Week 13

Last Week:

A few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to pursue the Downy Woodpecker by replicateing the series of rolls that the bird performs on the drums.

While I did engage in this exercise on the practice pad throughout the past weeks I realized that my approach to the creative process has been too constrained.

This week:

I considered how a regimented approach to the Creative Process may help or hinder creativity.

“What breeds creativity? spontaneity, clear-headedness, unplanned-circumstances, a clean-slate, open-mindedness, confidence, something akin to being random.”

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Over-Engineering

Early in the establishment of this blog I’ve been relentlessly fixated on bringing things together in a new way.

Truthfully, I think that an interpretation of woodpecker drumming patterns translated to my drum kit could accomplish some sort of new amalgamation – but I have been uninspired to actually create something through that approach.

I have also been regularly taking photographs of the Birds in our yard, and I have begun sketching and journaling more regularly. Each of these Creative endeavors offer plenty of insight into the Subject of Birds that I could accompany with an essay.

I want this blog to expose “How the Sausage is Made” (which is assumedly not pretty) – and I think the past month or so has done that to a certain extent, but it has also exposed “whether it’s made”.

Structuring Creativity?

Whether I like it or not, what I’ve built so far seems to me to be over-engineered. I’ve put a lot scaffolding and structure around the production of creative outputs. This is a common issue for me when I try to engage in problem-solving.

Contemporary audiences are frequently attracted to the ease of consumption of creative outputs. Overall, I think there is not enough meditation on subjects – more often the approach is driven toward reactions.

My intention has been to write about creativity deeply rather than adopt approaches driven by popularity. Ideally, I’d like to cultivate a place where people can converse about creativity in a meaningful way. That said – one of the main subjects I seem to keep confronting is just how difficult it is to be creative with consistency.

Ultimately, I’ve learned that I still don’t understand how this blog is supposed to operate, and I know little about what this blog is supposed to look like. So far, it’s been primarily focused on confronting and meditating on the mission.

Creative Agility

If you ask someone what breeds creativity you will hear things like spontaneity, clear-headedness, unplanned-circumstances, a clean-slate, open-mindedness, confidence, something akin to being random.

Thus far, I have been trying to approach creativity as a predictable, repeatable Process, where, in reality, it can appear and grow organically around you at any time and take any form.

I think that to continue to produce meaningful outputs on this blog I will need to simplify and emphasize agility in the work that I am doing.

The intention is to look at the creative process at the high level, but I think that these adjustments will help me to develop the ‘muscle’ that I have been trying to develop. Lift 5 pounds before 10…

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What Next?

Please share your thoughts on establishing structure around The Creative Process, and how you think structure helps or may hinder Creativity as a whole.

Otherwise, see you next time!