What is a Creative Block?

September 28, 2009 by 2 Comments

Recently, I’ve been running a little dry on ideas for this blog. So, I followed my own advice and tried to break through this block. I went for walks hoping for inspiration. I sat quietly waiting for a sign. I threw myself into other creative projects looking for a connection. And finally, I just let it go. I didn’t agonize over it anymore.

Then it hit me this morning.

When is a creative block not a block but rather just part of the incubation phase of the creative process? As a huge proponent of this process, I realized that my block was just the natural progression of my creativity. While most people look at their block as paralyzing, I just found mine uncomfortable. I was able to acknowledge that feeling, let it go and wait for my next creative blog idea to appear, which I admit I am still waiting for! But, I am confident it will be here eventually…

  • How do you handle your creative blocks?

Image Jay Marr

Filed Under: Creativity

What Innovation Means to Me

September 10, 2009 by 2 Comments

Too often people confuse creativity with innovation. To me, creativity is about coming up with new ideas, while innovation is the application and (hopeful) success of those ideas.

Yet, when I think of innovation I don’t necessarily think first about products. Lately, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on this and understandably this is what innovation usually gets associated with.

But there are other ways of looking at innovation. I think more about innovation as creating new concepts – yes those concepts will probably end up as products – but I don’t believe innovation starts with products. Earlier this year, trendwatching.com published “Innovation Jubilation” 50+ new business ideas that defy doom and gloom. The article mentions everything from the DIY trend to mapmania as concepts that are transforming business.

Another useful way to look at innovation is personal innovation. This type of innovation involves improving you and your life. Matt Heinz recently posted about this in Five Ways to Create Innovation Throughout Your Life. He writes about using innovation to improve everything from you relationships to your future.

  • What could you innovate?
Filed Under: Business Creativity, Creativity, Ideas, Innovation

Join a Collective Art Project

August 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment

One of the biggest myths surrounding creativity is that of the solitary genius. In Group Genius: the Creative Power of Collaboration by Keith Sawyer, small sparks in the creative process, usually from outside sources and sometimes happening over time, are explained as the true nature of creativity.

Similarly, the Internet is now making this type of creativity the norm. A recent online article declared: “Strangers gather on Web to make collective art.” People are connecting virtually to create everything from an Opera for London’s Royal Opera House to an animated film. These types of collective art projects aren’t for artists only but encourage everyone to participate in the creative process, which is why I think they are such great ideas.

Image CNN.com

Filed Under: Art, Creativity

Creative Advertising

July 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Have you seen this commercial for BMW?

I just saw it a few nights ago. It was one of those rare times when I actually stopped and took notice of a television commercial, because it was so creative. I was captivated by the use of a car and paint to create a large scale art work seemingly inspired by Jackson Pollock and Abstract Expressionism.

Filed Under: Artists, Creativity, Painting

Creative Check-In

July 6, 2009 by 3 Comments

I am not a person who sets goals on January 1. I’ve tried. Actually, people who know me have heard me talking for months now about writing down my 2009 goals. Well, now that 2009 is almost half over, I’ve created a better technique for setting goals.

It’s a mid-year creative check-in. I did it this weekend with the extra time I had to relax and reflect. I find the sun and the warmth of summer more hopeful and inspiring than the dreary winter when the real new year starts, which was why a mid-year check-in worked for me.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

    1. How am I feeling creatively?
    2. What creative projects have I completed in the last 6 months, 3 months, 1 month
    3. What creative projects have I started that need to be put aside or completed?
    4. What new inspiration have I found? Where?
    5. Have I tried to create in a new medium? If not, what can I try?
Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration

My Favorite Creativity Blogs

June 22, 2009 by 4 Comments

People always ask what creativity blogs I read on a regular basis. So I’ve put together a brief list to answer that question.

Creative Perch
Dee Wilcox is the author of this blog that has the simple goal to inspire creativity and encourage innovation. I love Dee’s ability to balance practical creativity tips with real life examples of public art, especially guerrilla art.

The Fertile Unknown
This blog written by creativity consultant extraordinaire Michelle James explores the process of creative emergence and what that looks like in life and work, especially business.

Applied Imagination
This is the blog I go to when I want to know what’s new in creativity. Steve Dahlberg does a wonderful job of sorting through the latest news on creativity and posting some of the most interesting ideas out there.

Creativity at Work
Looking at the intersection, or interplay, as author Linda Naiman refers to it, between art, science and business is the focus of this informative blog.

Life Unfolds
Jennifer Lee is a self-described Certified Coach, Writer, Leader, Artist, Yogini and Musepreneur. Her colorful and always creative blog chronicles her personal journey of creative expression.

  • Check out my bookshop for more of my favorite creative reads.
Filed Under: Books, Creativity, Innovation, Inspiration

Creative LA

May 18, 2009 by 2 Comments

I’m no Richard Florida, but I think LA is one of the most creative cities. After my latest trip there, I am now further convinced by this. Why?

1. Location: Not only does LA have inspiring warm weather and beautiful light, but the ever-changing landscape of this metropolis is simply breathtaking. Whether you travel to the beach and become mesmerized by the ocean, drive through the awe-inspiring mountains or simply admire all of the colorful flora, LA is a feast for the eyes and imagination.

2. Attitude: The vibe in LA changes from community to community, but for the most part there is an underlying casual attitude that encompasses the entire area. Such a vibe can only foster the creative spirit and encourage you to take creative risks.

3. Diversity: Not only is the landscape diverse, but so are the 10 million+ residents that inhabit Southern California. Everywhere you travel, you see evidence of cultural diversity and often hear another language or two spoken nearby. There is such an assortment of inspiration around every corner.

  • What’s your favorite creative city?
Filed Under: Creativity, Imagination, Inspiration

World Creativity and Innovation Week

April 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

Have you heard about World Creativity and Innovation Week? It runs from April 15 – 21 and is a worldwide celebration of you guessed it, creativity.

The ability to imagine and create is something we are all born with but sometimes forget to use. This week is dedicated to fostering that spirit of ingenuity.

 

Filed Under: Creativity, Innovation

Creative Patterns

March 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment

In my last post, I encouraged readers to increase their observation skills by looking closely as a tool to enhance creative thinking. I even described my own experience with this new way of looking at the world. I continued that exercise on my recent trip to Washington, DC – a city in which I lived for many years.

So you might assume that I had already seen everything there. But with my camera in hand, I learned there was a lot that I had missed. Mainly they were small details that I had overlooked in the past.

For example, above, I captured textiles at the National Museum of African Art. The textiles have similar colors and patterns and blend together to create a new pattern in my cropped image of them.

It made me stop and think how patterns can inspire creativity. Creativity is really about connecting existing patterns or objects and creating something new much like the textiles above.

  • What can you combine to create something new?
Filed Under: Creativity, Creativity Techniques, Imagination, Museums

Twitter Tips for Creatives

March 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment

I am a recent convert to Twitter. I resisted the temptation to join, because like most people, I didn’t understand the benefits of tweets.

Last month, I finally took the plunge and joined Twitter. Once on the site, I immediately got hooked on finding other creatives to follow and reading their tweets and checking out their links.

I also found this article on Tweetable Art: 10 Twitter Tips for Artists. Some of the suggestions like linking to works in progress and your blog are pretty standard social media marketing, but I really like the idea of starting a collector’s club by setting your account to private and offering discounts to those who follow you. Don’t miss the comments section where there are even more tips.

Filed Under: Artists, Business Creativity, Creativity
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