BS: Renewing creativity

Subject: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 10:13 AM

This thread is to share ideas on how people access their creativity, whatever their creative form of expression is.

I know there is a concept of writer's block, and some musicians and songwriters go through periods of drought. After a long period of not creating much artwork, I have started producing again, and as part of that am noticing the differences that have helped me to get back into it.

my barriers to creativity have included lack of space, being burnt out by work or projects, creating staleness, exhaustion and lack of motivation.

For me, colours evoke feelings, and I find creating shapes, forms, patterns and movement with colour to be uplifting and sometimes liberating. so when it's not happening, a part of life which regenerates and inspires is absent, like a river drying up.

what was the first step that helped bring it back? actually, the decluttering thread! Clearing physical space, giving away or getting rid of unused items in my home, and creating spaces to work and spaces to store my work have been a practical help. Clearing stale, nothing or "dead" energy by removing many non-essential or non-used items.

I have been trying to do the same thing internally, "letting go" of things that make me tense, or put negative or unproductive energy into my life.

it has worked, at present the river is flowing again, and I'm very happy about this.

do you have an experience of a return of creativity? I'd be very interested to hear.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 10:56 AM

Many artists feel that eliminating stress from either therapies or drugs would quash the creative spirit that comes from necessity.
I say
To each his own.

Sometimes you need only ask the overmind witht he aid of allies (Carlos Castenada)

Those with literal minds can do things of great complexity that creative & subjective minded people can not do as well and vice versa.

The literal minded people may have more gene tracers of Neandethal mind characteristics.
The more subjective minded people may have less.

You might be literal minded if satire and parody leaves you cold most of the time or if metaphors are more of a distraction than an enhancment of communication.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 11:05 AM

Discharging the distress surrounding the creativity helps too: see www.rc.org.

A second person paying benign, non-interfering attention while one "plays" also releases a good deal of creativity.

I speak from experience.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 11:09 AM

Two Eds are beeter than one.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 11:10 AM

I find the greatest spur to creativity, is listening to the creations of others. I used to write reams when I came home from a poetry club I attended, in years gone by.

XG

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 11:34 AM

Here is a link to the Mudcat Crafters thread. This is quite a talented group.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: maeve
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 01:31 PM

Nice thread, Freda.

For me it has come along a long road; finding release from chronic migraines by leaving behind my career (with its accompanying fluorescent lights) first, returning to working at home second, and becoming an active part of an encouraging group of friends right here, most obviously and recently. The migraines and the stress of the work situation had affected my memory and language centers quite severely.

As a consequence of those three major changes, I first began to remember lines of poetry and songs learned long ago, then found the words and tunes from my own earlier compositions returning, and finally found myself writing and composing new works. Yes, like a river beginning to flow once again.

The next thing I knew I was singing in Sinsull's Song Circles and in my first Festival as a solo performer. I found I could once again memorize our music for choral rehearsals and performances. The time span involved? Left teaching 2 years ago, and began writing again this past winter with the festival in August.

Now I am clearing out everything that blocks me from those creative expressions that are important to me, with my True Love's support and encouragement. Soon I'll have a washing machine to free me from the hours spent at the washboard, and a workspace that is mine.

I am grateful to those who have quietly helped and encouraged, smoothing my path and helping me be visible and valued. Thank you.

Thanks to you Freda, for this thread and another chance to express gratitude.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Sep 08 - 02:52 PM

I find that I need two things to work: a problem, and a deadline. The "problem" being a creative issue that needs to be resolved, like "write a polka with lyrics about somebody's pink hat." The deadline being, say, Friday in time to practice it for Uncle Stash's wedding.

It would be great to get up each and every morning, do some Tai Chi, make a pot of green tea, then sit in the sunroom and write ten pages before 11am, but I finally figured out that that's never gonna happen.

