We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ceaira Jessamy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ceaira, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I like to engage in art and hobbies that I enjoy. I explore art by trying different interesting styles for various subject matter because if I like or want to wear what I’m working on, there’s a higher chance of creating something great (that other people will also like) than just trying to produce content like a machine.
To continue the flow, I keep an ongoing notepad for interesting images and ideas that swim around my head throughout the day. They could be triggered by what someone says, a stray thought I have in reaction to an event, or just seeing something intriguing. But I’m always ready to add on to my growing list. On the downside—like the backlog of games I’ve yet to play—I have a bunch of designs waiting to be brought to life, but even that has its own silver lining. When facing a stubborn creativity block, I can put the piece down for a mental break and consult my list to work on another design that sparks my imagination in the meantime.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Putting aside my personal views on Shakespeare (it’s a long story), my brand lives by the creed, “The object of art is to give life a shape.” – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” I create what I know or think about the world, and use it as a form to express, digest, and even decompress. So how does this work for ReCreations? A lot of times, this bleeds over into the designs created for the online apparel store for tees, bags and masks (a pre-designed collection on Storenvy). While negativity may seem to have the spotlight today, I hope that ReCreations can shift the perspective—focusing a flashlight on speaking truth through art. Yes, speaking truth in a time when the world seems like it’s either being plagued by constant disaster (natural and manmade) or filled with people taught to walk on eggshells to keep the “peace” may not be safe, but it’s what ReCreations aims to do. To further this goal, expansions are still undergoing preparation, with sneakers, canvas art and character stickers already confirmed; but there have been whispers of other clothing articles and pillows possibly joining the fun as well. So stay tuned!
As for customized commissions on ReCreations’ other site, naturally the focus is bringing the client’s ideas to life. From new and established businesses to personal groups and individual orders, ReCreations has used art to give voice to the mission and desires of others. The three most popular categories lately have been custom artwork, business logos, and tattoo designs. If you have an idea you’d like to bring to life, let ReCreations be your pencil.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The knowledge that I appreciated the most was actually developed and used when facing creativity blocks. So what have I learned over the years with my art? 1) Practice coming back to artwork with fresh eyes (sometimes a good night’s sleep is all that’s needed to find the necessary change or flaw). If a day is not enough, I can take a mental break and turn to my ongoing list for other designs to work on.
2) Never stop collecting research (the world is constantly evolving, so should we).
3) Take a daytrip to jumpstart that spark. Why are so many books and movies based off of true events? Because life inspires art.
If our lives are originally a blank canvas, we are often painted by our experiences—which leads us to take inspiration from the goings-on of life around us.
If the creativity well is looking really dry, I try bouncing ideas off of friends and family. As they say (I know my mother does, at least), “Teamwork makes the dream work.” You might even take it a step further and work on a project together—something I’ve recently taken to more in the last couple of years. The final vision might not be completely your voice, but will be a complementary blend of those who collaborated—and that is something you might not have been able to think of, whip up, or dish out by yourself. After all, two heads are better than one, unless you’re fighting over the last hat.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
“Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” (Emerson) I’ve come to terms with the fact that I often limit myself. Now add on a subtle dose of self-sabotage. Congratulations, you’ve probably found what used to be my comfort zone. “Why?” is what a close friend asked me when I admitted to living that way. I ended up replying that if everyone hopes to be the main character in their own life, I prefer to be a passerby in mine. To justify, I find that those on the outside looking in often see the bigger picture that those involved cannot. However, that same friend told me to push myself, open up more and become the main character since that role has value too. I heard something similar that resonated with me this morning. The darkness that we should be wary of is not evil, but a lack of vision for our lives. How we see the world (and ourselves) can color our day, memories, and views. Since then, I’ve taken small steps to change how I address others as well as events in my own life. Of course, this has affected my art. For the better, I hope. But no more just going with the flow. It’s time to write my own story and trust that the mark I leave behind is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://recreations.storenvy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recreations_imaginarium/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReCreations-101049642423093
- Other: https://recreationsdesign.wordpress.com/
Image Credits
Printful (for models)
