My Friend Jasmine Davis and The Artists Way

If you think you're not an artist. You need to meet my friend Jasmine Davis.

Can you live your life like an artist?

YES is the answer, even if you don’t do art.

Let me introduce you to my friend Jasmine Davis, and The Artist’s Way.

My friend Jasmine Davis

How can you live like an artist while trying to adult and pay your bills?

Today’s piece is a little insight into how to do just that.

I am fortunate to be surrounded by the most incredible people in my life. It’s not so much what they’ve achieved that inspires me but who they are and how they live.

My friend Mary is an incredible singer. My friend Lindri runs her own English Academy whilst being a mom of two little ones. My friend Jenni Green is a founder of the women’s cycling brand Bia Cycling, whilst having health challenges. My friend Chanelle is Marketing Director of one of the world’s most loved brands whilst being a mom to a newborn.

The thing about all of these women that really inspires me is how they live because they show that the impossible, is possible. Accessible even.

And today I want to introduce you to my friend Jasmine.

She’s lived a thousand different lives in one, travelled the globe and even when she walks to the shops she radiates vibrance. She’s been featured on Shutterstock’s up-and-coming photographers’ list. (Oh yes she doesn’t just make art but is an incredible photographer too!)

I’m extremely fortunate to know Jasmine through one of those magical, serendipitous encounters that life brings you. She was born in the US, has lived around the world including Australia and these days, I’m thrilled to say, lives a hop and a skip up the road from me.

Every now and then when it’s just the perfect moment, Jasmine and I get together for a glass of something wonderful outside and talk about life, love, joy, sadness and everything in between.

It’s these conversations that inspire my soul to live more freely and so I wanted to share what I’ve learnt from Jasmine, which also happen to be some of the teachings from the book “The Artist’s Way“.

3 Things I learnt from Jasmine and The Artists Way

1. You ARE creative

Even though I love to write, I’d say I tend to err more on the side of sporty spice. Jasmine however has taught me that you can be an artist no matter what work you do or how you spend your free time because the way we live is an expression of art; how we dress, the way we show up, how we prepare a meal.

We tend to think of creativity as a talent such as art, writing, theatre or music. But creativity is something different.

Let’s take making a cup of coffee for instance. You can extract yourself from your bed, phone in hand scrolling away on social media whilst half-consciously making your coffee. OR you can leave your phone in another room, choose your favorite cup and take a moment to make yourself the most wonderful cup of coffee so you start your day just right. That’s art. That’s creativity.

You ARE creative. It’s in the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you walk and what you practice. If you practice creativity in small ways, you open yourself up to be creative in other ways like painting or cooking or singing (even if it’s in the shower) or in whatever way makes you feel alive.

2. Creativity is a way to connect to your authentic self

I think all of us know when a part of ourselves has fallen away. We focus so much on the practicals of life that there’s no room for anything else. And really it’s not surprising; the world is a crazy place. Just surviving, raising kids and making a living are hard enough.

Now you have to make time to be creative?

No, it’s not that at all as Jasmine has taught me. You can play with being creative in small ways to reconnect to yourself. Ironically, and paradoxically, the practice of trying something new and opening up to creativity can bring you back to your authentic self. A new style of clothes, a new fragrance, doing something creative you wouldn’t ordinarily do…. That’s art.

It’s not only about creating beautiful things. It’s about expressing the depths of yourself. It’s about accessing grief. And about allowing your feelings to be expressed.

3. Practice creativity, not perfection, daily.

I will be the first to say that I’m an A-type go-getter. I am out to get results. And that can often get in the way of creativity.

Jasmine is incredible. She quit her job in marketing some time ago to focus on her art. Every day she goes to her studio to practice her art. She shows up no matter what. She told me it’s been a process of having to learn not to expect perfection but rather to practice creativity.

How to Practice the Artist’s Way

The clue I think is in the question; it’s a practice.

I think the key for me has been in reflection. Thinking about the ways I want to live. Carving out time even if it is for small ways to express my creativity, like this blog.

Here are a few ideas;