get me wrong. I love to be with friends and socialize but I now realize the value of time and how much creative time I was losing. I think this experience has been a good one for me and has made me appreciative of time management. Once we emerge from our cocoon (or cave) into a hopefully better world I think I will be living my life differently. Creative time needs to be factored into timetable regularly and often.