What's New

Creativity, Problem Solving, and Planting the Creative Seed

digital play - trying to portray "What’s new?"

I read an article today about prisoners who in their need for creativity and having no art supplies used coffee, fruit, chocolate etc to impart color - in some cases using their own hair to create a brush.

I have always felt that necessity is a great part of the creative process - improvising, making do, finding another way. Creativity is about problem solving.

For most of us, we have to create some of our own limits to emulate this kind of creativity.  On the other hand - without any exposure like many growing up these days - there aren’t enough crayons for kids to even plant the creative seed.

See Also

• Hair, fruit used by prisoners to create art at Lincoln Center
  about the creation of the art, the artists, and where it is displayed
• Catalogue of art print and cd availability at Outhouse Studios
  above art was created for heading “What’s new!” - it may not stay - but it felt new to me at the time
• The Power of Emotions
  This is the quote which made this feel pertinent:”Emotions Are The “Creative Seed” That Determine Your Experiences In Your Day To Day Life” -Chuck Danes - don’t know the author - read some of site - much seems true - but more interesting that I see this connected - attitude and creativity are also connected

the problem and thinking behind the artwork

Morning Light - digital painting - 2005 - Dan Beck

I chose this piece today - because it came up when I clicked image roulette. I had not written about this particular piece and I can’t always write about brand new pieces.

This particular digital painting has some really wonderful qualities. It was inspired by the incredible light after sunrise that morning - the slight pinkish glow and crisp air making promises of a wonderful day.

I am particularly happy with the clouds in this piece and the way it feels like it is morning.

Because the view was disturbed by buildings from strip malls and full malls alike - I opted to represent them as these giant slabs of rock. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time although I haven’t done it since.

It must have been summer here in Salinas - everything is so brown.

See Also

• Morning Light
  Options for art prints
• Boston Globe Online/Table of Contents
  Quotes from John Steinbeck and old but true article about his relationship with Salinas and vice-versa

Problem Solving, Self Esteem & Awareness, Feeling Alive

With a blog about promoting the creative world, it is probably about time I address the most fundamental question of why creativity is so important. Creativity is the place we find ourselves, see ourselves, and solve problems on our own.

In an article, in yesterday’s Aberdeen News, the author reminded us of the importance of doing things oneself by relaying an experience as a camp counselor and one of the kid’s being grateful for the challenge of putting up the tent. She points out that so much of learning has become about copying and not about problem solving and creating oneself.

In a dual book review in FindLaw’s Reviews- Neil Buchanan points out that both authors "argue, quite convincingly and in different ways, that genuine understanding of social phenomena, large and small, requires creative thinking by well-trained people who are at least willing to question conventional wisdom — because conventional wisdom is far too often formed by prejudices and unexamined assumptions that are unsupported by the facts."

Creativity is the place which allows us to find our own way. It is connected to problem solving and questioning.  It is one of the most important qualities in making us each unique. We are each said to have the Creator inside us - and whatever one’s religious leanings - creating and problem solving make us feel alive and valuable.  Creativity is one of the few places that still holds magic; and I for one, think it is one of the biggest reasons why we are here.

See Also

• AmericanNews: Adults need to regain youth’s creativity
  Discussion of missing creativity and its importance
• FindLaw’s Book Reviews: Shooting From the Hip, or Taking Careful Aim: How Should People Make Decisions?
  Reviews of “Blink” and Freakonomics” - decision making and some political relevance
• Cayman Net News - Art Trekkers get creative at new art centre
  Smiles tell it all - creative activity building self- esteem

Making Do, Found Objects, Found Art, Creative Limits

In a previous article, I wrote about how our physical limitations are a key in both our appreciating art and creating it. Today’s take on this subject is more about making do with what one has.

If you are cooking but don’t have all the ingredients and don’t want to go to the store, you improvise. Not having everything which is ideal is one of the kernels of creativity. Our problem solving abilities in general come from not having everything go our way. Otherwise, there would be few if any problems to solve.

In an article about the American Visionary Art Museum in the Baltimore Sun, it states ,"Painting is a part of the self-taught artist’s medium, but many use materials such as matches, glue, paper plates, crayons, metals, machinery parts and even unraveled thread from wash cloths."  This is an excellent example of people using the things around them to create rather than the neccessarily accepted mediums.

Also in The Oklahoma Daily today was an article about the Firehouse Art Center in Norman, OK. The coordinator states,“You can make art out of anything you can find.”

We are by neccessity limited by the material world. Using found objects or what we have lying around can limit us more. But in doing so, it gives our imaginations the ability to be more flexible in putting together things in ways never thought of before; and as a result it allows us to be more free.

See Also

• Greenwood Commonwealth - Junkasaurus
  Art Alfresco - includes art created from junk
• American Visionary Art Museum - Baltimore Sun
  Description and story of Museum
• Oklahoma Daily - Redefining Recycling
  The Firehouse Art Center
• The Desert Sun
  Transforming Trash Into Art
• ArtDaily.com
  Artist- Nina Canell combines found objects in art