Creativity as a Process

> Although it is merely progress toward a goal the very action of progressing with the
greatest passion, with the greatest energy is a kind of enlightenment.
> Jeong Kwan

In the last post I wanted to find out ‘Where ideas come from?’. I wanted to discover a
method that maybe useful for us, that some masters have alluded to as their own.

When you look around for inspiration, we generally find works that are celebrated, artists
who are celebrated for their works. We see the end results. From standing at the end we
mere mortals cannot see the path those masters have taken. We resign ourselves to the
idea, that it is not possible for us to achieve those same ends. Instead we worship those
masters, or become indifferent to them and just label their successes as talent. ‘Talent’, that
is something inherent, that is something you are born with. You either have it or you don’t.

It is very rare to find artists/masters talk about their process. Not because it is a secret that
only a few privileged possess (yes, sometimes you do find that some call it a secret, but
only amateurs do that). True masters always talk about their process. But it is rare because
the rest of us do not recognise it. Because it tends to be simple, too simple that we glaze
over it.

From the last post we learnt that ideas come from stuffing our heads with information from
everywhere. Not just your own field of practice, but in other places not immediately
related. Sometimes especially in other places not immediately related. For our brains need
to be surprised, as Chuck Jones put it simply.

Ok, now that we have stuffed our heads with many ideas, how can be go about creating
our own? Should we just have to wait for it pour out. That might happen, when that
happens will we be ready to recognise it. Will we be ready to capture it? How can you do
that?

That is the next question isn’t it.

In an extremely funny and an altogether fascinating lecture the great comedian John
Cleese, the member of the might Monty Python and creator classics such as Fawlty Towers
and Fish Called Wanda, lays out a plan. John Cleese on Creativity In Management -
YouTube
 He says ‘Creativity is not a talent, but a way of operating’. A Way of Operating - a method, a
process of working. A process of working that enables us to play with a child like
enthusiasm.

He begins by saying that there are two modes of working, Closed and Open,
Closed - a mode that we usually find ourselves in, this is the mode that we are in when we
need to get something done. It is a mode where we are purposeful, even anxious and
there is no place for humour.
Open - a relaxed, less purposeful, perhaps contemplative and where we are more
inclined to humour. Consequently more playful and curious.

There are merits to both these modes, we need to be in the Open mode when we are
pondering a problem and switch to the Closed mode to implement it.

He also says that the problem is that we find ourselves all too often in the Closed mode.
For us to get the Open mode he lays out five pre-conditions,

1. Space
2. Time
3. Time
4. Confidence
5. Humour

It is not possible to get to the Open mode if we are under our usual pressures therefore
we need to give ourselves the 1. Space to be relaxed. We need to be in that Space for a
specific period of 2. Time within that period of Time we need give ourselves 3. Time as
long as possible to be able to ponder. Once this condition is created we might be able to
get into the Open mode. But if you do not show courage and 4. Confidence, the fear of
making a mistake will drive us back to the Closed mode. And having a sense of 5.
Humour is paramount, because the humour is the quickest way to get to the Open mode.

The most important thing is that it takes time for anything original to happen. Layers of
time, that we need to give ourselves so many small ideas can be pondered upon, and also
a chance for many of these small ideas to come together to form bigger ideas.

Bill Watterson, the creator of ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ echoes the same sentiments of the last
post in a commencement speech he gave at his alma mater. Calvin and Hobbes at
Martijn’s - Bill Watterson
> “We’re not really taught how to recreate constructively. We need to do more than find
diversions; we need to restore and expand ourselves”

And continues to highlight the importance of Playing,

> “For me, it’s been liberating to put myself in the mind of a fictitious six year-old each day,
and rediscover my own curiosity. I’ve been amazed at how one ideas leads to others if I
allow my mind to play and wander…
>
> …A playful mind is inquisitive, and learning is fun.”

M C Escher, the creator of woodcuts with elaborate landscapes and intricate geometry like
his ‘Metamorphosis’ M.C. Escher – Metamorphosis II and impossible constructions like the
‘Waterfall’ M.C. Escher – Waterfall, came to do such original ideas that would bring him
fame, after more than 30 years of struggle, because he played with ideas from different
sources.

He was fascinated by the intricate geometry in the floors, walls and ceilings of Moorish
architecture in Spain. He meticulously studied these patterns. He studied the mathematics
behind crystal lattices and regular plane division after his brother, a geologist, advised him
to read scientific papers written by Crystallographers, “…because they are fascinated by
the same things as you are”. He studied and created experiments to come up with his own
methods. This methodical play is ultimately what helped him create his masterpieces. M.C.
Escher Documentary (by CINEMEDIA-NPS-RNTV) 1999 - YouTube

So let’s stuff our heads with ideas, give ourselves the permission to play with those ideas
for as long as it is required. Then maybe we can all be creative.

#blog