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Creativity as Self-Love: Nurturing Yourself Through Art


It can often seem like a luxury to take time for ourselves in the fast-paced, productivity-driven environment we live in. However, self-care is more than just getting enough sleep and eating healthily, it also includes doing things that make us happy, allow us to express ourselves, and connect with others! Creativity is one of the most effective, yet often forgotten, kinds of self-care. Creating room for creative expression, whether it’s through writing, painting, dancing, or just experimenting with colour, is a method to deeply nourish ourselves.


Colorful mural with a fruit and vegetable rainbow, blue birds, and "SELF-LOVE" text. Background features various patterns and colors.
People Powered Places, Deafroots & SKILLS Stratford Old Town Hall Mural, Newham 2023


Why Creativity is an Act of Self-Love


Creativity allows us to communicate in ways that words often can’t. It provides us with a way to express our feelings, space to think, and a means of re-establishing our connection to ourselves. Engaging in creativity can boost confidence, improve well-being, and lower stress. Above all, it serves as a reminder that we are deserving of happiness, discovery, and self-expression.


Rose and female participant smiling and talking in front of a colourful mural outdoors. Rose wears a blue coat and hat, the other a black fur coat.
Populo Living & Newham Council, Carpenters Estate, Stratford 2023


Three Ways to Practice Creative Self-Love


If you’re looking for ways to bring more creativity into your self-care routine, here are three simple but powerful approaches:



1. Make Time to Create, Just for You


Many of us associate creativity with productivity - we paint for a project, write for an audience or craft with a purpose. But what if creativity could be purely for the joy of it? Set aside time to create with no pressure, no expectations, and no goal other than to enjoy the process. Whether it’s sketching in a notebook, painting with no final vision in mind, or free-writing in a journal, allowing yourself this space is an amazing act of self-love.


School girl drawing on paper with a yellow pencil, surrounded by colourful pens and a ruler on a wooden table. The mood is focused and calm.
Holmleigh Primary School, Hackney 2024


2. Surround Yourself with Colour


Our emotions are significantly influenced by colours. While blues and greens evoke a sense of peace, warm hues like yellows and oranges can infuse you with energy and optimism. One simple method to add more joy to your everyday life is to surround yourself with colours that inspire and elevate you, whether through your artwork, home decoration, or even your clothes. In your creative process, you can also play around with different colours, observing how various colours and hues impact your energy and mood.


Rose and female participant paint a colourful geometric mural on a brick wall. Bright patterns feature zigzags and checks. Cans of blue paint are visible.
Poplar HARCA & The Hill  Group Teviot Estate Mural, Poplar 2022


3. Collaborate and Create With Others


You don’t have to pursue creativity alone. Our sense of connection and belonging is strengthened when we work together to create, whether it’s through a creative workshop, a community art project, or just a moment of sharing ideas and creations. Working together can remind us that we’re a part of something greater than ourselves, generate fresh ideas, and increase our confidence.


4 male participants sit together, with one in focus smiling, and all engaging in a group activity. They wear dark clothing. The background is a light, blurred interior.
Finsbury Park Station & Arsenal F.C Islington, Hackney & Harringay 2023/2024


Embracing Creativity in Everyday Life


Self-love isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about the small, meaningful ways we care for ourselves daily. By prioritising creative expression, we create moments of joy, self-discovery, and connection. Art has the power to remind us that we’re more than our responsibilities - we’re imaginative, expressive, and worthy of creating just for the love of it.

So, how will you embrace creativity as an act of self-love this week? Whether it’s picking up a paintbrush, adding a splash of colour to your space, or joining a creative group, take a moment to nurture yourself through art. You deserve it.


School girl smiling, holding a large drawing of a pink heart with a face. Colourful artwork displayed on the wall behind in a classroom.
Holmleigh Primary School, Hackney 2024


How We Integrate These Practices at Co-Creative Connection


At Co-Creative Connection, we believe that creativity is an effective tool for nurturing ourselves and the community. The goal of our public art projects is to promote both individual and group expression. We establish areas where people experiment with colour, exchange ideas, and add to a common artistic vision while promoting a feeling of community and pride. Through our workshops, we inspire individuals to embrace their own artistic voices, embrace their creativity, and freely experiment. Together, we change not only physical areas but also attitudes, reaffirming that everyone can contribute something valuable.


Rose high-fives a female school girl in a classroom. Kids seated at tables with drawing materials. Wall art and stairs in the background. Energetic mood.
Holmleigh Primary School, Hackney 2024


Let’s Create Together


If you’re looking to bring more creativity, self-expression, and connection into your community or workspace, we’d love to collaborate with you. Whether you want to co-create a mural, host a workshop, or explore new ways to integrate art into your environment, we’re here to help bring your vision to life. Let’s make something meaningful together - get in touch with us today! 💛


Colourful mural with geometric patterns and vibrant blocks. Text on mural includes "City of London," "Higgins," "love," spelt out in blue hearts, and the CCC logo
Higgins Partnerships &  The City of London York Way Estate Mural, Islington 2023









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