Guest Author - Elsa Neal

The seasonal changes are a very prominent influence for many people – the visual changes are stimulating, and the temperature changes elicit responses from our minds and bodies. People vary in the ways they react to the different seasons and understanding your own response can help you to work more efficiently with the type of energy you have at certain times of the year.

Spring is a very energetic time, full of freshness and new beginnings. This is a perfect time to start a new project, or breathe new life into one that may have become stale. Spring is very visual, and artists may find themselves using more vibrant colours and being motivated by the sight of bright flowers and new shoots to dabble in some nature-inspired pieces, whether or not this is their normal field.

Summer becomes warmer and more lethargic unless you’re lucky enough to live in a mild summer climate. This is a time to put your nose to the grindstone and work diligently on an ongoing project – perhaps the one you started enthusiastically in spring. Summer encourages us to take things a little slower and conserve some energy. You’re settling in for the long-haul marathon, but you still have good supplies of energy in reserve.

Autumn is another visual feast – very different to spring and summer if you’re lucky to live in an area where leaves turn red and golden at this time.
Autumn is the time of harvesting – so use this time to assess the work you’ve done so far and consider your way forward. Is it ready to harvest?

Winter is this time of fermentation, hibernation, and regeneration. Do you feel sluggish and uninspired during the colder months? You need a rest. Winter may be a good time for you to do some gentle investigation of ideas that may have come up during autumn’s assessment, or make initial contact with people you would like to network with.

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Let the seasons inspire and revitalise your creativity. If you need some more ideas, you might like these books from Amazon.com:

A Year Of Creativity : Seasonal Guide To New Awareness

Art Escapes : Daily Exercises and Inspirations for Discovering Greater Creativity and Artistic Confidence