I recently watched a video of an artist painting a portrait while listening to the subject's music, moving the brush according to the tempo of the music (view the video). It was fascinating; that exercise represents what it means to be an artist. Of course, I'm not going to sit down and write an article about Hendrix while listening to his guitar solos. But, the article did get me thinking about how alternative methods can help writers create successful and unique work. So in that spirit, let's start with what most writers are familiar with: typing.What's wrong with typing words? My advice: don't do it...not all the time anyway. Writing by hand is liberating; the scribbles, scratched-out words, arrows, lines, consider it a nude thought process, not in an exhibitionist way but in an unconstrained way. Writing by hand makes the process more personal, it's a creative investigation that is more dynamic than hitting the backspace key or quickly applying a bold weight to certain words.Is that not enough? Not convinced? Let me take the handmade notion one step farther. Draw your letters. That may sound ridiculous in the digital age but imagine expressing your thoughts beyond a simple choice between two synonyms. A 't' can really support the word 'tree' if the serifs flourish into leaves...or maybe, the main stroke has a tree bark texture to it. Ok, I admit this approach is more for poets and creative writers than copywriters and technical writers but the exercise is still a liberating study that allows the mind to look at a subject from a different angle (something that all writers, regardless of career path, can benefit from).I see there are some of you still shaking your heads, first left, then right, then left again....ok, I get the point, you need more.Create a narrative with photography. Don't write with words...get out of the studio (or whatever you call your work space) and take pictures that represent what you're trying to say. And notes are off limits! The whole point of this exercise is to think about your subject in an unrestricted capacity. Once you have a collection of images that you feel provide a decent narrative, go back to the studio, print the pictures, and lay them out on your desk. Start writing but use the pictures as your inspiration; get creative, be bold.While I consider these suggestions great ideas, I encourage anyone interested in writing to generate their own unique methods; the more personal the approach, the better the writing will be. The whole point is to move you away from the keyboard, to remove you from routine and place you within a rich thought process. Writing is structured thinking; if you broaden your thinking, you will certainly broaden your chances of creating successful work."
"Don't worry about your talent or capability... it is not yours to judge. It will grow and change over time. Do not ask 'why am I doing this? Is it the right thing?' It is enough to know that you want to. Just do it because you want to. It will become something on it's own. Freaking out about what you 'should' be doing does not move you forward, it only serves to stress you on what should be an enjoyable part of your journey."[excerpt from "How to make a living doing what you love" by Keri Smith, creator of "the wish jar"]
Prior to releasing their latest album, R.E.M. created a website around one song..."Supernatural Superserious". What they did was play this song live, with acoustic instruments, in various small format venues...and they recorded it. This site documents those performances...http://www.supernaturalsuperserious.com/
This is one of the best examples, that I'm aware of, of an artist conveying words through a powerful artistic vehicle (no pun intended...and you'll know what I mean after you browse through the site). To this day, this site inspires me; it is one reason that I became more committed to writing and zines (which I consider to be one of my biggest artistic vehicles for my words).I encourage anyone who enjoys a powerful artistic experience, regardless of R.E.M. fan status, to view these videos. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired.
url: http://www.supernaturalsuperserious.com/
How to create a path to inspiration by going around a creative blockCreative work thrives on change and variation. Whether you're a professional artist or weekend hobbyist, creativity needs an open mind in which to work and an open mind is one that allows inspiration to enter at any time. However, inspiration is unpredictable when it's allowed to show up on its own; sometimes, it needs to be "found".
To give you an example, it's no longer enough for me to shoot a random subject. I need to know in advance what I want to capture as well as have a reason for capturing the shot. After writing out my ideas and overall thought process, I decided to shoot found objects. Found objects, random items that are found (as they lay) in public spaces, have always fascinated me so I figured this would be a good place to start. But I wanted to spice up these shots, give them something extra beyond just being pictures on paper. Since I write on a regular basis, I thought it would be interesting to add a story to each shot; taken one step farther, I decided to let the subject of the photograph dictate the story.
