Introduction
Hello, my name is Addis Belayneh. Welcome to my reflection space on the creative process and I’m so glad to have you here with me. I have been envisioning and inspired to create this platform for a few months now and coincidentally it’s New Years Day that I’m writing the first entry and I’m excited to start this journey with you.
A little bit about myself is that I’m a 25 year old visual artist and writer based in Calgary, Alberta. My academic background is in cellular biology and I am currently applying to get my master’s degree in architecture. My interests vary widely spanning from music, art history, architecture, cinema, literature, and sports. Fundamentally, my hobbies all stem from experimenting with the creative process and expressing myself through different mediums. I love how the filmmaker and painter David Lynch puts it, “The art life is a great life, it’s catching ideas and translating them to one medium or another”. I want to use this space to journal the ups and downs in my artistic journey and hopefully provide inspiration and empower a community of like-minded creatives.
The Creative Process
So what is the creative process? Most of the time, it’s half-formed ideas, abandoned sketches, notes that don’t make sense yet, and quiet moments of doubt in between bursts of excitement. This blog exists for that part of the process—the part we don’t always show. I’m starting this space as a form of creative journaling. A place to think out loud, document what it actually feels like to make things, and remind myself (and other artists) that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. If you’re an artist who’s ever felt stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed by the pressure to create something “good,” you’re in the right place. This blog is an invitation to keep showing up, keep experimenting, and keep creating—one honest step at a time.
Why Your Voice Matters
Today I wanted to share the idea which inspired my desire to create. It gave me perspective on what the purpose was for pursuing my passions. The lesson is this, your voice matters and it’s more important than you think. The way that you draw or sing or dance is a gift that only you can share. The world is in need of your story and the way you choose to express it, whether that be through photography, poetry, or music. Your background and your voice is curated uniquely to reach people and inspire them. So create even if no one will see it. Don’t discredit your talent because of a lack of public validation. If you have an idea then make it, share it, and showcase it as much as possible.
Share Your Work
The reason you put it out there is to be true to yourself and to share your perspective as an artist. There is satisfaction in creating for yourself and expressing how you feel confidently to the world. Because one day your work will connect and engage with others and that is what makes the creative life worth living. Even if you’re just starting out and learning the fundamentals, once you have created material that you’re proud of then you need to display it to others digitally or physically. People want to get an idea of who you are as an artist and when people appreciate your work, it forms a personal connection between you and them. Your artistic choices can give meaning and value to issues that the world has ignored and can create change in the way others think.
A Call to Create
So this is my reminder to you that the time is now to be bold and to create fearlessly. Life is short and there’s a time to be silent and there is a time to speak. The inspiration that you feel today, you may not have that same spark tomorrow. The world is waiting to hear your voice and before you know it people will be listening. My encouragement to you is to reflect on your own creative voice and see where it takes you. I look forward to seeing you on the next entry and let me know what you think.