After being a "professional creative" for many years, the only thing that squeezes the juice is pressure, so what I do is promise things to people, then scrambling to get them done--

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 06:26 AM

I've picked up on my cross stitching again after a while not doing any. I made a concerted effort earlier this year and actually finished one of the large pieces I've had hanging around for years.. of course, I immediately started 3 more so that didn't really work.

However, I've been doing little Christmas designs this last couple of weeks - not because I need to, there are still lots of cards left from last year, but because I wanted to.

I've even designed a couple of new ones, and rediscovered blackwork, giving it a bit of twist with experiments in colour reversal and thread thickness.

It's been 8 years since I did any blackwork.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 07:49 AM

many ideas, many thoughts. interacting, listening to other music, looking at other people's artwork, reading other people's thoughts .. (It's great to hear that the more literal folks may have more neanderthal genes!) yep, for some it sublimating emotions, and for others, talking, dreaming or clearing. M.Ted, I used to work as an illustrator and cartoonist some time back, and those deadlines worked. In a way I'm using them again, by committing parts of the evening to creating.

Maeve you've taken the big step by leaving a career to pursue creativity. What a great process, reminded me of the impact joining a choir had for me in the early 90s, it started a journey down a very long and windy road...

meanwhile, here's links to a couple of artists whose work I have recently discovered:

Bella Volen, a Bulgarian artist who currently lives and works in Vienna

and Hasan Bagdas, a Kurdish artist who lives in Australia

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 11:50 AM

freda, great thread! Thanks for the links. I love Bella's works; some would make beautiful tattoos.

maeve, I am so glad you are here and have shared more with us. I admire you, so much, for what you and TL are doing.

For almost seven years my jewellery making supplies were packed away. We were living with our daughter in a tiny house; then moved; then, our daughter and new grandson moved in with us; then I became ill and had heart surgery. So, I wasn't feeling very creative for a long time. What creativity I had went into helping my daughter with raising my grandson, the Light of my life. Five years after he was born, 3.5 years after surgery, thanks to a Mudcat friend, I have discovered that I CAN still come up with jewellery designs and make things that my clients rave over. I didn't think I had the ability to create, at all, esp. jewellery. I knew I could still write a bit from being on Mudcat and because I wrote a novel two years ago, but the jewellery was just gone. I had no inspiration and could not *hear* the stones as I tried different combos of putting them together. (They always "let me know" if they liked being together.)

Then, earlier this year, when talking with my friend, she mentioned some beads she'd had for years and wished she could find someone who could put together a couple of necklaces for her. I spoke up, not promising anything. She sent me the beads and I started.

It has taken me quite awhile and I am thankful she was so patient, never complaining. I managed to put together three necklaces and she has been quite pleased. I've just spent the last half hour trying to upload photos of them. For some reason none of the sites I am going to are working right. So, once I've figured that out, I'll post some links. Anyway, I am back, in some respects and it feels good!

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 01:35 PM

Here they are: Two New Necklaces with an earlier one, from this summer, also.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Slag
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 04:41 PM

I don't know, Maybe it's depression I'm fighting. Sometimes I feel as though my life was like a wild roller coaster ride, tedium and terror interspersed but as I near the END OF THE RIDE I feel "what's the use?" In the END, you end!

And then there are days I feel like a prisoner awaiting execution. I can't get too worked up about what I want for my last meal. I don't have any real appetite for anything.

You want more depressing analogies? No, I thought not. But it's hard to get creative under these circumstances.

And YET...! When the muse hits! All the lights come on and the day is just that! The day I have, the only day there is and I can't write fast enough, play loud enough or paint quick enough!

Hmmm?! that sounds like I've just described Manic Depression. Well, not enough mania for my taste. Heap it on as I'd rather go out in a flash than just fade to black.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 05:42 PM

Slag - most of us here have had times like that. There were days that I had to force myself out of bed and into clothes... many times I just made it into clothes in time to pick up the child from school. It was during those days that I set myself a target of making one Christmas card a week. Some days it would be one stitch, others a whole design... it does get better. Stay with it!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Slag
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 06:19 PM

In with the good air...out with the bad...in with the good air...out with the bad...

