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Creative Discipline: The Paradox That Sets You Free

Become Disciplined – Quite the Paradox for a Creative Discipline and creativity may feel like opposites, but in truth they fuel each other. For any artist, maker, or storyteller, finding structure is not about limiting your spark — it’s about giving it the space to shine. In today’s world of instant downloads and global reach, organizing yourself (and your art) is no longer optional — it’s essential. Practical Steps Toward Creative Discipline 1. Organise Yourself Start with the basics. Keep your files neat, your computer folders clear, and your workspace ready to go. Chaos drains energy, while order gives it back. 2. Group Your Images Store photos and artwork in relevant collections or series. That way, ideas are always at hand when you’re ready to share or create. 3. Plan Your Creative Releases Choose a rhythm that fits — weekly, monthly, or seasonally — and stick with it. Consistency builds trust with your audience. If you sa...
Nicky Bourke, Waikanae Paper Artist

The PaperCraft Studio — by Nicky Bourke

Colourful paper artistry from Waikanae, NZ — cards, wraps, aprons, tea towels & more.

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Recent posts

From Attics to Algorithms: Reviving Family Art in the Age of AI

Who I am today is because of who they were — and how we can now share it with others... Why this story matters Art isn’t only what’s on the paper—it’s the hands, the history, and the hilarious detours behind it. I grew up with paint-splattered mugs, half-finished vases, plates, rocks, and a mother who could turn a quiet afternoon into a full-blown creative experiment. Today, I’m bringing those pieces (and my great-grandmother’s watercolours from over a century ago!) out of the attic and into the world—thanks to a very modern toolkit. Growing up in Waikanae, a small town on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand, I spent quite some time watching as my mother learned to paint, asked for feedback, and continued navigating her own life in colour. My great-grandmother was a talented watercolour painter herself, but likely wasn’t aware of how her art would touch me 100 years later—a few of her pieces I’m lucky enough to have and enjoy as wall p...

Never Say Never — Creating From a Moonboot

Never Say Never — Creating From a Moonboot Finding comfort in colour, creativity, and community. It’s been a while since my mind felt full of thoughts worth sharing. A few years ago I broke my ankle; recently I had surgery to repair ligaments and clean out the joint. Six weeks of crutches and a moonboot later, I’m learning a new kind of patience. Not being able to drive, walk far, or do much without help has been its own awakening—and I’m deeply grateful for the love, kindness, and generosity of friends and family who keep showing up. It’s 5:15 on a Monday morning. Boston (my cat) is tucked beside me while rain taps the roof and windows. Creativity feels like comfort today, and the need to express it has me up early, typing away. You know my love for colour and my ongoing search to uncover my creative voice. With mobility limited, my focus has shifted: I’m discovering how technology—ChatGPT, Facebook, Zazzle, Instagram—can carry my thoughts and creatio...

Are You Going The Wrong Way ?

 A Detour Into Creativity – Rebalancing Through Creative Living When the World Feels Heavy: Rebalancing Through Creativity Life doesn’t pause. The laundry piles up, meals need cooking, school pickups happen, bills arrive — all while we juggle work, relationships, and unexpected challenges. Sometimes it feels like walking through Sniper Alley — pressure coming at you from every side. And yet, in the background, life insists on carrying on. A Daughter’s Gentle Nudge A few years ago, after a difficult interview, my daughter Sienna (13 at the time) and I sat in silence, driving home. My mind was racing with everything that had gone wrong. Then, in the quiet, she softly asked: “Mum, is now a good time to tell you… you’re going the wrong way?” She was right — in that moment I had literally taken a wrong turn. But she was also right in a deeper sense. That phrase has stayed with me ever since: Am I still going where I want to go?  Creativity as My Compass I realised I didn’t just wa...

PAINT PURPOSE & NAVIGATING THE MESSY MIDDLE

Life  in the so-called “messy middle” is real. It’s that peculiar phase where everything you’ve been doing to juggle life, work, family, and just existing seems to collide—and your body and mind throw up their hands in protest. For me, it showed up as a feeling of discontent. A “wake-up call” the realisation that I’d stumbled into “Sniper Alley” and the realisations that come to meet you in the "Alley"  I remember laughing with a friend about how entering your 50s should come with a warning label and a welcome drink. Everything starts to feel a bit… off. You push through—because we’re good at that, right? You brush it off, go to work, help the family, show up for friends, and keep moving. But eventually, you notice you’re running on autopilot and that glass of wine or comfy blanket isn’t doing the trick anymore. So I started having those deeper conversations with others—turns out many of us are standing knee-deep in the messy middle too. We’re surrounded by wellness trends, s...