The creative journey behind my latest abstract collection
To have a "light-bulb moment" the power has to be on.
Jennifer L. Feuerstein
The Gentle Reminders Collection by Louise Brook (2025). HOPE, LOVE, PEACE & HONESTY (left to right)
Creative Inspiration
Being creative is difficult.
Inspiration is magical but it can also be tricky and elusive. It is not something that can be conjured up on cue, or logically thought through until the solution is found. It often appears out of (seemingly) nowhere and refuses to be bound by external timescales or deadlines.
Having come from a corporate background where working through to do lists, being productive and meeting deadlines were the foundation of my daily routine, this is a huge shift and one that is often highly uncomfortable. I think this feeling of discomfort will resonate with most creatives though as, regardless of background, our capitalist society places an enormous emphasis and value on productivity. Inspiration and creativity simply don't play by those rules.
If being creative is hard, then creating abstract art is even more challenging (in my opinion) as there is no fixed or defined outcome...
I often have NO IDEA....
No idea what will happen in the studio.
No idea what the finished collection will look like.
No idea when it will be finished.
No idea when the lightbulb moment will come.
Showing up every day in the studio in the face of such uncertainty is challenging. It often feels much easier to tick things off the to do list and put off studio time for a brief sense of accomplishment. But, those short term wins are just that. Showing up in the studio consistently is essential to create the conditions for creativity and inspiration to flow.
Showing Up: A Consistent Practice
The creative journey behind my latest collection, Gentle Reminders, is a great example of how patience, persistence and trusting the process (for me) are the fundamental building blocks for creative inspiration and the only way to see a collection through to completion.
Work In Progress Images from the Gentle Reminders Collection, Louise Brook, 2025.
These four small mixed media abstracts were started in November 2024 and (with other competing priorities and a break for Christmas) were finally finished in mid January 2025.
Reflecting back on this journey is revealing: my time in the studio was necessarily limited and piecemeal before Christmas and, while I made progress and created some gorgeous layers and textures, it was only in the New Year, when I could dedicate consistent time, that the inspiration for what this collection would become showed up.
I had spent ages adding layers of collage and paint to these mixed media pieces, loving the depth and textures, enjoying the process and the colours. I knew they were going somewhere (slowly), but I also knew that they needed something to finish them off. Something was missing, the collection had a purpose and something to say... something that I couldn't quite put my finger on...
The lightbulb moment came after days of showing up in the studio consistently:
Working
Thinking
Walking the dog...
Repeat...
Then repeat again...
Being Realistic: A Sustainable Practice
You will notice that I included walking the dog in the break down of my creative practice, and this is a key point. Creativity is not confined to the studio; time away is also essential for ideas to bubble away below the surface. I often find that my best ideas and "light bulb moments" come when I take a break from the studio to walk the dog. What I have been working on is fresh in my mind, but I have time to think and consider away from the temptation of doing. That, for me, is a magical combination.
Likewise, it is not about being in the studio, all day every day, trying to grind out a result. Dedicating a few hours, consistently, on consistent days of the week works best for me. I have come to realise that I have a natural creative attention span in the studio, as well as being constrained by drying time. Pushing beyond these boundaries in the name of productivity and "getting things done" risks messing up the work (both from a creative and a smudging the paint perspective).
There is no need for guilt about the lack of an 8 hour day (although I am still coaching myself on this one). The creative process is relentless and continues way beyond the confines of the studio (and the 8 hours!), not to mention running the all the other sides of the business which are essential to get the work out into the world!
The Gentle Reminders Collection
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”— Mahatma Gandhi
The 2025 “Gentle Reminders” Collection by Louise Brook comprises four works entitled: Hope, Love, Peace & Honesty. Inspired by the benefits of nature and art for wellbeing and positivity, these beautiful abstract mixed media pieces incorporate botanicals that symbolise these valuable human qualities. This collection is intended to serve as a Gentle Reminder that how we move through life matters.
This collection uses an exciting mix of acrylic and mixed media, combining layers, collage and 3D reliefs to create depth and texture, drawing the viewer in and providing tantalising glimpses into the artistic journey. The colour palette evokes feelings of comfort and warmth, with pops of fiery red demanding attention, while the realistic botanical silhouettes provide a beautiful focal point for meditative reflection against the rich abstract background.
Details of Original Work
Titles: Hope, Love, Peace & Honesty
Year: 2025
Medium: Acrylic & Mixed Media, on Canvas
Dimensions: 15 x 15 cm (unframed)
19 x 19 x 3 cm (framed, bespoke white floating frame)
Comments