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: maeve
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 06:56 AM

Yes Slag, keep breathing. I still find myself there in the Slough of Despond but it gets better; truly!

I have been making hundreds of photos to document our new lives here on our little farm, but lately the look of the photos is changing. I'm composing as if to prepare for painting. I hope that means I can paint again. Perhaps this winter...

I just gathered most of my jewelry materials together, including my dad's box of supplies. Textile arts materials will be next (quilting, lace making, rug hooking, etc.) Basketry willows will be ready for a first harvest this winter, so I need to plan for accessible storage for them.

Freda, it is a good journey, though not easy. I need a workspace of my own, with materials in some useable order. It's helpful to read the other posts in this thread as I rediscover that center of creativity. I hope this post isn't too long.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Joseph P
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 07:14 AM

Looking back, as a young teenager I had a huge amount of creativity. I created a wide variety of stuff, short films, music, drawings, sound collages (cant think of a better description!). I had really poor equipment back then, so recording and editing film and music was extremely difficult & time consuming, and at times required a lot of innovation.

Time didnt seem to be a factor, I must have spent hours getting things just right, time I just dont have anymore. There were less distractions in those days and I seemed to be able to get a lot done.

Now in my mid twenties I dont seem to have the time, which is the biggest barrier to creativity. Yet when I make the time (girlfriend out for the evening, nothing much to do) the creative flair just dies. Nothing. I end up playing the same old tunes I know on fiddle & melodeon, but cant get myself to even try and learn a new tune.

Come a busy period, or inappropriate time (3am, or whilst at work) I am hit with inspiration to create, yet cant do anythign about it!

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 09:03 AM

Slag,here is another image for random brain sparking ..somepeople don't live in boxes!
maeve, ramble on, it's great to read. kat your beautiful jewellery is stunning. where is that left field? I'm going to roll in it!

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 10:16 AM

The Momo Zone...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nqZwm58QUk&feature=user

BR

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 10:32 AM

photography

If anyone is interested .... here is a link of some of my work

number 6 fotos


biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 05:20 PM

Today I had a pleasant email from a fellow who bought an old camera of mine on eBay a few weeks ago. I wasn't using it, hadn't for probably 20 years, and am not in general planning to go back to using film. He had been wanting one of these Zeiss Ikon cameras and I had bundled in a lot of old filters I wasn't sure anyone would be interested in. He sent a link to a flickr image taken with my old camera here. He's apparently in a group of old camera enthusiasts, or maybe just Contaflex users, and while it makes me nostalgic for the old camera, I am actually more happy that it has gone to someone who will do such interesting work with it!

Letting go can foster creativity.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 06:15 PM

Quite a few people are recycling those old Kodak Brownies, Star Series etc. and producing extremely interesting results.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 07:35 PM

When I think of creativity, Freda, I think of it in terms of brain exercise... That is the ball of wax when it comes to creativity... You mentioned above "great ideas"... Well, creativity isn't just about "great ideas" but "many" ideas... I once took (and have also taught) a class on "creativity and the first class started something like this:

"You have 10 minutes... Write down as many uses that you can think of for old tires."

Most people would come up with 20 or so, which isn't really bad... But at the end of the class, as we looked at the thought processes that go into problem solving when asked a similar question about another object the number of responses doubled...

That's the creative part...

Now on the product/art/crafts side, yes, distractions are just that and if we can get them out of our space then we now have more room for "creating" but without the mental exercises we won't be any more creative...

However, here's the good news... When we clean out spaces we are confronted with a bunce or problems which, in themselves, push the creative buttons and exercise the brain... It's really about problems... That is the motivating force behind creativity...

