Thursday, April 15, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Running out of ideas?
In my latest quest to paint the world in stunning colors, I've been experimenting with some creativity techniques so I can keep my right brain hemisphere firing like the neighbor's extremely loud corvette. If you're curious, you'll find that there are approximately 160 different creative thinking techniques used across dozens of industries. I personally don't have as many in my repertoire, but having just one can make a tremendous difference in your life and career. It might even make you cut your ear off and send it to your best friend.
Many great riches have been accumulated because of creativity and imagination, as well as landed many in sanitariums and morgues. Imagination isn't just for kids anymore; it's your new tool for success. In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill states, "If you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance." We have to imagine that new job, that unique painting, or that beautiful sculpture before we can create it. I'm not saying you won't create some horribly offensive and insulting stuff, but you'll at least get your imagination going, which is generally a good thing..
I regularly use three creativity or imagination techniques; positive auto-suggestion, random generation, and creative visualization. Using positive auto-suggestion is either asking yourself for an idea or telling yourself to come up with an idea. It is NOT talking to yourself or using a Bluetooth ear piece, which is the same as talking to yourself. It's repeatedly talking to your subconscious mind and letting it do all the work. It sounds simple and new age, but it really works. Write it down, make it specific and repeat it at least once a day. Repeat after me, "I will give all my money to Ed."
Random generation works when I'm stuck in a left brain mode and need a jump-start (like the neighbor's loud corvette.) It's simply selecting something random as a starting point and letting your imagination complete it. In this process you're using chance to your advantage. Use random generation by asking someone a question about a topic you have in mind and then let your imagination internalize the answer. This works really well when working with commissions because it combines parts of the client's idea into your art. However, it doesn't work very well at bars as a pickup line.
The hardest and most powerful is creative visualization. It's the hardest because our minds are full of noise. First we need to stop the noise, and then we can focus on the project and record the snap shots. I'm not saying the voices in your head are not helpful at times, but we're visualizing here not channeling Thor. This kind of creative thinking works best for me while I'm meditating or just about to fall asleep.
I find that the more I use these techniques the better my imagination and problem solving becomes. Studies have shown that we can shift our brain's dominance. Just because you have a hemispheric dominance, doesn't mean your brain is locked into that mode. I tend to be lobe balanced (why does that sound dirty to me), I work in network security by day and as an artist by night. In either scenario I always benefit from creative thinking as much as I benefit from process and structure. The only downside is that I want to paint all the network equipment yellow with a black silk-screened personalized logo of an ouroboros.
Finally, I still don't know why Disney removed that little dragon Figment at Epcot between 1999 and 2002, but I'm sure it had something to do with lack of IMAGINATION by the IMAGINEERS. Sorry peeps, I'm still a little pissed off about that one, but I'm glad he's back. Now, watch this video for some really neat facts about imagination and being a kid. Don't forget to tell me what techniques work for you.
Many great riches have been accumulated because of creativity and imagination, as well as landed many in sanitariums and morgues. Imagination isn't just for kids anymore; it's your new tool for success. In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill states, "If you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance." We have to imagine that new job, that unique painting, or that beautiful sculpture before we can create it. I'm not saying you won't create some horribly offensive and insulting stuff, but you'll at least get your imagination going, which is generally a good thing..
I regularly use three creativity or imagination techniques; positive auto-suggestion, random generation, and creative visualization. Using positive auto-suggestion is either asking yourself for an idea or telling yourself to come up with an idea. It is NOT talking to yourself or using a Bluetooth ear piece, which is the same as talking to yourself. It's repeatedly talking to your subconscious mind and letting it do all the work. It sounds simple and new age, but it really works. Write it down, make it specific and repeat it at least once a day. Repeat after me, "I will give all my money to Ed."
Random generation works when I'm stuck in a left brain mode and need a jump-start (like the neighbor's loud corvette.) It's simply selecting something random as a starting point and letting your imagination complete it. In this process you're using chance to your advantage. Use random generation by asking someone a question about a topic you have in mind and then let your imagination internalize the answer. This works really well when working with commissions because it combines parts of the client's idea into your art. However, it doesn't work very well at bars as a pickup line.
The hardest and most powerful is creative visualization. It's the hardest because our minds are full of noise. First we need to stop the noise, and then we can focus on the project and record the snap shots. I'm not saying the voices in your head are not helpful at times, but we're visualizing here not channeling Thor. This kind of creative thinking works best for me while I'm meditating or just about to fall asleep.
I find that the more I use these techniques the better my imagination and problem solving becomes. Studies have shown that we can shift our brain's dominance. Just because you have a hemispheric dominance, doesn't mean your brain is locked into that mode. I tend to be lobe balanced (why does that sound dirty to me), I work in network security by day and as an artist by night. In either scenario I always benefit from creative thinking as much as I benefit from process and structure. The only downside is that I want to paint all the network equipment yellow with a black silk-screened personalized logo of an ouroboros.
Finally, I still don't know why Disney removed that little dragon Figment at Epcot between 1999 and 2002, but I'm sure it had something to do with lack of IMAGINATION by the IMAGINEERS. Sorry peeps, I'm still a little pissed off about that one, but I'm glad he's back. Now, watch this video for some really neat facts about imagination and being a kid. Don't forget to tell me what techniques work for you.
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