Why Creativity Matters (Whether You're 8 or 88)
Why Does Creativity Matter? (whether you’re 8 or 88)
Since the early days of smearing mud, or similar substances, on cave walls to tell stories, humans have needed to create. To communicate with each other through art. To imagine intriguing characters, worlds and objects. That instinct hasn’t disappeared; most people just get too busy (or convinced it’s "childish") to embrace it.
But whether you’re 8 or 88, creativity and artistic expression still matter. Especially now. Our lives are loud, stressful, and fast. Creativity gives you space to breathe, think clearly, and make something that’s yours. It allows you to explore until something hits a chord within yourself.
At Upchuckle Education, I see this every week. At Cartoon Camp, in Upchuckle Creative Workshops (UCW), and during private lessons, kids, teens, and adults all come in with different stories but a similar spark. Once the pencil hits the page and the student lets go, everything else melts away and something wakes up. Whether you’re here in Barrie, ON or across Simcoe County for our in-person training, or across the globe and utilizing our online learning, Upchuckle Education is here to support and teach those who wish to create.
Creativity Helps Kids Build Real Skills
For kids, drawing is more than fun — it’s foundational. Creative activities help children:
Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Grow confidence
Express emotions
Develop patience and focus
This is why programs like our Cartoon Camps (running on P.A. Days, March Break, and throughout the Summer) are structured around learning through exploration, humor, and imagination. They serve as a warm, welcoming introduction to a broader world of creativity.
Creativity Helps Teens Find Their Voice
Teenagers navigate stress, uncertainty, and nonstop comparison. Creativity gives them a pressure valve and a place to form an identity. Reflecting on my own journey, I was incredibly fortunate to have art as an outlet—and even more so, the therapeutic power of improv and comedy.
Drawing helps teens:
Regulate emotions
Build resilience
Strengthen focus
Explore and celebrate who they’re becoming
Workshops and classes like UCW for Teens (14-17) give teens structure without pressure—a space where trying, experimenting, and improving feels safe.
Creativity Helps Adults Reconnect With Themselves
Somewhere along the way, adults stop creating because they think it’s “for kids.” It isn’t. Creative time:
Reduces stress
Increases focus
Breaks anxiety loops
Reconnects you with play and curiosity
I see it in my adult students at UCW or in 1-on-1 lessons: That creative spark isn’t buried as deep as they think. It’s just under a thin layer of dust. Once wiped away, that spark ignites into an inferno of ideas! You become focused and present. You can’t doomscroll while sketching, and the stress melts away.
Why We Teach the Way We Do
At Upchuckle, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s growth, courage, and creativity. Our programs are built around:
Encouragement
Clear guidance
Exploration
Zero judgment
Whether it’s Cartoon Camp or a private lesson, the mission is the same: help anyone, of any age, discover what they’re capable of by simply doing one thing: Trying.
Every great idea, every amazing invention, and every moving story started with a blank piece of paper.
From my years as a self-taught aspiring artist in a small town, to my time as a student at one of the world’s most prestigious animation colleges, and later working behind the scenes in post-secondary leadership—I’ve seen the education system from all sides. I know what works, I know what’s missing, and I know how a school should be run. Upchuckle Education is the result of that experience: a place built on quality, respect, and a genuine passion for your growth, backed by my own 20+ year, award-winning career in the animation industry.
You Don’t Outgrow Creativity-it Grows With Us
Kids show us how bold imagination can be. Teens show us how art shapes identity and self-expression. Adults show us it’s never too late to start again.
Until next time, keep creating!
Brad Ferguson
Founder & Director of Upchuckle Education
