“We’re creators by permission, by grace as it were. No-one creates alone, of and by himself. An artist is an instrument that registers something already existent, something that belongs to the whole world, and which, if he is an artist, he is compelled to give back to the world.”

Henry Miller

It’s now just 2016 and this new portfolio of collected work is finally finished.  I read this quote in a discussion about creating and ownership, and whether or not the makers discussing the topic felt attachment to the pieces they create afterwards – most felt that the pieces they made (potters, woodworkers etc) took on a new life with their new owners, and therefore they felt no attachment to most pieces, instead looking forward to the next idea to be realised.

It’s also applicable to the way I work with my clients – it involves drawing on lots of influences and pulling the individual strands and ideas together to create a cohesive whole, be it branding, a website, a portrait of a character. It is indeed also useful to keep in mind when looking for inspiration for my own creative work, which I hope to do much more of this year.  Happy 2016!