Creativity?! Never Heard of Her!

“I’m just not creative.”

Is literally one of the things I hear most.

Along with….

“I wish I was as creative as you.”

“I’m just not an artistic person.”

Or….

“I can never think of ideas.”

And every single time, I smile, because I genuinely don’t believe it.

I don’t think most people lack creativity, I think they lack confidence. Or perhaps more importantly… they’ve never trained their brain to look for creativity.

People often assume creativity is something you’re born with. That some people are naturally artistic and everyone else just has to accept they aren’t. I couldn’t disagree more. I honestly believe creativity is a skill. Just like learning to use your brush, learning acrylic, learning efile or learning to take a decent photograph.

The more you practise it, the better you become.

The more curious you become, the more creative you become.

One thing I’ve learnt over nearly twenty years is that inspiration very rarely comes from staring at other people’s nails, or instagram, or Pinterest, or colour swatches.

In fact, I think sometimes that’s the quickest way to end up comparing yourself to everyone else.

Instead, I try to look everywhere else.

Fashion.

Interior design.

Architecture.

Packaging.

Old or new books.

Pottery.

Cafes or coffee shops.

Garden centres.

Charity shops.

Museums.

Nature.

The walk to school.

Quite literally… anywhere.

In fact, I’m writing this as I’m walking down a gravel path.

That probably sounds ridiculous.

But as I’m looking down, I’m not just seeing stones.

I’m seeing colour.

There’s warm greys.

Cool greys.

Soft beige.

Hints of blue slate.

Tiny flecks of charcoal.

Little sandy tones.

If someone asked me to create a collection inspired by this path, I genuinely think I could. Not because I’m some magical creative person. But because I’ve trained myself to see things differently. That’s the difference.

If I asked ten people to stop and look at this path, most people would simply say, “It’s gravel.”

My brain is already wondering what it would look like as a colour palette.

• Could those colours become a six piece Shades collection?

• Could the texture become a background?

• Could the little flecks inspire a stone effect nail?

• Could the soft blending inspire an ombré?

That’s not talent.… That’s practice.

So here’s something I’d love you to try…

The next time you’re outside, stop for just a minute.

Look around.

Really look.

Not at your phone.

Not at Instagram.

Just what’s in front of you.

• What colours can you see?

• Where’s the light coming from?

• Where are the shadows?

• What shapes stand out?

• What textures catch your eye?

• Could those leaves inspire a shape?

• Could those clouds become marble?

• Could that flower become a colour palette?

• Could that old brick wall inspire a background

texture?

It sounds a little daft, I know, But this is genuinely how my brain works. And it didn’t happen overnight, I had to train it. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Eventually you stop seeing objects and start seeing possibilities.

Another thing I would really encourage everyone to do is learn a little bit about colour theory, and I promise, you don’t need an art degree. Simply but yourself a colour wheel.

They’re only cheap, and honestly, they’re one of the best little investments you can make.

Start learning why colours work together. Why complementary colours create impact. Why analogous colours feel soft and calming. Why some colour combinations feel luxurious and others feel energetic.

Start noticing colours everywhere.

• Look at fashion magazines.

• Watch catwalk shows.

• Scroll Pinterest differently.

• Look at home or pub decor.

• Look at wallpaper.

• Look at fabrics.

• Pay attention to paint charts in DIY shops.

• Even supermarkets are full of beautifully designed packaging that somebody has carefully colour matched.

Everywhere you look, somebody has already made creative decisions.

Ask yourself…

• Why do I like this?

• Is it the colours?

• The balance?

• The movement?

• The texture?

• The contrast?

• The simplicity?

The more questions you ask, the more your creative brain starts waking up.

Another thing I always tell my students is to build an inspiration library.

• Not a folder full of copied nails.

• A folder full of ideas.

• Save photographs of sunsets.

• Interesting doors.

• Vintage wallpaper.

• Tree bark.

• Pebbles.

• Old tiles.

• Leaves.

• Textures.

• Patterns.

• Typography.

Anything that makes you stop and think, “I like that.”

You might never use that image exactly as it is.

But one tiny part of it could spark your next favourite design.

The biggest mistake I see people make is waiting until they feel creative before they create.

Creativity doesn’t work like that. Sometimes you have to sit down, pick up your brush and simply start.

Some days you’ll create something amazing. Some days you won’t. Both are part of the process, so if you’ve ever caught yourself saying…

“I’m just not creative.”

I’d love you to change that sentence.

Try saying…

“I’m learning to see the world differently.”

Because that’s what creativity really is.

It’s curiosity.

It’s observation.

It’s asking questions.

It’s collecting ideas.

It’s giving your brain permission to notice the tiny details that most people walk straight past.

Trust me.

You are probably far more creative than you think

You just haven’t trained yourself to see it… yet.

I