How creative ideas are born
Where do our best, most creative ideas come from? I want to be clear that I’m not just speaking about ideas for art-making but also how we solve other problems confronting us. Creativity is a fundamental tool in the human toolbox that was put there to help us solve problems, get out of a fix, and make something of what we are given.
How creative ideas get born–quickly or slowly?
Some of my best creative ideas take a long time to germinate. Tea and Roses, the small mixed media painting pictured below, went through several iterations before I felt satisfied with it. In contrast, I’ve also experienced the mystery of a painting that seems to paint itself! In some instances, my composition has burst forth with minimal struggle like the mythic Greek goddess Athena who sprung fully formed from her father Zeus’s head. It’s hard to know what accounts for this difference. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether a good idea emerges quickly or slowly as long as we recognize and honor the process.
Entering the garden of the unconscious mind–where creative ideas incubate
When do our creative ideas incubate? Sometimes, just playing with the material itself can suggest possibilities. We can explore ideas through mark-making, pushing the paint around, or other techniques in our toolbox. In the case of collage, I might begin by gathering an assortment of papers I want to work with. Additionally, we might we get excited about an image or idea and spend time exploring it through drawing, sketching, photography, or other modalities. Sometimes we just have to “sleep on it”. If I get to an impasse on a piece I’m working on, sometimes the best solution is to turn the canvas to the wall and let it rest. Interestingly, the next day or week I’m able see my piece with fresh eyes and begin again.
Trying too hard can suffocate a good idea.
The canvas, below, shows evidence of prior attempts. I was trying too hard to created a themed painting for a UMVA group show called “Washed Away” and it was a failed attempt. After the deadline passed and my painting was not complete I whitewashed the whole thing, mostly covering up the underpainting. After languishing in my basement for the better part of a year, I dragged the 30 x 30″ canvas up the stairs to my new studio space in Bath.
Revisiting the canvas–how I got started again
The other evening while working in the Bath studio I decided to start again with the old 30 x 30″ canvas. I began by tearing and gluing some colorful scrap paper shapes to the surface. I used paper from an old phone book I’d wiped my brush on. In addition, I tore up a little abstract landscape study and added those richer colored areas to the composition. Looking at the design and rotating the canvas on the wall, I felt a need to do some painting. So I added warm tones of lemon yellow–Cadmium Yellow Light– and Yellow Ochre with my paintbrush.To cool it down, I came back in with some transparent grey purple. Finally I got the titanium white paint and brought some areas back to white. By doing this, I opened up the space again and was able to echo some of the torn edges of the painted paper. Now I enjoy seeing the relationships between the brushed areas and collaged elements. I’m curious to see where I will take this painting, but for now, I’ll let it rest.
It’s clear to me that I can’t force something to happen and that some paintings just take more time than others to develop! There’s a lot more to say about all of this but I’ll leave it there for now.
Further reading on creativity–Lois Hetland’s blog
In Part VI of their discussion on SubStack, Lois Hetland talks with visual art teacher Joe Fusaro about the skill development process that allows for creative expression in the rest of our lives. I highly recommend signing up for her blog on SubStack if you’re interested in a rich discussion on the creative process.
Creatively yours,
Robin
P.S.
I though you might be interested in knowing that I’m revisiting skill development myself! I’m taking a self-paced online course taught by master teacher Jenny Nelson. It’s fun and challenging to dial it back and revisit the basics of composition. When I’m ready I’ll share some of what I’ve been exploring and learning with all of you.
I took a Jenny Nelson abstract composition course, and really got a lot out of it.
Thanks for your thoughts on where creativity comes from!
Hi Alice, I am on Lesson 3–Interpreting the collage with grayscale painting in warm and cool grays. It’s a fun and educational experience and brings me to the fundamentals. I find that it’s also a way of fine-tuning our ability to see and respond to nuances. Just curious–How did you find her course? One of my other artist friends did the course in February and spoke highly of it.
As for the blog, I love writing to learn. And it’s a pleasure to share my thoughts with others who are receptive. Thanks for reading!
I love this blog post. Wow, WHAT is more important than creativity right now (a statement, not a question). Thank you for helping us to understand that creativity can take time. I’m a writer, not an artist. My newly published book took more than a year to write. And yes, some of that time, it was turned to the wall!
Thank you for your comments. You are an exemplar, Susan. I love hearing about the many ways you are using your insights and wisdom to empower others, especially women. And I look forward to reading your newly published book!
Your post reminded me of a book I read when it first came out and now I want to reread—Sparks of Genius by Robert and Michelle Root-Bernstein, 2001. The authors explore the tools we use to ignite creative thinking. One of the most important tools is “play.” I think you’d find it very informative, Robin. And your new paintings are wonderful! Tea and Roses is intriguing because my Nov. collage color palette (red and green) is confounding me. Also, I think the concept of “Inside and Outside” is a spark of genius!
Hi Linda! Thanks for sharing this book title. It sounds like a good read. Oh, I’m so glad you like my new paintings! Wonderful to have your comments and feedback!