That's where I came up with found objects as art and fiction. I realized that those objects somehow got to that spot, either on purpose or accidentally. Who was it that dropped that bottle cap? Did the wind blow that piece of paper into the pile of leaves? These types of questions started popping into my head and that's when I knew I was inspired.
Am I suggesting that every creatively blocked photographer start shooting pics of street litter? Not necessarily. What I want you to do is think of something random that most people don't pay much attention to. Maybe it's retail receipts, lint, lost change underneath couch cushions, or even chewing gum stuck to a sidewalk. Find something that is often overlooked and start taking pictures. Ask yourself how that item got there. Try and figure out what, or who, it belonged to before it was left there. Jot down notes on what comes to your mind. And most important, keep taking pictures! Spend an hour going through this process. When you get home or back to your studio, develop the shots and compare them to your notes. At that point, let the thought process flow naturally and see where it takes you.
Inspiration isn't easy. Sometimes it comes naturally but a lot of times, it's not there when we need it most. So go out and find it. Create your own path to inspiration and creativity; and remember, creativity isn't just a fun product, it's a fun process.(originally posted in JPG Magazine's online community on 10-21-2008)© 2008 joe blend. All rights reserved.
[edit: 02-05-09] My former web space with JPG Magazine has been deleted in order to create new space under the name "abstractLatte"; I published the article in my blog so that it can still be read...http://abstractlatte.blogspot.com/2009/01/found-objects-as-art-and-fiction.html.
I wrote an article for JPG Magazine's website community concerning creative inspiration and how to attain it when faced with a creative block. Although the article focuses on photography, you could apply it to any situation with a few adjustments to the overall process. link to article: http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/8462.
In a design forum that I occasionally visit, a topic was posted inviting people to weigh in on their creative process and what has influenced their work/approach. Here is my reply...Process/approach They teach students in art/design school about the process and how important it is to start with keywords and sketch before moving to the computer. And I agree that those things need to be taught and emphasized throughout an art and design program. However, when you leave school, you realize that things aren't always black and white; there isn't always time for 100% attention to the rigidity of the design process, sometimes being random and having spontenaity is a good thing, etc. What I've come to realize is that ultimately, it comes down to three things with me...have a reason for everything you do, know the rules before you break them, and always keep the principles of design in mind. Everything else is worked out on a project by project basis. Perhaps my experience in several different visual arts disciplines has forced me to embrace a less rigid process, more open to instinct and spontenaity. If that means skipping thumbnails and jumping right in, or taking a keyword(s) and looking through some half-completed drawings in my journal for a key part to an illustration project, so be it. Bottom line, a free and dynamic process is what works for me. Influences More along the lines of inspiration but that's still a tough one, there are so many. To name a few...James Jean (travel sketchbooks) The Design Bureau of Amerika Danny Gregory Honest (the design studio) SFG Blank Book Project life (in general) My goal is to be unique. There is nothing truly "new" in this world, everything is essentially influenced by something before it. But being unique is more rewarding than being new (in my opinion) because to take two pre-existing elements, add your own vision, and combine them to create something entirely different is very difficult but it can create powerful work...I'll take that anyday. A lot of times, if I pass something that catches my attention while reading through a magazine or while walking through an old town, I don't go back and take another look. I let that little piece of curiousity and vague recollection simmer and develop into something that's my own. I guess this whole post comes down to individuality and it's value to first and foremost ourselves as artists/designers. If we don't know ourselves as artists/designers/etc then how can we successfully create work for clients, or in general?
Posts
I recently watched a video of an artist painting a portrait while listening to the subject's music, moving the brush according to the tempo of the music (view the video). It was fascinating; that exercise represents what it means to be an artist. Of course, I'm not going to sit down and write an article about Hendrix while listening to his guitar solos. But, the article did get me thinking about how alternative methods can help writers create successful and unique work. So in that spirit, let's start with what most writers are familiar with: typing.
