The Other Side of My Creative World
Creativity has always been a huge part of my life, something I was lucky enough to be encouraged in from an early age. My first formal introduction to art came in elementary school, where we were taken to art classes about once a month. These weren’t just your typical crafts for holidays or school projects; we dove into the work of different artists, studied art movements, and learned to experiment with various mediums. Each session, we focused on a particular artist or artwork and created something inspired by it. Those classes quickly became one of my favorite parts of school.
Outside of school, I was the kind of kid who tuned in to the History Channel or PBS purely for fun—yes, I know it sounds nerdy, but I’ve always been fascinated by learning and discovering how things work. This curiosity naturally extended to art, and over the years, I began collecting more art supplies, exploring new techniques, and learning through trial and error. While I haven’t had formal training aside from a few classes here and there, I’m mostly self-taught, which has shaped a very personal, hands-on approach to my work.
Creating art wasn’t just a solitary pursuit for me, either. Growing up, my mom and I would do a lot of crafting together, whether it was making holiday cards, having pumpkin carving contests, or creating elaborate scenes out of scrap materials for birthday parties. For a long time, my focus was on acrylic painting and colored pencils. That is, until I found photography.
Photography gradually became my primary creative outlet and eventually grew into my favorite medium. But despite that, I still have a deep love for painting, drawing, and crafting. Time and energy don't always allow for it, but whenever I can, I love pulling out a sketchbook for a quick drawing or painting session—it feeds my creative soul in ways nothing else quite can.
I’ve also realized the importance of taking breaks from photography to explore my other passions, which helps prevent burnout and keeps my creativity flowing. Stepping away from the camera for a bit often brings new ideas and perspectives that I wouldn’t have had if I kept pushing. The beauty of it all is that these other passions often influence and complement my photography. For instance, I frequently craft my own props when I need something specific and unique that would otherwise be too expensive to buy or commission. In fact, I recently shared a blog post on how to source and make your own props on a budget.
In many ways, photography allows me to weave together all the things I love—whether it’s designing props, creating set designs, or exploring different visual styles. It’s a perfect intersection of my passion for crafting and creating something visually compelling. Ultimately, these hobbies and side interests help me stay inspired and keep my creative process fresh, which is essential when you’re balancing both personal work and professional projects.