Post #27 Are you creative?

Are you creative? Many times, we can look at a work of art and say to ourselves, wow! that artist is so creative! how did they ever think of that?

We see this creativity as a sort of gift, something bestowed upon only a few select members of society. and to a certain extent, this may very well be the case. However, I believe it is possible to foster creativity at every level. If you are a beginning artist or designer, what you may really need are some good work habits (see post below). Some type of discipline where you will just crank out a whole bunch of stuff. If you draw a tree and a dog, you may ask youself -

what if the tree were bigger? smaller? on the left? on the right? close to the dog? far from the dog? what is the picture plane was horizontal? vertical? what if the dog was this way? or that way? this is a good conversation to have with oneself when creating something.

So these are practical thoughts.

but I believe the most important creative tool you have is, obviously, your mind. Now the question becomes, how do I take this mind, and allow it to be free, to run in circles, to be open to be receptive to the flow of ideas?

Letting the mind quiet down allows your creativity to come to the surface. Artists have a studio for a reason - it’s not just so we have a place to put all our art stuff - its so we have a place to think - a place where we can let the mind simmer down, quiet down. A place where we can listen to our inner drawing, and let it come out.

Now couple a little quiet time with some good work habits, and before you know it, you’ll be cranking stuff out.

Now imagine you were just as creative about your everyday life as you were with your art? What would that look like?

I believe we are all creative people, some express this through art, some through fashion, some through home decor, some through words, some through food, or whatever.

You have this creativity within you - know this. and don’t just yeah yeah me - because what i am telling you is the truth. You are creative. So quiet that mind down, experiment a little, and you will see your creativity come through in ways you never even imagined.

Post #26 good work habits

Very often I will have an idea for a painting, and I can see it perfectly clear before it is even made. I can see the colors, I can see where everything would be placed. So sure, I could go ahead and execute this idea, and probably end up with something halfway decent, or I could do what I actually do - which is draw it out - and make 25 different versions of it.

When you are designing something, or constructing a composition for something, I think one of the most important qualities any artist can possess is to be open to change, and to be willing to experiment. Being able to discipline yourself to not just go with your gut, but to try out many many different arrangements, helps break down barriers in the mind. It also forms as a training device for when you have a creative block. You may end up doing a comp, and then ten variations of this comp. This is a good working habit.

There are so many possibilities and ways to achieve a successful image. Taking the long way down the path sometimes allows you to find the most useful way to do so.

So the challenge here, is to keep playing and keep pushing yourself.

In life, we may ask ourselves - do we always see the end of something as a predetermined destiny? Do we only see it one way? And only having one ending? Or do we allow ourselves to have variations, knowing that there are many ways that life can happen?

It has been said that we become unhappy because our reality does not align with our predetermined idea of how life should be. That if we actually appreciate life as it is, that you will achieve happiness. Well, that's what they say anyways..... (bartender, can I get a drink over here? )

So art or life, your choice, allow yourself variations, take the time to experiment, and yes, go with your gut, but be willing to change, be willing to play, be willing to take the long road, and know that there are many many possibilities waiting for you. yes, I mean YOU!