In college I was asked to read The Courage To Create by Rollo May, I was a bit skeptical at first that something could be gleaned from looking at the lives of past artists and creative geniuses. I assumed that inspiration was as fleeting as a dust devil so how could one possibly present inroads into the creative process?
Mark-making was the mindset I was in at the time, focusing on every individual stroke of the charcoal or brush. It was myopic but necessary in order to progress. A popular term for this is “Art Marks”, you’ll often see them around focal points to represent distant objects or atmosphere.
The book does not promise that you will become a genius if you follow the steps but it does show you that a lot of the more creative types have similar patterns amongst them. Starting with long sessions of work, round the clock, with short catnaps, followed by a period of relaxation, like a day off and a hot bath. Sounds funny huh? Well follow me beyond the fold to find out why this makes sense.
The brain processes items similar to our computers, with present time information being stored in a cache-like system. Extreme work sessions will overload these processors hence the need for naps in order to download the information to our subconscious. When the brain cannot hold any more it demands a day off or relaxation period where it can finally make sense of everything inputed since the last relaxation period. This is where the Eureka! moment happens. Often in the tub, or on a walk, or hanging out with family.
Hard to live with someone like that? You bet! Should these people have open connections to the interwebs? That’s a good question ain’t it?
Anyway, anyone no matter what their creative talent is, engineering, architecture, writing, web site development, game development, etc., can benefit from at least knowing about this model. If they reject the model? Hey, that’s what Art is all about.
Peace.
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to let that voice in you speak to you
to take whatever your energy is and however you express it and get it OUT
yeah. so now it’s out. but to now put it out… like, wow, let somebody see it
yikes…
it’s also art and creative to interact with the work of others… cause art seems to be layers of things… the artist, the medium, the audience and whatever else there is… like if you write, maybe it’s the music you’re listening to or if you’re painting, it’s the light and shadows
or the muse of cheney and bush to inspire political commentary that blows us away.
………………..
or if you’re CAPS LOCK ON, it’s the simple line that comes alive
than anything. It’s a great way to get rid of the “brain chatter” and focus on the real stuff.
Also, there was a book a few years ago — Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi — about the mental state where creativity happens and how to get there. Pretty interesting stuff.