This recent post from Holly over at Decor8 really resonated with me today, so I thought I’d share a little snippet below:

“I imagine that at times it must be nice to not live in uber creative communities because you are able to really be alone with your work and spend time developing it and fine tuning your style. Does this make sense? I guess I think this way because I lived for years in Boston and only when I relocated to southern New Hampshire did I really ’slow down’ enough in my head to focus on my own artistic and creative spirit. Everyone is different of course. I cannot doubt the explosion of creativity I feel whenever I’m in San Francisco, L.A., even parts of the south where I grew up… But you can really be creative anywhere on this planet and though many artists pack up and relocate to the hip cities to be part of the local culture there, there are plenty of artists who do just as well in their little corners, too. If you’re like me, I go to cities to be inspired but I feel completely fine living outside of creative hubs now because I don’t need to be immersed in it 24/7. It almost stresses me out if I spend too much time in New York City, for instance. I like it there but I find equal inspiration walking on the beach in Maine. I think in really creative hubs there are so many people making things that yes, it can inspire, but sometimes it may also feel competitive or stressful… like you must continuously churn out new designs or you are no longer ‘the hottest thing’ in your community.

“I think this is one of many reasons why Americans have such success with their small businesses — the majority seem to support and rely on fellow small business owners knowing that their success comes, not by shunning or excluding others, but by holding hands with others and showing support.”

What do you think? What is your primary creative complaint about living in or not in a city? What is good about being in a rural not-so-artsy locale? I weighed in a little, too, with a comment on Holly’s post:

“What a thoughtful post this was — got me thinking, too. I have just returned from the Squam Art Workshops up in your neck of the woods in NH, where a group of about 125 gorgeous like-minded creatives gathered to support one another in their journey to becoming the artists they want to be, and it culminated with a great little art/craft fair in the local elementary school’s gym, where we could all support the economy of the creative community we had just spent the week nurturing. I think this is a great model for how it is at least starting to work here in the US. Less competition, more support and opening of hearts.

“I live in a very small town in Western Massachusetts. It is very hard for people to connect and network with other artists on a casual scale here, without attending some big event or showing your work in a gallery. The difference is, though, that the few people who do see your work locally are so supportive and excited for what you are doing — just because you are doing SOMETHING. It seems to me that it’s easy to succumb to the excuse of not being in a creative hub (i.e. city) to not create new and different work, but once you get going, there’s nothing to step in your way. Fewer distractions, more natural beauty, fresher air. Wow, I’m inspiring myself to get to work. “