Take Up Space Art, Creative and Life in the Second Act by Catharine Bramkamp
Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Catharine Bramkamp as she shares with us “Take Up Space Art, Creative and Life in the Second Act.” Enjoy!
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Why Another Book on Creativity?
There are many books on Creativity, I know because I own at least 50% of the current editions.
From Julia Cameron to The Work of Art to The Creative Act to Big Magic.
Why another one?
Like all art, we create through our own lens and our own personality.
Take Up Space is written in the voice of that good friend who compulsively delivers helpful unsolicited advice.
She will tell you to begin doing instead of consuming.
She will suggest that you use your art practice to take up space.
And she will cheer you on every step of the way.
When Art Becomes Too Serious
I have found that most advice about art and creativity is sincere and quite serious.
As the sincere book chapters unfold, the advice begins to teeter precariously on the edge of a didactic cliff littered with sharp pontifications and good intentions which you can later use to make a road.
Except for the book —Trickster Makes this World, few creativity books admit that art is not only fun but also subversive.
Art is the Trickster best illustrated by our own Wile E Coyote, a trickster who only accepts the reality of his ACME trampoline/rocket shoes after it’s too late.
But what a ride.
It’s Not Too Late to Take Up Space
Is it too late?
In our second act, there are a few activities and accomplishments that do not qualify as do-overs:
We can’t make a set of new improved children, it’s too late to meet the right Freshman dorm-mate who will later become amazingly influential and lend you a hand in gratitude for all those nights you held her hair.
It’s possibly too late for a bikini.
But it’s not too late to take up space.
Redefining Yourself in the Second Act
How can we use art to Take Up Space?
In life’s second act — opening after the successful career and successful children in that they are not living in the house with you, who are you and how are you spending your days?
Morning Pickleball?
Afternoons scrolling through endless social media posts by boys the same age as your granddaughter?
Are you watching the news so you can blame “them” for the current messy, violent world?
Or would you like to be a bigger, bolder version of yourself, highlighting accomplishments as well as following long ago dreams?
At this point you will learn you can be thinner and gain back hair follicles but we both know that’s just silly.
The Difference Between Art and Hobby
Creativity is a large, popular category.
We can approach any activity with a creative mind-set from origami cranes to field dressing a moose.
But are all those activities art?
As important as they are, no.
Hobbies are goal oriented — a paper crane is successful when it looks like a paper crane.
The moose dressing is successful when the whole of the moose has been moved off the train tracks.
But art, like life, doesn’t follow a set pattern or outcome.
Hobbies are great and they keep us off other people’s lawns, but while ball games are played to win — a hobby– Art (with a capital A) is drinking from the garden hose. You will never know the outcome of that activity. (Although out of all the choices, I don’t think drinking from a non-food grade hose will be the hill our generation will die on.)
Art is the surprise ending you only discover because you began.
Art can be abandoned, worthy of public display or rejected in favor of a fresh start.
Why Do It If There Are No Billable Hours?
Which THEN begs the question if there are no billable hours, why do it?
Doing is the whole point.
As I wrote poetry and published books, I found that people were far more interested in HOW I did a project than the finished product itself.
Second act art is about the process — life giving, life enhancing flow.
Our days can be spent in complete joy, in the zone, in flow.
We can be happy all day.
Every day.
That is what this book is all about — how to capture the light, how to live in the world more alive to the possibilities and the yes, art of it all.
The Transformative Power of Creating
Once you start creating, once you fall into the zone of doing your art, the whole world looks different — better.
Just doing your art will take up space and expand the universe — for all of us.
For an idea of the blog subjects and chapters in Take Up Space (slated to appear summer 2026).
- Avoiding a Benevolent God
- Wasting Time
- Starting Where You Are
- Awe, the Fuel of Innovation
- Creativity as Cognitive Fitness
- The Trickster across Cultures
- Is Art a Luxury?
- Scream Time – how to limit social media
- So, You Moved to Scottsdale
Share Your Art!
What is your art practice?
Did playing the trumpet help you through a difficult time?
Do you dance for the sheer joy?
Do you compose healing poems?
I’d like to include your experience in Take Up Space.
The more we share, the bigger the universe becomes.
I invite you to take a quick survey on your art.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catharine Bramkamp is a successful writing coach, Chief Storytelling Officer, former co-producer of Newbie Writers Podcast, and author of a dozen books including the Real Estate Diva Mysteries series, and The Future Girls series. She holds two degrees in English and is an adjunct university professor. After fracturing her wrist, she has figured out there is very little she is able to do with one hand tied behind her back. She delights in inspiring her readers.
