YOUR CREATIVE CONSCIENCE
Visual thinking is a subject foremost on my mind since I have spent my life as an Art student, Art teacher and Designer. I have contemplated, investigated and struggled with the meaning of visual perception for a very long time. Many years ago my college thesis endeavored to analyze the Creative Process in a rational effort to discover help for gifted and talented Art students: help, which I felt was lacking in our educational system and had not been made available, (help which as yet has not been fully endorsed in our educational system even as we speak, considering the most recent research findings in the area of brain research). It is during these years that I have come to realize that the key to understanding creativity does not necessarily begin with a recognition or discernment of individual talent, but that basically everyone has a vital urge and an innate right to be creative throughout life. In retrospect, everyone has an Artist in particular and a Creator in general locked up inside struggling and aspiring to be expressed. It is someone waiting desperately to be released trying to fathom the mystery of those who appear to express and capture life very readily whether it is on a sheet of paper, a canvas or any other aesthetic medium.
“Art is everywhere; it is the unmistakable thumbprint of human
wonder and reflection upon creation and consciousness. RobertPastori and John Bell
There may be no clear agreement as to the function of Art, but we certainly know who the artists are when we discover them. Man is a meaning-seeking creature and we must respect him for that.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up “………… Picasso
In addition to learning not to focus on talent, I have also humbly learned that singling out pedantic studies of the Creative Process is not the most efficient nor even a prudent approach to a full comprehension of the source for creative ideas or invention in general. Most studies become very philosophical, and others approach creativity almost as though it can be explained through scientific research alone, which defeats the purpose and becomes burdensomely technical. For further reading you will find reference to authors I have found important, insightful, dedicated and moving.
The underlying personal ingredients for achieving a creative statement are motivation and Inspiration. These human attributes are the fundamental keys to successful creative experience and cannot be established in left brained rules and exercises. In addition, particular creative concepts lie dormant within us and need only to be nudged to open up a comprehension of aesthetics in Art. We can teach perceptual skills. Perceptions can be changed by Art.
The layman naturally requires verbalization, but at the same time he or she needs to approach verbal perception with caution and an open mind. We need to talk. We are led to believe that it is a crime to ask an artist to explain his work, or it is an affront to the artist when we attempt to describe his creation with ‘mere’ words. Saying something clearly is as beautiful an Art as any object created and should command the same respect. Visual thinking is in itself an Art and a natural process; whether it leads to verbal statement or product making is not the question.
“How do I know what I think, until I see what I say?”
E.M.Foster
It isn’t necessary to walk around establishing or reinforcing a gap between artistic expression and everyday living. People deal with creativity every day in every aspect of daily activity. The problem is breaking down the stereotype of “creativity” as an “Arty” thing rather than a natural approach to life. As an Art teacher I have opened doors and encouraged students to adopt Art simply as a means to be creative and as a result I have profoundly learned that Art most obviously is not the only road a person can take to achieve creative results.
“It is only through science and art that civilization is of value. Some have wondered at the formula: science for its own sake, and yet it is as good as life for its own sake….thought is only a gleam in the midst of a long night. But it is this gleam which is everything.” Poincare
Moreover, art can be and persists today as a great vehicle to transport us considering that we are born with all the tools for it. Art for everyone and everyone for Art.
Creativity is that particular co-ordination between the brain and the eye which in the visual Arts is highly trained and skilled, but which in other areas of endeavor can be “second-guessed,” or at worst is frequently overlooked and too often discouraged. We are rightfully taught to think with our brain, as logic is a very critical part of our power to function. Ironically, many educators fail to explain that it is possible to think not only logically but visually as well in order to “see what you think”. This is not a difficult parallel to make. Education that stresses information communication and fails to encourage graphic ideation will hamper thinking. Understandably by traditional educational standards we are supposed to let the brain do the thinking. This viewpoint has been around since Plato. On the surface it would seem an anomaly to consider thinking with our eyes! However, let’s consider it by reviewing what the Artist sees as a tool to our creative being.
How can we sensitize our vision in order to bring about better solutions to living? In his book “Creative People at Work’, Wallace Gruber suggests that people must work effectively for the survival of our species. The author Edward De Bono has told us to wear a number of “hats” in order to become creative. Gerald Haman has us sit in the Thinkubator. Creativity and Art can put us in touch and enhance our grasp of reality. Our survival depends on our flexibility and on our quick perception. I fully agree. If the creative mind, which is shared by all, is to bring into existence something that was not there before, then we should investigate how this is done and enjoy, instigate and participate in the process. The eye is an incredible tool. Too often we take it for granted and separate it from the brain. We let the brain take control of our thoughts and emotions and we even let it control how and what we see.
The purpose for this site is to expand my dialogue beyond the classroom venue and to give others an opportunity to discuss the creative process. Later on I expect to get into aesthetis, but for now we will concentrate on creativity.
CREATIVTY IS A PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCEDURE
Creativity is a problem-solving situation and Art offers significant insights into that process. If we are able to train the eye to be a better tool to put to use in the problem-solving process of Creativity in our daily lives, then we can proceed to sharpen our visual perceptions as we would sharpen any dull instrument. Amazingly, training the eye can be self-motivated, because one of the best ways to exercise the option is through the eye of the artist that is within you. It is that person some have left behind who always wanted to draw or paint or simply “make” things, but somehow got ignored and pushed back into oblivion while the “other part” of your life moved ahead. The best way to see and understand Art is to put on the artist’s shoes. I will show you how to ‘see’ with the shoes of the artist!
In my defense for this seemingly ambitious endeavor, I quote Jean Cocteau.
“This sickness, to express oneself. What is it?”
