What have Element Young Creatives been up to during lockdown?
Same thing they do every night Pinky …
OK, so maybe Element Young Creatives haven’t been trying to take over the world. But what they have been doing is still pretty radical: they have been using this lockdown time to create original pieces of art - both using Element’s daily creative challenges as prompts, and using their own imaginations as springboards - and they’re great. They’re great not only because they showcase the unique artistic style of each Element Young Creative, but because these art pieces are a super original way to capture the themes, thoughts, and reflections that have come to the fore during this time. They’re time capsules of creativity and contemplation during quarantine.
These pieces also provide those who make them a process of creation that is in itself calming, relaxing, and mindful. Even without a funky finished product, taking the time and space to plan, design, and create is time magnificently spent during lockdown. It allows the mind to settle, the breath to deepen, and the body to relax. When things seem uncertain and uncontrollable, tapping into your own creativity, and feeling a sense of agency over what you can make with your own hands and in your own space, is really important. It’s a vital way of looking after your mental health, and encouraging a positive sense of wellbeing.
And you don’t need an artist’s studio to start making: Element Young Creatives have been finding and using all sorts, so as well as traditional materials, their work has featured scrap paper, phone photography, pressed leaves and flowers, colour co-ordinated kitchen utensils … If you look imaginatively, anything can be an art material!
It’s not just Element Young Creatives who have been busy making: the Element team have also made sure that each working day involves some aspect of creating art. Lockdown has been a great reminder that creativity is the perfect tool for boosting productivity and helping to visualise and find exciting solutions for work challenges. In fact, we can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t benefit from taking time to get artistic. Whether that’s five minutes or five hours, it’s easy to see the benefit. Looking for inspiration? Try one of Element’s #CreateDaily challenges! Find these - and examples from the Element network - on Insta and Twitter. Stay safe, stay home, stay crafty :D
