Creativity: the seemingly illusive gift some have and some don’t. It’s the spark behind great ideas and new combinations. It’s the ability to see other options; to look at the world through an usual set of eyes; to challenge a norm and to make something new and beautiful. Sadly, the desire to create often lies dormant in a human soul, though daily it longs to stretch its dusty wings. I love being creative. I strive to become more creative; to create a small etching on the face of humanity with my work.
Those who embrace their creativity are inspiring. Take Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius. He was someone of unquenchable curiosity with a feverishly inventive imagination. He was a self taught artist, architect, musician, geologist, and scientist, who birthed ideas before his time. He was the ultimate “creative”. How did Leonardo Da Vinci do it? How do any of us nurture and guide the creativity that is housed within us?
1. “Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse
Nothing new was created without something old being challenged. For this, courage is needed. Courage makes you embrace the uncertainty you feel in the gap from old to new. Courage is the fabric of daring and different. To dare is to try and fail, and courage is that which causes you to pick yourself up time and time again in the pursuit of your goal.
2. “Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.” – Leo Burnett.
Why? Why do things happen the way they do? Why do we do things a certain way? This generation’s minds have become as lazy as an old dog and we’ve opted out of the habit of challenging what we hear. We must become curious again – creative minds are endlessly reading, researching and seeking answers. Again and again and again.
3. “Make visible what, without you, would perhaps never have been seen.” – Robert Bresson
Too often we look at how difficult it will be instead of seeing the roof of a church turn into an artwork. Or imagining a device that allows you to speak to someone across the world at the touch of a button. If you cannot see it, my friend, you cannot create it. Think big before you think small. Push into possibilities before you rule out ideas because of probabilities or practicalities.
4. “Logic will take you from A to B, but imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein.
All humans have the ability to think with logic and imagination. To ignore one is to cut off your left arm because your right arm is stronger. When you use both parts of your brain your final solution becomes stronger and more unique. Combine logic and imagination and you have art and science, emotion and machine. You have magic found in a beautiful contrast.
5. “You can not spell painting without pain.” – John Lithgow
The human heart is moved by love and pain. When both these emotions are channeled through creativity a beautiful end product is achieved – a product which allows us to connect with its creator through a shared human experience. Do not run from that which is hard or hurts, but instead give meaning and use to your experiences.
6. “You don’t need anyone’s permission to be creative.” – Elizabeth Gilbert. To create is to unlock the fingerprint of God within each and every one of us – the ability to bring into being that which wasn’t and make it good. So, go forth and discover, creative one, let nothing hold you back and let’s see the world morph and colour with your paintbrush.