Rottnest Island Art Camp

I watched the washing line change daily- dust and sand, broken pegs, wet clothes dropped in the sand, and a strange sense of awkwardness that comes with looking at other peoples knickers in public! It doesn’t matter where you stay, or how many conveniences you leave behind - taking yourself away from one thing and into another - even just for a short time - provides the stimulation essential for a creative mindset to thrive. We look at everything differently, the freshness of seeing the familiar in a different context, a different chance arrangement, a different way of experiencing.

Rottnest camp site.

The washing line.

Crows and Quokkas - Sitting outside Rottnest Bakery

Bathurst Lighthouse, Rottnest 530am

North Thompson looking across to Bathurst.

Finding this spot early, before children started waking, or the island started to move was full of secrecy and escape. A stained red wine glass sat next to me on the bench - left over from last nights long talk I expect.

Creativity teaches us to develop our Growth Mindset.

Start with a growth mindset.

Your true potential is still unknown.

“Creativity and innovation are like muscles - the more we use them the stronger they get.As kids we were all creative but over time so many of us were discouraged in our creative endeavours and eventually focused our energies on more traditional pursuits” Tom and David Kelley

Attitude: Feeling Enough

When we scratch below the surface - who amongst us, does not, at some point struggle with this? It's so easy to feel like we are not enough. Not smart enough, not rich enough, not brave enough. Not talented enough, the list goes on. 

Making Art brings so much to us. It challenges us - and we quickly realise that we are on a long path - so we can't be 'enough' now - because that is always shifting as we get better at something we practice. We also discover that there is no 'right' way of doing things - so we don't need to be anything more than we are right here and now.

It brings us tolerance and persistence, because we quickly realise that if we don't accept and tolerate our shortcomings, novice status or simply our mistakes, then we undo ourselves and our confidence. We are then only left with giving up 'because we are not good enough at it' and that does nothing for us except helping us to get better at giving up.

It also brings us self awareness - because as soon as we feel challenged and uncomfortable about something - then we can take the opportunity to ask ourselves why this is and then resolve or heal that awkward feeling, replacing the 'not enough' with a more positive voice.

Because of these qualities - Art makes us better individuals - If we are better individuals then we are better family members, and better community members - its simple from where I'm sitting!

If you take up the challenge you wont be disappointed - only enriched and empowered.  A life full of creative thinking is a life of endless possibilities and open ended questions...

(pic: This is Lisa - a self declared 'know nothing at all'. She explored and opened her mind via Nature brush class and she entranced herself with her own outcome  - just love that beaming smile. What a Gorgeous lady!)

Fi Wilkie

Art is all about Attitude.

Having the right kind of attitude will make all the difference to how you engage with your creative potential.

Here's a great quote -  “Create something each day – Even if it sucks!”

Creativity is alive in all our lives - It's all around us and it's inside us. 

Make it easy for yourself to be an Art Explorer - don't get caught up on what you do or don't 'know'. It's the discovery that is the important part - the not knowing rather than the certainty.

Be mindful, really pay attention to yourself and what you like and don't like about what you make. 

Stay positive - if you have an open, tolerant attitude towards yourself you are more likely to see the benefits and the little achievements in your art making. Remember Michelangelo said it at 87 - "I'm still learning".

Reduce your expectations of yourself. Would you expect yourself to learn how to play golf off a 3 handicap after 3 lessons? - Your sense of success is all about your intention... just start with the intent to play... and have fun.

Switch off negativity and frustration - these are attitudes you can reset with positive thoughts - you don't know what will happen today - but why not make that the interesting part to embrace!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Top 3 coastal destinations for creativity in Margaret River, 2018

Image: @amazing_wa

1. Indijup Natural Spa

One of the most stunning places to visit - for dramatic rocks, sweeping vistas and amazing ocean aqua blue colours is the north tip of Indijup Beach. There is a bit of a goat track from the north-most parking spot, which leads the painting enthusiast to a natural spa... If you have some good walking shoes and strong ankles you can crab climb to the swimming hole - feel the rush of the waves as they flood over the barrier rocks and bubble up dow into the 'spa'. 

If you have an enthusiasm for photography and people watching you might find it reminds you of an exotic European swimming site - full of backpackers accents from far afield and often quite busy with children and scoop nets. 

The view down to Injidup beach's clean sweeping sands is framed by granite orange rocks and low coastal wildflowers in the Spring.

Image: @modernnomadswithkids

2. Flinders Bay 

Flinders Bay's old boat ramp and the remains of the old railway bridge that brought the big trees out of Boranup Forest further North, provide  a great location for a rock pool hunt with children at low tide where, if you are lucky you'll find purple, red and orange  starfish and lime green Sea Hairs. Further around the corner, find Grannies Pool - hidden and perfectly flat and warm when there is no wind. The swimming is good in high summer and even in winter as this part of the coast often sees a warmer water temp than further up the coast. The Fishing boats at the Boat Marina (drive south towards the lighthouse 2 mins) provide some great sketching opportunities - and a little further on enjoy the Lighthouse (10 min drive)  and the stunning dramatic coastline that leads to it.  For a fabulous stretch of Rock and dramatic landscape Vistas, park at Quarry Bay and climb up onto the rocks heading towards the light house... the rocks here are enormous and stretch over a huge area, Texture, shape and colour variations are wonderful and you can feel like an explorer on another planet. Take your charcoal and a sketching board  and some strong bulldog clips if its windy - you'll have a wonderful time.

Image: @tina_brown71

3. Contos Beach

For a spectacular birds eye view over this stunning beach, park to the very side of the Contos beach road (be careful not to damage the flora!) where you see the Cape to Cape walking track cross over sign. A short walk about 150m will bring you to the cliff top.  At the right time of the year you'll see whales spouting and big schools of fish. To find this road turn off Caves Road into the Lake Caves/ Contos Campsite access road. Swimming at Contos is not recommended as it has dramatic rips.