One of my favorite methods of coming up with something new to make, and arguably the most rewarding way to make, is to create something to solve a problem in your life. As creative people, we have so many opportunities to create something to serve us: to meet our needs and add personality and joy to our lives. I think it’s easy to default to buying something to meet our needs, after all that’s the most straightforward way to resolve an issue, but I’ve recently started trying to settle my home (after a long stretch of renting my family and I have settled in a house, and I’m still getting over the fact that I don’t have a lease to limit how I can decorate my home). I’m looking forward to hand making as many things as I can to contribute personality to my home. Creating to solve a problem, while not always the quickest way of fixing something, is a deeply satisfying experience as it lends a sense of appreciation for your making practice. Seeing an object you created contribute to the ease of your life, or your happiness as you interact with it, rewards your making practice. When creating feels trivial, or I'm feeling creatively stuck, I ask myself what problems can I solve? I find myself feeling inspired to create again as I’ll be meeting a need in my life. I’m hoping by sharing how I’ve started creating to meet needs in my life, I can spread some inspiration and help others who may also occasionally face creative challenges as well.
Since I’ve started this practice of asking what can I create to solve a problem, I have a decently long list of things to create and while I’ve only conquered one so far, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve made, and walking by it every day just makes me happy. I carry a purse, so I’m never confronted with the issue of wondering where my keys are- they’re always in my bag by the door. My husband however, carries his keys in pockets, taking them out and placing them who knows where around the house. He’s never had a designated spot to put them, so he’s constantly losing them. I set out to solve that problem by creating a key hook, and honestly the process of creating something to meet this need and fix this problem has been deeply rewarding.
When I was planning a key hook, I knew I wanted to make it more than just a plain hook and something that would contribute visually to the house as well. I wanted it to be a little silly and fun– something my husband wouldn’t overlook and would actually put his keys on. We have three cats, and they’re always underfoot. They’re constantly batting at things playfully and commanding attention. I thought how fun would it be to create a hook where it looks like there’s a cat reaching up to bat at the keys? I sketched something out, and began creating.
Since I was creating a functional object here that was going to be larger in scale, I knew I’d be making with base metal to keep the cost down. I decided on Aureus™ Bright Bronze, loving the long working time this clay possesses, and started off by cutting out the silhouette of the cat.
I added clay, sculpting in an additive method until I had established the general form of the cat. Then I went in with details, and added a bit of texture for the fur, before drying it completely and removing material from the back to reduce the weight. I hand cut a template, and used that to cut a frame from a textured sheet of clay to add my finished cat to. I finalized the piece by adding a post at the top for hanging keys, and carved a catch in the back to hang it by. Since this piece was large and had some differences in thickness, I fired it with a slow ramp of 300°F/149°C per hour.
Once it was fired, I used Patina Gel to add some contrast to the textured low areas, and polished the frame with my Flex Shaft.
Since creating and enjoying this object I’ve started to make other key hooks for gifts, and while those have a touch less personality than the silly cat themed one I created for our very kitty friendly household, I still enjoy what a utilitarian object they are and how they will contribute both aesthetically and functionally to the lives of those I’m creating them for. Other things I’m looking forward to creating to resolve problems and contribute to my household are creating little pill jars for vitamins. I always hate the look of pill jars all over my kitchen counters, but if I don’t leave them out, then I forget to take them. How nice would it be to instead have a pretty little container to open each day? I’m also looking forward to creating spoon rests, curtain tie back hooks, larger ornamental hooks or pegs for hanging jackets and bags, and trinket dishes for keeping rings and jewelry.
All of this to say, if you’re ever feeling stuck in your making practice and needing something to get excited about to reclaim your creative spark, ask yourself what problems can you solve? And dive back into creating for yourself.
