The CCS Ultimate Creativity List...

[Dan Goodwin]

I had an idea based on a discussion in the Thirty Days of Creating group. Let's create a combined list of all the many different ways we can be creative.

There must be hundreds!

Then anyone who starts to feel they're not being very creative can visit here and realise how much they're creating and not acknowledging.

It's easy to think of yourself only being creative when it's some recognised art form, like painting a picture, or writing a story, or taking a photograph.

But what about all the other ways, like how you dress, preparing a delicious meal, creating connections and relationships with others, creating space in your house and mind for new creativity, to give just a few examples...

Everyone free to contribute, just list below all the different ways you create, or could create...

[WildCherry]

I love your list and I love your still life. Long time no contact CA, hope a's good with u, certainly sounds like it!

[abstract4art]

A day or so ago, I was not in the mood for creating, but, in thinking about it, I actually was doing creative things. I went to my Pilates class, creating a healthy, strong body so I can keep on doing art. I did some laundry, creating clean clothing for us to wear doing creative things. We watched some deer who come across our back yard, as they do quite often. They are lovely to watch. Sometimes they rest back there. One time, a doe left her little ones in our little patio yard on the grass and went off to look for food. I felt good that she trusted us with her babies. Creation.

[Cindy Kelly]

Hi Dan, my sentiments exactly. I would love to have a list of everyone's ideas! Thank you!

[Wendy]

Since we're talking here about emotions and creativity, I decided to become more aware of my feelings while working on my current project.

The first thing I notice, is that it can be a bit of a rollercoaster. The way my creative day is going definitely seems to affect my feelings in general - sometimes greatly, sometimes subtly.

Like now, I'm excited to work but feel completely lost. I have no internal visual image of what I want to achieve (often, I do). I have no idea where to go next, how to move forward. I feel paralyzed, really...and the feeling is kind of icky. Like I'm stuck to the floor with rubber cement.

Usually I panic at this feeling but this time my two most recent projects are fresh in my mind. I realize that I come to this point on EVERY project - often more than once. A book I've read suggests that this feeling is quite normal, since I can't possible know the solution to a visual project before I actually know it. This helps, yet...I still hate the feeling, lol.

Has anyone else experienced this dilemma? If so, I'm curious as to how you experience it, address it and/or handle it!

Thanks! :)

[abstract4art]

Wendy, you and I seem to have similar thinking. I experience panic when I even think about going into my studio. I play solitaire on the computer. Sometimes I do some work and then play solitaire, then go back and forth. This is not very productive, I know, but it helps me get through. Not suggesting that this is a "good" way to overcome the anxiety, but sometimes it works for me. What I'm trying to figure out really is why am I afraid of working?! I might do "it" wrong, or no one will like it, usually people seem to like my work, so....what is it? I have a quote from Eric Maisel posted in my studio which I do not look at often enough, obviously. "We can carve time out of thin air, or we can fill up even infinite stretches of time with nothingness. These are our choices." Amen.

[Wendy]

>>I might do "it" wrong, or no one will like it, usually people seem to like my work, so....what is it? <<

Thank you for sharing that....it's a really good question! Sometimes I feel like, if it remains an idea in my head, then I can't really fail at making it.

Still feeling this way today, I decided to just do..something. Just jump in, and I did. I was in the mood to use a certain technique and it may be a mistake, but I wonder what would actually happen if I did. I'd have to do it over? Start again? Sometimes I wonder if there is any choice we can make that is irreversible, especially in the beginning of a project. Guess we'll see!

I also like a lot of what Eric Maisel has to say...nice quote!

[Dan Goodwin]

That is a brilliant quote. So so true...

[WildCherry]

Sounds familiar Wendy! I definitely have times when I have to 'feel my way' from where I am to where I am going. I think it's crucial that u identified the fact that u always reach this point in a project. My experience has been that recognizing our own cycles is half way to dealing with our blocks, the next stage is developing the strategies to cope with them...whether it's bouts of solitaire or whatever! Anyway somewhat off-topic...

I find decorating can really get me in the mood for painting pictures...and that basically not stifling creativity in any of it's forms leads to it exploding in a myriad of ways....so one creative act can lead to another seemingly unrelated one.

[Wendy]

>>My experience has been that recognizing our own cycles is half way to dealing with our blocks, the next stage is developing the strategies to cope with them<<

I really appreciate your thoughts on this, WildCherry! Yeah, you are right...just observing and learning our own patterns must help so much. And developing strategies...this is where I probably need some ideas - panic, PROBABLY isn't it, lol!

I love decorating! You are right, making our surroundings beautiful or reflective of our creativeity can be so energizing...and lead to other creative activities...cool!

[jane]

rubber cement..... i think this is what bonds me most days!!

its hard isnt it..... i often feel inadequate and lost. i see loads of creativity flowing all around me and yet i seem stuck for ideas. i dont know how to clear my mind and let the natural instincts flow. perhaps its that i work (on a daily basis) in such a seemingly uncreative way (but it pays the bills) whilst knowing that the real me is an unreleased creative being!

THEN when i get the chance to create... i dont know what to do..................! that is when the rubber cement clicks in.... and panic in little or great degrees!

So what do we do.....? who knows!

i think we just need to feed and feel the awareness and absorb inspiration wherever it presents itself.... i was in a (rather dull) seminar today but wafted off to a place where i was seeing shapes, curves, angles and structures that i could store away for future use.....

where am i going with this... i dont know.... yes wendy!!! its a dilemma!!! lol
xxx

[Wendy]

>>i think we just need to feed and feel the awareness and absorb inspiration wherever it presents itself.<<

This sounds like a WONDERFUL strategy! I agree with you, quieting the mind must really help. I also like what you said about storing ideas for future use. I scribble ideas around everywhere and sometimes return to them when I can't seem to come up with something new. Ironically, reviewing these ideas usually leads me to something even different...and I go with that, lol.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Thanks to everyone for your great creativity inspiring ideas. Claude Aimee, I've honestly never seen a more beautiful flower arrangement, and to think they came from your garden just wows me :) Great photo!

I can relate to the relationship things ... what Dan said about having friendships that are draining and having to set boundaries or even let go has been reality for me. I've also been separated from a long marriage for four years now and we have remained on friendly terms. I won't go into details but it's never an easy thing. Keeping a positive outlook and remaining focused on becoming a better person each day is sometimes the most creative thing I can do. I really prefer the days when the creativity is flowing more freely and I go into my studio and create something tangible :) I'm learning the hard way that the creating and maintaining of a healthy body is part of the balance I've been neglecting, and I'm focusing on that a lot more lately by doing stretches and exercises and walking more. Creating a pleasant home environment and creating time to relax with my sweetie, my pets, friends ... enjoying the wildlife such as the deer mentioned by abstract4art and the wild birds, these are also a usual part of my day. Creating fun conversations with online friends and acquaintances is another :)