Download - 10 Secrets to Creativity 1
-
start now!
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
-
change of scenery
Some wayS to make it happen..
.
01Its no secret that variety is the spice of life. Humans crave variety! If youve gone shop
ping in
the last decade, you can
attest to this fact. Buy bread
at the grocery store and
you are faced with about a
hundred different options.
Rye bread, wheat bread,
white bread, potato bread,
flatbread, and many many
others. The point is that we
expect variety!
As an artist, its important
that you change your scen-
ery from time to time. Artistic
inspiration comes from your
environmentthe things you
see, smell, hear, touch, and
feel everyday. When you
experience nothing but the
same old things day after
day your creative well can
run dry.
Get up and get out! Take a
walk down streets youve
never explored before. Ride
the bus across town and
check out that park every-
ones been talking about.
Get in the car and just drive!
Whatever it takes for you to
change your scenery. Youll
gain a broader understand-
ing of the world you live in
as well as some great new
material to draw from.`
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
1
3
2
4
take a walk in the park
Find a trail youve never
walked before.Take a close
look at the new sights all
around you.
Sit in a new chair
Humans are creatures of
habit. Chances are you sit
in that same comfy chair
everyday and see the
same old angles. A simple
change in your point of
view may just reveal some
new possibilities.
Take a different
route to work
Get out a map or your
GPS and see if you can
find a different route
to take to work or your
daily appointments.
Buy a new house
Ok, maybe thats not very
realistic, but you could always
try rearranging the furniture
in your current home. Who
knows, it may feel like youre
living in a brand new house.
This simple act of change may
also inspire some creative
new art projects to tackle.
-
seek out inspiration
Some wayS to make it happen..
.
02Sometimes inspiration strikes you where you are.
Most of the time, however,
youre going to have to go
looking for it. Museums are
a great place to start your
search. Museum curators
have assembled some of the
worlds greatest works of art
in one place for you to glean
from. Take the time to walk
slowly through a museum
and study its pieces,
paying special attention to
composition and technique.
Dont be afraid to borrow
from the masters; theyre
called masters for a reason!
Nature can be a great place
to find inspiration as well.
Anyone who has spent
time in nature can tell you
of its power to inspire.
Spending time at your local
park, nature center, zoo,
or aquarium can drastically
improve your creativity. With
so many sights and sounds
to draw from its no wonder
that many great artists have
created works inspired by
nature.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
1
3
2Check out a muse
um
Visit a local museum or, if you
can swing it, make a trip to
one of your countrys
national museums.
take pictures
Carry a camera with you,
and dont be afraid to
use it. When you see an
object, animal, or face that
you feel would be a great
subject for a drawing or
painting, snap a picture
and hold onto it for future
reference. Of course,
youll want to check with
the person, parent, or pet
owner firstit might save
you some trouble.
Spend time in nature
Even in the city you can
typically find a park or quiet
plot of nature where you
can just sit and observe the
beauty around you. Bring a
sketchbook with you and take
the opportunity to sketch
what you see.
-
change it upSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
03In baseball theres a pitch called the Change Up.
The change up is a highly
effective tool used by
pitchers to confuse the
batter. The pitcher will
throw what appears to be a
fastball, but he throws it from
further back in the hand. This
causes the ball to leave his
hand at a slower speed and,
though it looks to the batter
like a fastball, its actually
moving at a slower velocity.
The unwitting batter swings
too early and hits nothing
but air.
How could a change up
in your daily routine improve
your effectiveness as
an artist?
Doing the same thing day
after day is greatif youre
a robot. Get out there and
do something new! The
number one killer of creativity
is monotony. By doing
something new everyday,
you are forcing your brain
out of its catatonic state and
giving it something new to
compute. This sudden spike
in brain function increases
your capacity for creative
thinking and is sure to inspire
new and exciting ideas.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
Spice it up!Pick up a good coo
kbook
and try cooking something
new for one of your meals.
Its easy to return to your old
favorites day in and day out,
but you may be pleasantly
surprised to know that there
are other great options
available. Cooking something
new and exciting could
provide just the flavor your
day needs!
Go back to school
Community colleges
offer some great classes
for a minimal fee. Look
for classes like: pottery,
painting, welding,
carpentry, swimming, and
foreign language studies
just to name a few. Check
with the college closest
to you, and see if any of
the offered courses sound
appealing.
-
keep your
creative friends close
Some wayS to make it happen..
.
04Surround yourself with creative people!
Whether you realize it or
not, you are affected by
your environment. When
you spend your time around
other artists and creative
thinkers, your creativity will
thrive.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
1Branch outTheres a good cha
nce that
youre the only artist in your
household and dont come
in contact with others who
share your affinity for fine
art. This is a great reason to
enroll in art classes at your
local community college or
community center. If these
options arent available, there
are also many resources
offered online. Its quick and
easy to join, and you will have
instant access to people who
share your passion and want
to offer their assistance.
2Get involvedMost cities or town
s
have some form of art
community, see what your
own hometown has to
offer. Keep your eyes and
ears open for art contests,
shows, and exhibits. This
could be a great way to
meet and mingle among
some like-minded artists
in your area.
