Finding Your Creativity

Consequently, every time you ask a question, you are in a small way exercising your creativity. (Thinking beyond that what you know) This is because that question is in most cases is asked to satisfy a need, and more often than not, a personal need. (How to do I…, What if…, Can I…, etc)

Hence creativity can be a bridge between what we know and what we want to know. (To satisfy that need) However, it is not the only way to gather knowledge. But, for the artist wanting to do a drawing or a painting, the no-how on how to apply their creativity is paramount.

So often people say to me ‘I am not very creative’. Rubbish! Just because they do not have the need to produce art, it does not mean that they don’t have other needs to exercise their creativity. Creativity can be applied in many ways.

Before I move on, I need to briefly highlight the fact that creativity can be applied in many ways, as discussed on the page Artistic Creativity.

On one end of the spectrum is Technical Creativity that is closely linked to theories on creative thinking, commercial design and business. Where people structure new theories, technologies or ideas in a logical manner to create something functional, or for a purpose.

At the other end is Artistic Creativity, which is more intuitive and tends to the right brain way of thinking. It is impetuous and plays to typical right brain characteristics such as being subjective, random, spatial, and spiritual with a tendency to risk taking and personal bias.

Then between the two is that varying mix of technical and artistic creativity. Some activities may require a more technical approach whereas others may well tend more to the artistic side. Even within art, some studies will be more practical approach whereas other studies will be structured in a more intuitive manner.

The problem with the so-called ‘lack of creativity’ comes about when the need is not that well defined or appears irrelevant to the situation. Consequently, the solution is seen as being a brick wall. If for example the piece of art you want to create is a college assignment or a commission then the requirements would be more obvious. But if you have very little or no idea on what to draw you have to find a motive to build on.

Now let’s look at how to apply your creativity to find a motive. There are 3 basic stages and they are Input, Compute and Output. What makes your creativity so dynamic is that each stage is biased to our personal ‘attributes’. Those being, our personal abilities, experiences, background, beliefs and the like. But beyond that, there is something that is unique to every one of us. It is what makes you what you are. That is, your intuition or sometimes referred to as your spark.

Stage 1. Perception.
Input is primary what we see. However, what we see is sometimes part of a bigger experience. Consequently, it will have a more indelible effect on you. Which in tern may have either a positive or negative stimulus on our perceptions of that particular object, event or topic.

Stage 2. Interpretation.
The way you think is obviously the core of your creativity. It is here where your perceptions of the real world are shaped by your own ‘attributes’. The outcome of which can sometimes be ‘not easily explained in words’ but in your mind is seen as a real possibility. For example you could be given an opportunity that appears to make perfect sense, but you just have that ‘gut-feeling’ that tell you that something is not quite right.

Stage 3. Expression.
Probably the first thing to say regarding expression is to have faith in that voice beyond reason. Follow those gut-feelings and do what comes naturally to you. Create art that you can relate to and choose topics that are passionate about.

Initially, it is difficult to transpose that unwritten language into something tangible like a piece of art. Experiment, take a chance and don’t have any expectations, just see what happens. Once you have mastered something, use it. For it is from that familiarity that you will find satisfaction, conference and reward.

Once that ball has been set in motion you must keep it on the move. You will notice that you begin to see things differently, your perceptions will become more refined and those gut-feelings will obvious.

No it’s not a ‘quick fix’, it is going to take time. But there will come a time when the process of creating art become more rewarding that the result. Or to put it a way that many successful artists have said, ‘it becomes a passion’ and that can only snowball.

I have compiled a page "Exercise your creativity" that is designed to help you recognize the creative process. Have a look!

Once that ball has been set in motion you must keep it on the move. You will notice that you begin to see things differently, your perceptions will become more refined and those gut-feelings will obvious.

No it’s not a ‘quick fix’, it is going to take time. But there will come a time when the process of creating art become more rewarding that the result. Or to put it a way that many successful artists have said, ‘it becomes a passion’ and that can only snowball.

I have compiled a page "Exercise your creativity" that is designed to help you recognize the creative process. Have a look!