Developing your creativity

In this current age, creativity is prized as a key skill. Employers want employees to have it and be able to use it. However in the educational landscape of the UK at the moment the subjects that develop creativity and being sidelined and seen as less important. Schools are dropping performing and visual arts at a horrific rate.
 

Q: So what is creativity? 

A:      1) The ability to form new ideas and solutions to problems.

           2) To make original work.

Many people just don’t believe that they are creative. All are creative, but we may be creative in different ways. Some are creative in thought and some in making. Creativity, if it is going to flourish should be fostered and developed. There are ways we can boost our creativity and there are barriers to its development.

As an artist, I have faced many barriers to developing my creativity and I still don’t always get it right but I’m getting there. Let me share some of the things I need to watch out for and some of the things I find helpful in boosting my creative development.

1.     Self Doubt – This is the killer of creativity. That little voice that says you are just not good enough. I used to believe this, and then I decided to create things anyway, whether they were good or bad, what I found was that as I became more confident my work became better.

2.     Opinions of Others – This is a tricky one. As Humans we value what other people think and in certain circumstances we need our work validated by others, but this should not be the driver to what we do. Create it anyway and if someone likes it – great. If not just create for yourself.

3.     Taught linear thinking – It’s very easy to get into a linear process when making. Just working towards the final outcome. I know that when I have a very specific idea about what I want the final outcome to be – I always struggle with creating it. Instead – enjoy the journey.

4.     Time – As I work full time, finding time to create is always a challenge. However, I try to use my creativity in everything I do. It makes my job more creative and enjoyable too.

5.     Opportunity – Sometimes we miss opportunities to be creative because we are looking for a particular solution to a problem, rather than looking for alternatives.

6.     Rules – Sometimes they are there to be broken!

1.     Plan time – I will set time aside to work on my designing and creating. It’s not as much as I’d like, but it’s a start, and it does mean at some times I say no to the myriad of other things that need my time. Even if it’s only 15 minutes a day!

2.     Collect, pinch, appropriate – become a magpie, collect things that inspire you, poems, images, items, photographs, keep them! Either physically or virtually. I love Pinterest to help with this.

3.     Explore and experiment – Break those rules. Try something new. A new technique, media. A new theme? Get some training, go on courses and apply what you learn to what you already know.

4.     Collaborate and ask questions – Work with others, learn from others, share with others, join a group, collaborate – all the time ask, “What would happen if…?”

5.     Shower Moments – Keep a notebook. We all have those light bulb moments, usually when in the shower, driving, drifting off to sleep. Keep something to hand to scribble or record your thoughts at those moments.

6.     Don’t be precious – don’t be afraid to push your ideas, take it further. It’s when we push it that new ideas develop and we get out of our comfort zone. This requires courage and resilience as it’s in this place that we allow ourselves to “fail”, for things to go wrong – this can force us to look for new or alternative solutions rather than the safe ones.

Write, think, draw, paint, make, decorate, act, sing, make music, design, engineer, teach, learn. How do you create?