Sights, Scents, Sounds, SENSES!

[Dan Goodwin]

As creative artists, we rely heavily on our senses both to experience the world around us as fully as possible, and to express those sensations back through what we create.

Which of your senses do you rely most on? What do you create most with and through?

What's the connection for you between your senses and you creativity?

When have you noticed your senses are at their most heightened and receptive?

Which of your senses could you use more often and more deeply?

Share your sensory stories below...

[Malinda Neisess]

This is a very sensible discussion Dan :-) tee hee I just can't be serious, which leads to my next thought,
I think that a sense of humor should be included as one of our most important senses, don't you?
I often use humor in my ART and enjoy ART with a little bit of cheekiness too

But, besides all that, I would have to say that sight is the sense I most often use for my ART and creative expression

but the more of our senses that can get involved the better

Good writing, as we've spoken about here before will engage as many of the senses as possible, (I always think of Claude Aimee here because she is so good at this)

One of the most enjoyable Art experiences I have had was a night at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, California, where they put on a huge outdoor ampitheatre stage show in which they recreate the famous works of the masters, paintings, sculptures, all kinds of visual arts, they make them huge but not only that, they have music that goes with the piece, an announcer giving the history of the piece or the artist, you're out there under the warm night sky lit with stars and the scent of the ocean breeze, and then the ART comes to life, to reveal live people worked into the creations! It is absolutely exhillarating! Everyone must go at least once :-)

I just saw a show on the food network recently about a chef somewhere in Chicago that owns and operates a restaurant called Alinea. It is doing quite well and his goal in his meals are to incorporate all the senses in the dining experience. It really is fascinating. You can see one of his menus here http://www.skilletdoux.com/2006/07/alinea.html
He serves about 24-27 courses, bite sized or smaller, each course, but people pay about $500 each and truly enjoy the experience.

Well, its senseless for me to keep rambling on so! but this is a fun topic! sorry

[Dan Goodwin]

Malinda, I agree wholeheartedly about Claude Aimee, she one of the most instinctively and naturally creative people I've met, always open to experiencing all that's going on around her, and relaying it in an engaging way.

[Dominic Armato]

If I may interject with a brief correction, Malinda, you can certainly spend $500 per person at Alinea, but that would mean you'd either dropped a lot on some very expensive wine or you're totally lit :-)

The tour, that being the larger of his two menus, runs $195. No small amount of bread, but still a far cry from $500.

Alinea really is something. While most of the world has been concerned with trying creative new flavor combinations for the last century, chefs like Cantu have noticed that basic cooking techniques have remained pretty much the same. As such, they've chosen to focus their creative energy in a new direction and, as you can see, are coming up with some really wonderful stuff, some of which, as you mention, attemps to engage the senses other than taste in novel ways.

[Malinda Neisess]

Wow Dominic, have you been there???
The $500 amt was what I heard on the food network but perhaps I misunderstood, could of been what they were saying for a couple or something
no matter, well
but I am a lot more likely to have a $200 meal experience than a $500 one
I would love to hear about your experience there if you have been :-)

[Dominic Armato]

That's my blog you linked to :-)

(I'm obsessive about checking out referral traffic)

[Malinda Neisess]

Are you kidding me?! What a co-inky-dink!
Well, I really enjoyed your article (blog)!
Thanks!

[Jules]

I rely on sight, touch and intuition (which I consider to be one of the senses) the most
yet, often times words or music inspire me while I create

the connection for me between my senses and creativity is actually what creativity is for me. I have a desire to express what I sense...(Does that make any sense at all?)

My senses are at their most heightened and receptive at different times- as well as different senses. I have been in the woods in the fall filled top to bottom with glorious yellow leaves- I could see the yellow, feel it, taste it and breathe it in and smell it.
This happens in the spring with new growth. Also when I am inspired- even if it is just a brain-flash or spark of an idea. When I am in the zone while creating.

I use intuition often but I would like to use it more deeply- with each passing day that seems to be happening.
Those times when all senses are aroused at once...this 'team of senses' is the sense I would like to use more often and more deeply.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Humor and Intuition as senses ... yes! They are not as automatic and instantly available as the others ... yet they certainly make a lot of sense as senses :)

[debb]

Jules
I totaly get this about feeling, smelling and tasting a color

It happens without warning & totally engages me with sensory overload for just a brief moment.
Then the memory is embedded for recalling at the drop of a crayon, paint or flash of light.

huggs
debb

[Camille]

Yes Jules, It totally makes sense to me, this "expressing what you sense."

No pun intended here, Jules, but from what I read above, you seem to be an extremely sensitive artist!

Wow! It would probably put me on overload if all my senses were aroused all at once...or maybe that happens sometimes, but I am simply not aware of it all at once??

Camille

[Eileen]

I'd have to say that my senses are more alive when I'm outside at dawn. I can hear the birds and smell the smoke from my neighbor's woodstove. It's like time has stopped. The ground fog is hovering over the fields behind my home and I can forget that I live on a main state road.
As a quilter, I use my eyes and touch the most. When I see a quilt that is beyond beautiful or that draws me into it, I need to touch the ridges and shadows created by the quilting. It's as if I can absorb what the artist was trying to express through his/her stitches.
When I'm not feeling up to speed and everything hurts, I depend on my sight and hearing to bring back the feelings of wellness.
eileenkny

[Dan Goodwin]

Eileen, I know very little about quilting, but I love your description: "I need to touch the ridges and shadows created by the quilting. It's as if I can absorb what the artist was trying to express through his/her stitches." and can see literally how sensual an experience that can be.