-
3
talk to other artists
Find out what medias they
are working with and what
materials or techniques
they endorse. Give their
suggestions a try, and see if
you find that perfect fit!
think outside the box
There is no steadfast rule
that says you have to use
art supplies from a store.
You can create art from
just about any material.
Take a look around your
local scrap yard or thrift
store for materials that
could be combined to
make a unique piece
of art.
Visit an art supply store
Take a stroll through your
local art supply store and
see what art supplies catch
your eye. This could be
detrimental to your pocket
book, so be sure that you
dont get too caught up in
the shapes and colors.
take your pickSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
05The beauty of art is in its many forms; you dont have to be constrained to just one!
If youre a painter, pick up a
pencil and sketch. If pottery
is your thing, try your hand
at writing a poem. The more
portions of your brain you
can activate, the better. You
may be surprised by what
your new pursuits teach you
about your preferred art form
or media.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
-
a fresh startSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
06Dont get bogged down with one project.
If you find yourself in the
midst of a creative drought,
go in search of a fresh new
project to start.
This isnt to say that you just
give up on what you were
working on and never return
to it. It simply means taking
a break, giving your mind a
chance to process all youve
been doing, and returning a
little later with a new set of
eyes.
Dont start too many
projects, however. There
is something to say for
finishing what youve started.
Work on your new project
only as long as it takes for
you to see the other in a
new light.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
Collect your ideas
As you take pictures
throughout the year, have
your favorites developed and
keep them in a maybe later
box. When you find yourself
struggling to find inspiration
take a look through this box
and see if anything sparks
your creativity.
SketchKeep a sketchbook
with
you wherever you go and
sketch things that you
see throughout your day.
Going back through your
sketches in the midst of
a creative drought may
bring on a deluge of much
needed inspiration.
-
exerciseSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
07When youre hungry you eat, right? You eat because yo
ur body
is in need of the nutrients
that keep it running. Well,
your brain needs blood and
oxygen to continue its
complex calculating.
The very act of exercising
drastically improves your
brain function and, in turn,
your creativity. It doesnt
take much; you can combine
your exercise with changing
your scenery and seeking
out inspiration. Three for the
price of one!
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
Set a timerSet a timer while
you draw.
Draw for 30 minutes, and then
get out and take a walk around
the block for 15 30 minutes.
Taking a break not only keeps
you fit, but taking time away
from your drawing will give
you a fresh perspective when
you return.
have a schedule
Making a schedule each
day will help you keep track
of your time. Its easy to get
caught up in your artwork
and forget that anyone or
thing else exists. Schedule
specific times of the day
for artwork and exercise,
setting an alarm to remind
you.
-
take a breatherSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
08Life can be hectic.
Sometimes its important to
just get away from the stress
and noise of the daily grind
and recharge your batteries.
Art can be a great way to
unwind and relax. You dont
necessarily need to take on
a laborious, time intensive
project either. Something
as simple as doodling on a
piece of scrap paper can be
enough to free your mind
of distractions and build
creative confidence in the
process.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
make timeSet aside a specific
day of
the week or hour of the day
to devote specifically to your
artwork. Spend time alone,
away from distraction and
just draw or paint for fun.
Dont worry about creating a
masterpiece; just do whatever
helps you relax.
Get awayGo on a vacation. N
ot only
will this give you a break
from the daily grind, but
it could be the change
of scenery you need to
rekindle your creativity.
Vacation doesnt have
to mean going out of
state or country. It can
be something as simple
as traveling across town
to stay with a relative
or spending a night at a
hotel in the next county
over.
-
read, listen, watchSome wayS to m
ake it happen...
09Creative thinkers have roamed this world for thousands of years and, fortunately, many of them were kind enough to leave behind some examples of great art.
Books, movies, and music
are great resources for
artistic inspiration. Take a
few hours and peruse the
shelves of your local library,
searching for titles and
images that trigger your
imagination.
There are thousands of
great movies out there as
well, many of them about
art, artists, or the creative
process. Listening to
classical music is also a
great way to find inspiration.
Many classical composers
were inspired by beautiful
scenes in nature, and their
music often illustrates these
images in the minds eye.
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
12
Visit the library
This may seem obvious,
but the library is a fantastic
resource for creativity.
You have a nearly endless
supply of books right at your
fingertipsall for free. Many
libraries now have thousands
of DVDs and CDs to choose
from, as well.
Secondhand
bookstoresTheres something
about
a secondhand bookstore
that has the power to
inspire creativity. Maybe
its that old book smell, or
perhaps its just being in
the presence of so much
information. Whatever
it may be, secondhand
bookstores are a good
place to visit when
seeking inspiration.
-
10The best thing you can do for your creativity is create. Simple as that! The creative process gets easier as you do it.
An amazing thing happens
when you are engaged in
creative activities. New ideas
actually spring from the
project you are working on
at the time. Eventually, youll
find your mind overflowing
with new ideas, and when
you get to this point its
important to remember to
write them down in a journal
or sketchbook. Dont count
on remembering them later.
Everything you do or
experience throughout
your life plays a role in your
creative process. Creativity
is the ability to recall those
experiences and connect
them to the present in a
new and exciting way. You
possess all of the tools
you need
s e c r e t
SECRETSOF CREATIVE THINKERS
LEARN THE
Think like an artist!
just createsomething!
heres a blank canvas,
just create something!