Just a few thoughts from this way-too-creative-for-his-own-good hillbilly... In other words, I have lotys of problems...lol...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 08:40 AM

you're right, Bobert, about solving problems.

at present I'm working on a series of drawings that are all about solving problems. I start by drawing a geometric pattern, and work on it slowly each evening over a period of days or weeks. I transform it from a rigid pattern by layering colours and flowing lines until it turns into something completely different.

the original structure is still under there, but has been made organic and flowing by the application of moving colours. it's like doing a jigsaw, thinking about balancing colours and line as it develops. the fun thing is, i don't know when it starts what it will look like when it's finished, it is an unpredicatble process.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 08:48 AM

Ah if only I could solve my problem of having to work to earn money to make stuff.... :D

Annyhoo... typically, I've not picked up a needle since posting here earlier this week...

I was looking forward to a weekend of carpet cleaning but can't find a cleaner - maybe I need to do that sewing instead!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 09:03 AM

yep, I have the $ame problemo.... get out the sewing, Liz :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 11:35 AM

biLL, beautiful photos!

SRS, that is so neat...I really like the photo that fellah took.

freda, glad to see someone else loves the Flying Concrete houses, too!

My grandson finally "got it" that someone he knows, in this case Mudcatter Francy who came through town this week, has put their voice on a CD. So, my creative project, yesterday, was recording Morgan singing two songs of his choice, Twinkle, Twinkle and ABCs, and putting them on CD for him to take home to his parents. We had a blast and lots of giggles, esp. when I showed him how we could add an echo, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 12:44 PM

As Pablo Picasso said, ART is a lie that lets you see the truth!"

So I became a teller of tall tales, and told outright boldfaced lies the rest of my life. (almost)


...and that has made all the difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 03:27 PM

those photos are stunning Billd

freda (5.26 am, insomnia)

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 10:06 AM

Picasso, when he saw the work of Australian artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye, said "this is what I've been trying to do all my life".

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 10:27 AM

Get a digital voice recorder and note the idea WHEN you have it.
Write all the ideas in you idea book, mix and match
Let the current moment in time dictate waht project NEEDS to be done today.

handling multiple projects.

The hardest part by far is getting off my ass. The sooner the better . It will only keep getting harder to do the longer you wait.
Most prodjects require certain weather conditions so catgorize projects by what weather permits what.

Ideally a team will do better than an individual so if you have not done as well as you thought you could oas an individual, make a team.

Once you have some success you can hire a team and make art factory style. If you think that is wrong, you are wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 05:23 PM

Marcel Duchamp, the father of the Dadaist movement had another definition of art when he said the "Art is sh*t"... I kinda understand that in that what is left (art) is very much excretment...

Which reminds me of back during my social worker days... I had a fresh-outta-the-state-mental-hospital client who I assited in getting into a rooming house... The following day I got a call from the guy who ran it the rooming house... He was hysterical... Seems that my client musta taken Duchamp's definition of art way too literial... Nevermind the rest of the details but I believe that during all my years I never had to use the term "scatilogical art" in a case file except that one time... Thankfully...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 06:36 PM

as a way of stimulating creativity, listening to/looking at other people's work is the go.

here's a link to an interview with Anthony Mannix, a brilliant Australian artist who also happens to be schizophrenic.

and here are images of artwork by some Australian 'Outsider' artists

people considered to be Outsider Artists often have not developed out of a trad mainstream art world. They are outsiders in that their work can come from extreme mental states and totally unconventional ways of perceiving. the Australian outsider art network has developed with the assistance of Phil Hammial, an artist and sculptor who went in search of artists here and has managed to get them regulalrly exhibited in Australia and overseas.

Subject: RE: BS: Renewing creativity
From: freda underhill
Date: 17 Oct 08 - 08:54 AM

This article from the New Yorker Late Bloomers - Why do we equate genius with precocity? mention the work of an economist at the University of Chicago named David Galenson. Galenson researched the idea that genius blooms young - that the great creators all expressed their talent early. He found it wasn't the case, and that those who took longer worked in a different, more experimental way.

freda