Mankind would not
be where it is today without the progress made by the minds of great and
intelligent individuals. Through countless successes and failures, we have
triumphed as a species and mastered our environment. The vehicle that has
driven this development, is the creativity housed within the human mind.
But
what is creativity? The dictionary defines it as the use of the imagination or
original ideas, however this is a rather vague definition. For instance creativity doesn’t necessarily
need to involve original ideas, but instead can be the application of previous
ideas in a new light. It is true that imagination plays a large role in being
creative, but there are other mental faculties in use as well, one example
being the act of observation, which can be equally if not more valuable than
simply using your imagination. It is through observation that the brain takes
in new information and pools it into a large medley of thoughts and ideas,
which can be tapped for inspiration.
A
great deal of the populace is under the misconception that they are incapable
of being creative, but when looking at creativity in this observational
perspective, it is clear that this is simply not true. Anyone can simply
observe their surroundings, and through a series of processes can develop ideas
without pulling them from thin air. These processes include mind mapping, image
manipulation, and reverse brainstorming, just to name a few.
Putting
it simply, creativity can be defined as approaching an established problem in a
new light. It doesn’t have to be as
groundbreaking as reinventing the wheel, but instead can be a simple spin on a
conventional medium. The project I personally am doing for this class falls
under this type of creativity. I approach the age-old art of imagined
illustration as a process of visual inspirations. I begin the picture with no
idea of what its going to be. I usually start with a beginning image or shape
as a jumping-off point. then I build off what I have already drawn, adding new
angles and colors as I go, never staying with the same concept for too long.
The final result if a sort of organic, psychedelic collage of images that is up
to the viewer to interpret.
Really
creativity is in the eye of the beholder. We all have our own sources of
inspiration that direct our creative processes, and whether they are recognized
or made obvious by others is determinately indefinite. All you can really do is
be you, and it is through your work that you figure out who that is.
