The benefits of engaging in creative pursuits have been widely studied. Research has shown that tapping into your creative side can do wonders for your wellbeing, including boosting your immune system and improving mental health.
But let’s face it, most of us don’t need a scientific study to tell us that. We all know how good it feels to get lost in a doodle, slap around some paint with wild abandon or dance like no one’s watching.
Living a more creative life is something lots of us strive for, but finding the things that inspire us can be easier said than done. So, we thought we’d ask someone who has spent their entire life thinking outside the box and engaging their creative brain.
Renowned West Wales potter and visual artist, Peter Bodenham, has been making waves in the art world since the mid-1980s. His long career as a ceramicist and art lecturer has given him a unique insight into the benefits of artistic endeavour. Although his creative process results in ceramics and art installations, Peter’s methods can be used by anyone to kick start an artistic project of their own. We talked to him about the processes he uses to inspire his work.
Take inspiration from the landscape
“The West Wales landscape is a naturally inspiring place. As my pottery studio is on the banks of the Teifi estuary, the relationship between land and sea is a big influence on my work. Some of my pieces reflect natural forms like waves and the edges of the coastline. The more speckled work is inspired by the patterns on bird’s eggs and leaves. I’ve also always been interested in the local geology and often pick out pieces of clay from the beach to incorporate into some of my pottery. For our wellbeing, making things is hugely important. I make ceramics, but you can translate what inspires you about the local landscape to any medium – fabric, photography, drawing, writing…whatever you enjoy.”
Be open to seeing the creative side of things
“I collect rubbish and do regular beach cleaning and it’s become quite a creative process that has grown into a project called Neptune’s Bin Bag. It’s been a lock down venture and in terms of creative process, it’s something that other people might find useful. On the beach, you’ll find such a weird collection of objects. I always wonder at the story behind the things I find, like a plastic toy. I also like the way the colours of objects change as they fade and get scratched around. They get bashed up by the sea and the patination on the surfaces are something I’m inspired by in a very painterly way.
I can go down to the beach, collect plastic, make a sculpture and then keep it or stick it in the recycling. It started as just a bit of fun, but I’ve found this project has actually fed back into my main ceramic work, which is really nice. It’s a great way to help the environment and something I’ll be working on with a local school on in the near future.”
Start walking and collecting
“I heard a great phrase that has always stuck with me – that ‘when the body moves, the mind moves’. Walking art projects have always been something that have interested me. I think walking is a great way to boost wellbeing and get creative ideas flowing. I once walked the old drovers’ roads from Cardigan to London with another artist, a stuffed goose and a Jack Russell! We then presented the photographs and drawings we made during the journey as part of a Royal Festival Hall conference on how artists gather their ideas.
Feeding my own creativity means going for a wander and collecting things. I love collecting objects. I’ve also noticed people walking a lot more during lockdown, which is good. One of the other encouraging things about the last year is that it has reconnected people with the desire to draw, paint, knit etc. Once you’ve started something, other creative avenues will naturally flow from that, so I hope people carry on with walking and make time to continue their current creative activities once life has gone back to normal.”
You can find out more about Peter’s work on the Peter Bodenham website and the St Dogmaels Pottery Instagram page. If you want to visit, the pottery and gallery space will be open to the public again once current restrictions ease.
