Be Inspired, Be Creative

I have always somehow been interested in art and creativity.

Growing up, I had many opportunities to watch other artist at work or also learn directly from them. It started with branding leather, creating images from dried pressed flowers, went over stonemasonry, and wood carving, to knitwork, pottery, and jewellery making. Drawing has been a part that I tried for fun or did in school, but never really learned from anyone. I was – and still am- quite impressed by the width of possibilities in the branch of drawings and paintings: the colours, the styles, the material, the objects… as variations are endless, there is no right or wrong.

Over the years, I came to realize, that ideas and inspirations are channelled more or less constructively and for sure cannot always be there upon demand.

What lead me to the project

My arrival to the UK has been linked to a lot of obstacles that brought along some frustration. The upside of it is that I started charcoal drawing and decided to take photographs again. I have been receiving a lot of positive feedback, so that I decided to create to support. Two main reasons have led me to this project: one is the housing situation in Manchester, where rent is quite expensive in my opinion; the other is participant recruitment for my research project. Without incentives, it is difficult to find participants. However, it is also difficult to find research funding that would allow to adequately compensate participants for their time.

I think that regardless of the reason why we are creative, it is extremely important to encourage art and creativity in general. May it be painting, drawing, photography, music, writing, or any other form of art. It can be a way to express something that otherwise cannot be expressed; a way to get inspired and inspire others. And while art is subjective, there will most likely be someone somewhere who appreciates the created piece.

Struggling with the renting situation as well as support options within research, I hoped to find a solution that could improve both. So, I decided to make use of my skills to opt killing two birds with one stone. – Well, actually, it would be three birds with one stone.

The project

This means that I draw or paint for myself, whenever I feel like it. As a means to an end, I will sell my artwork: while a good portion will be used to help me as an artist, covering material costs, and allowing me to set up an art space in a place where I can also properly focus on my research work, 15% will be used to support research projects by creating enhanced incentives to recruit participants.

Other similar projects already exist, and I think that this concept follows a great idea.