BEING AN ARTIST MUMMY! BEING A CREATIVE INFLUENCE .

MAMA SNOWBEAR - 22 Jan 18

I initially started this selfish mother blog as a keepsake project., It seems the perfect way to record all the precious memories that we have made and continue to make as a family. Especially as I have always been a keen writer and find it easier to sit at a computer and document everything than keeping an actual journal with lots of sticky bits and fuss, which I have hundreds of in my loft from the pre-computer days.

Over time, it has grown to be much more than a family Journal. It is now a platform for me to speak about all kinds of things, ranging from my experiences as a Mum, arty stuff, to reviews and recommendations, to funny little posts about the giddying highs and crushing lows that come with being a parent, artist, wife, lover and daughter.

All things I review get my own, unbiased opinion, sorry in advance if I offend anyone, Just good honest opinions from yours truly. I am by no means an expert when it comes to parenthood (who out there actually is?) and I do not profess to know all about raising little ones but I can share my experiences and perhaps it may help or comfort someone, we are all in this together and sharing is caring right?.

All I can do is write from the heart and share my own experiences by writing posts, in a candid way, that (hopefully) shall feel as though I am right there talking with you. I do hope that you enjoy them, dear reader, and that you are more than willing to join in with the conversation.

DO PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS OF YOUR EXPERIENCES MUMMIES/DADDIES AND ARTISTS ALIKE WE WANT THEM ALL, JUST NO TROLLING :).

For many artists their mothers were the first source of unofficial influential art mentoring, whether they provided actual instructions or encouraged their creativity by example. We learn from art history that Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s mother was a dressmaker and Gustav Klimt’s mother had an unrealized ambition to be a musical performer.

It is also widely known that Vincent van Gogh’s mother was an artist and that she shared her love of nature, drawing and painting with her son. Mary Cassatt was also greatly blessed. Her lifelong friend Louisine Havemeyer wrote in her memoirs: “Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Mary Cassatt’s mother would know at once that it was from her and her alone that (Mary) inherited her ability. It’s really rather beautiful how we morph into these giant human beings who have all these varied talents, encouragement of creativity is definitely key to personal growth and development. We just need to sit and watch our children to realise how vital creative experiences are.

For me, I have always been about the visuals I can remember someone I met 10 years ago just from the colour of the clothes they wore and their visual representation of themselves but do not make me remember what they spoke of, that snippets gone.
Our early memories of how our mothers and fathers guided our tiny brains to appreciate art and develop our innate talent may last a lifetime and I hope I instil this creativity within my own children. With Mother’s Day in mind, and curious about mother-daughter relationships among artists, I started to do a little digging into what inspired other female artists and just how hard they sometimes have it.

I too am a creative momma and although that’s another juggling act to add to the mix of madness, we do it and it’s bloody awesome. So people please do refrain from telling any working mother including the creative ones that they can not do it just because they can juggle more than you.

It’s amazing how even my own mother who was once a dental nurse moved onto a career in the creative industries, she inspired me when she became a theatrical make-up artist and hairdresser. I can remember being on the set of heartbeat watching her make people look incredible or being on the set of hopes and dreams with the one and only cliff Richard, watching her apply all the sparkles to the cast. Her sheer determination and talent amazed my little human brain and she has always encouraged my creativity from before I can even remember.

It’s because of her that I too am the creative human I have become today, Even though without trouble my mum can paint like an absolute Pro. She puts most of us to shame that’s for sure and she should really do it more often, she is a fabulous painter Picasso, Matisse where are you?

My mother taught me how to be creative, So did my grandmother I’ve watched her make a dress out of remnants, cook a beautiful meal out of whatever there was left in the fridge, and knit cushions to make her home beautiful. She never ‘taught’ me as such, she just did things that influenced me in so many ways, being around her was infectious, even in the way I raise my children.
Dinner always has to be a family event no escape from the dinner table, dinnertime is family catch up time and that’s my grandma in me. Oh and let’s not forget the cakes, the cake baking is entirely my grandmas fault, I’m obsessed.

My Mother and father both gave me my ambitious drive and stubborn determination to stay true to oneself that’s for sure, so why is it as mothers especially creative “mothers” do we get such a hard time? We can often find ourselves to be “frowned” upon which I find a little unfair if I am perfectly honest. I mean people do realise that in order for the world to work, not everyone should be a mathematician, English grad or scientist right?.

Creative professionals and hobbyists have a valuable place in this world, otherwise how would any of you have interior design inspiration or work in the giant laboratories or accountancy buildings that ahem “someone” has designed? And that accountancy program you use someone has made that too and lets not forget all those beautiful business merchandise advertisements that help you sell your products, someone designs that shit too.

I mean come on, why would you even be attracted to go see a film at the movies if it wasn’t due to creative influence and oh wait “the movie” you just went to see it only exists because someone “created” it and brought it to fruition. So, when you’re running around passing judgement because someone is not part of the STEM SUBJECT CREW do not make him or her feel any less worthy than you do. Because guess what guys creative humans rock too and they are responsible for a lot out there that we all take for granted, they need applauding too.

Let’s not even get into the conversation of women working within the art world, that’s a topic for another night. What I do no is that we all collectively need to be a little bit more respective of the creative industry before it disappears, not every child is going to be the next man on the moon so make the effort for the creative mini ME’s too.

PS Creative MAMAS and PAPAS YOU ROCK! KEEP GOING.

MAMA SNOWBEAR

Mother of 2,Artist ,creator,blogger and illustrator who enjoys lots of tea and the occasional glass of malbec :)

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