“Creativity is contagious. When we spend time with other artistic people, we absorb and exchange a way of thinking, a way of looking at the world… It doesn’t matter if their art form is the same as or different from yours. It’s nourishing to be in a community of people who are enthusiastic about art.” – Rick Rubin

I’ve engaged in so many creative projects over the length of my career – performance art, photography exhibits, a poetry chapbook, a few tango performances, and documentary films. I’ve curated art events, art auctions, and coached people in their own creative works and performance pieces. But nothing has compared to the 10-year process of dreaming up, producing, and now distributing the feature-length documentary The Creative High. The film highlights the work of creative people who have faced addiction.

It has been an epic journey with so many highs and lows. I have felt defeated many times and been ready to throw in the towel – I have also soared to the top of the mountain when the film received awards and grants. It is especially rewarding to hear a roaring applause as the credits roll at a screening event. This is when I know that the hard work is worth it.

The current phase of the documentary is dedicated to preparing and fundraising for a PBS national broadcast in the fall. Every week I take at least a day out to work on the project with my producer, Dianne Griffin, who is a seasoned filmmaker.

This project is a labor of love – and it has affirmed to me that in addition to the love of my work as an expressive arts therapist and teacher – at heart, I am an artist through and through.

How have I gotten here? Many people ask me this as they strive to get their projects off the ground… so here are a few tips:

• Have people support your creative work – a coach/mentor, a partner or team to help you stay accountable, and/or hire some experts in the field to consult with as you grow the project. I could never have gotten to this place with The Creative High without the collaboration of producer Dianne and other valuable members of the film team. We lift each other up and inspire each other in the process.
• Carve out the time no matter what, i.e., dedicate to your art. I waited for years to find the time to do my own creative work, thinking that at some point the seas would part and there would be ample time. But it never came. I needed to start finding the time, even 10 minutes here and there at first. I had to prioritize the work – then the art started to gain momentum and I could re-order my schedule to commit to the process.
• Creating art mirrors life. Making ART is so rewarding, and it is not easy. Like anything in life, there are ups and downs. There are moments when the art-making is bliss, and other times it can be a slog. If I expect it to be fun all the time or think that if it's not flowing I am doing something wrong, then I will quit before I can gain any traction. Keep going!

Anything that has supported you to stay with your creative practice that you would like to share?

Any projects up your sleeve that you want to throw by another person? Feel free to reach out and we can brainstorm!

These photos are from a recent film screening in Madison, Wisconsin, hosted by the organization Recovery.com. They help people find addiction/recovery treatment options around the US. It was a blast!