For Tina, it started when she learned French. 

For Clementine, it happened in high school. 

For Delma, her creative inspiration did not happen until she reached her 40s, and she had a kind of mystical experience. 

"I had a spiritual event take place in my life. I saw things in so much more color. Well, I saw the trees and flowers kind of like rubbing into life and colour. I don't know if it was a vision of heaven or what it was, but I became an artist after that," Delma Smythe told the Western Plains App. 

"It was in the 1990s. I was in my 40s. I hadn't done art prior to this". 

Now the long-time Lightning Ridge resident earns an income as a commercial artist - this from a woman who failed art school. 

You don't need to earn money by finding your creative side to flourish, and you don't need to excel at creative pursuit to reap the benefits. Being more creative can help you problem-solve and think more laterally in your job. It is also known to increase happiness and decreases your chances of getting dementia. Studies also show creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress.  It can also help process trauma. 

Tina Pech moved to Baradine from the Central Coast 10 years ago; she became a poet in her mid-20s after learning French in France.  

 "I've always loved reading and writing, but it came about strangely enough when I was living in France and learning French. I'd always liked writing, but I just found that my writing felt awkward - what I wanted to say and what came out were two different things." 

"I think learning a second language, the rules of grammar do not so bind you, and you get this sense of freedom. It just started sounding right, and I just started writing in French, which, in turn, gave me confidence to how I was writing in English". 

Baradine's Tina Pech. 

She said that getting together with other people to share your ideas and see how people interpret different things can help. 

"Some of the best advice for getting more creative is just doing something, the more we act on our ideas or our thoughts, it creates that flow that really generates more ideas; getting started is sometimes the hardest thing. When I was younger, I used to try inspiration, whereas now it's more like inspiration overload; there is inspiration everywhere". 

"My poetry is very freestyle; sometimes it might rhyme, or other times I might use poetic devices. Then an idea just comes into my head, something I've seen or something I've come across, or something I've seen in a book. Inspiration is everywhere. Language, being struck by everyday life". 

Gilgandra's Clementine Belle Mcintosh said that she started to consider a career in the creative arts during high school. 

"I only considered being a professional artist towards the end of High School. I attended an intensive HSC course at the National Art School in Sydney (where I later completed my Bachelor of Fine Art 2018-2020), which really opened my mind to the possibility of making a career in the arts by being taught by full-time practicing artists". 

When asked what enhances her creativity and what works against it, she said, "This is a hard question because sometimes creativity will come about in unexpected places/events. As a rule of thumb, being out bush is always a creative enhancer whether I am actually producing art or just taking in my surroundings. I like to be on the move, as when I am stuck in one place for too long, my art can feel stagnant, lacking exciting, spontaneous energy".  

Clementine's work from a 2022 Exhibition. 

She advises people to "make time to think creatively." 

"Reserve moments through your day to observe your surroundings, considering how things are related to one another or constructed from raw materials. To be more creative starts with being curious and imaginative about how the world around you works".   

Delma Smythe recommends people get involved with their local arts and crafts center - she says the one in Lightning Ridge offers all sorts of courses for people to get in touch with their creative side. 

Lighting Ridge Arts and Crafts Centre. Image: Visitlightningridge.com.au 

Courses include learning to paint, tie-dying, crochet, knitting and making wire-wrap necklaces.

"For example, I teach acrylic painting to the beginning. Learning the basic steps to get you started. It's just offering a service for people who might like to learn. I think it's always good to learn new skills.   

"I think we grew spiritually and artistically in our own time. I love doing art. I forget myself. I just let my paintbrush do the work if I can. I do mostly landscapes with flowers, animals, and birds and the occasional abstract, and it just carries me away."