Is it the tool or the training? So often in my years of teaching, I noticed how people were immediately ready to buy a pencil, paper, paint, and pen. When students enrolled for an art program, the first question was “what should I buy for supplies?”
When they asked what was needed for the first class, my response was “Just bring your enthusiasm!” I meant that. My students could own a box loaded with supplies, yet nothing in that box was near as important as their true desire to learn. They too often overlooked the importance of the training they were about to receive. Their curiosity, their intrigue of the process – that was the most important element in learning art or creativity — mindset.
The training you receive is worth MORE than any tool you can purchase, still holds true today. I see many people clambering to purchase the latest, greatest computer software, program, and gadget. However, without the foundation, training and breakthrough that occurs with their mind, no amount of technology will ever make them become an artist. Some folks have become technicians with the tools. But the ability to reach their audience with a transformational product or message only happens when the mind matches the material.
Sometimes I’m amazed how fluid my thoughts are for spontaneous ideas. Before the hostile takeover of my home/businesses, I woke up every day with some solution or new concept to implement in my wonderful work establishment. A year after my forced evacuation, finally gained the momentum to reconnect with the creative part of my mind. My brain was bombed with mind battering. I was chased on a dark side of life with little means to cross over. I work on activates to build what I call my “brain bridge.” My brain bridge connects me with the outside world, the community, my customers, my students, my creativity, sanity and safety — a part of my life as we know it — but most importantly — the new life we are building.
Here are the ways I build my brain bridge:
Melodious themes of notes hummm through my head in the morning. I race to my workroom and press the point of my pencil to my manuscript paper before the moment ends. There may be about 10 potential compositions ready for developing when I’m ready to fully concentrate on that part of my brain bridge. Music is forever helpful in building the brain.
Sense, observe, evaluate people, places, products, predicaments around me. I respond and write in blogs. My brain bridge is being built with woven words. You, the reader are part of the process. I’m not just writing to tap away at a keyboard. I’m writing to reach you — on the other side. Are you on the other side? Are you helping to build the bridge? Are you half way across waiting for me? Are you ahead of me?
Drive and discover new communities. The roads around here are curvy, full of hills, mountains — and are so randomly marked, I can get lost from just turning any direction.
There is certainly much to discover in the small towns. There is a river nearby and plenty of creeks — so I cross bridges regularly on my treks around towns.
The Susquehanna River
Learn to understand and speak Spanish. Right now I’m in the infant stages — understanding the words — just not ready to start full sentences. I use predominantly audio cds. I listen and respond out loud —Level II — half way through.
Study techniques to improve online visibility and sales. I study online because the hours for learning are best for my brain and my internal clock that operates on “second shift.” eCommerce is my “job” because there is a broader base for income – and my career with six income producing venues was bullied (the wimpy way to say abused and destroyed) away from me.
Spend time with my cat, Carmel. He is precious, playful and gives me peace of mind.
Well, that’s the beginning of my brain bridge. Well, that’s the story of my brain bridge and am glad I can get to the other side — and look back.
The intention for posts on Creative Coaching is to offer and provide the most authentic creativity connections possible. Check out these links to assist in your adventure of creativity.
Color Palette Generator: Upload an interesting image and receive in return a comprehensive inventory of all the colors involved.
Picasa: Google provides free image editing software for anyone hoping to clean up and edit their digital photos.
Flickr: Flickr not only offers up generous storage space for pictures and video, but a few different ways to edit them as well.
Pixton: Create a number of cool comic strips with this interesting website that helps users create characters and scenes
deviantART: Upload, sell, make prints, and receive (hopefully) valuable advice from one of the internet’s largest artist communities.
Flash PAINT: This full painting application allows participants to create and save their own drawings and sketches – even share them with other users!
Splash Paint: Unfortunately, anyone hoping to preserve their Splash Paint creations will have to screenshot them due to the tool’s lack of a save function. However, it still makes for a fun way to nurture creativity and an eye for color.
Design a Room : For those inclined towards interior decorating, Armstrong’s Design a Room tool provides a wide variety of elements for users to create their dream spaces.
2Simple Suite: 2Simple hosts a number of creative tools aimed mostly towards kids, involving painting, publishing, animation, and more.
FineArtStudioOnline: Artists hoping to build up their web presence receive a 30 day free trial of FineArtStudioOnline’s personalized marketing services.
Creative Commons License Generator: Any creative types hoping to place their work under the creative commons license can work out the wording that expresses their wishes for the piece or pieces in question.
Fretboardprinter: Guitarists and bassists wanting to keep track of chords and scales will have plenty to appreciate about this valuable tool aimed at both teachers and students.
Sweater Pattern Generator: Knitters looking to whip up a quick sweater can fill out their sizes and preferences and receive a free custom pattern with a quick click of the mouse.
QueekyPaint: Create animated drawings and share them for critique and entertainment in the Queeky community.
Sloper Design Form: Use the Sloper Design Form as a means of creating 3D images suitable for knitting, sewing, and crochet patterns.
Big Ears: This nifty Java applet is considered “the world’s first ear training software” and helps any interested parties learn how to recognize all the elements of music.
HTML Characters Codes: Web designers will appreciate this reference, which lists name and number codes for special characters.
Dabbleboard: Perfect for businesses, this online whiteboard offers a collaborative method of making sketches for work and play alike.
AllMyMagic: Create a number of different artistic projects with this neat tool, which allows users to write up their own cards and MySpace layouts.
Explore Scales: eMusicTheory.com boasts some excellent, valuable resources for musicians, and this tool helps them memorize and learn one of the fundamentals of creating beautiful sound.
Pixenate: Edit favorite photos or pieces of digital art for use on a shirt, tote bag, mug, or mouse pad.
Elizabethan Smock Pattern Generator: Period costume fanatics or anyone needing to stage a play on a budget may want to check out this generator, which fires off a custom smock in the Elizabethan style.
open-eye Banner Generator: Web developers and graphic designers can whip up quick banners in minutes for ads and other projects.
Tile Machine: Make fitting tiles for wallpapers and backgrounds with this simple, 16-color pixel tool.
SceneCaster: Future filmmakers or those wanting to get a vague idea of scene layouts for comics, animation, and statecraft will have a blast with SceneCaster’s animation tools.
Essential Music Notation: Musicians and music theorists alike have a quick, simple resource to look at for creating and understanding notation – there is even a fun little quiz at the end.
iSketch: Play an online game similar to Pictionary with people from all over the world, though there is a way to create without having to interact with strangers.
ColorPicker: Anyone needing to create a working, harmonious color scheme can fire up the code quickly with this useful tool.
Explore Chords: One of eMusicTheory.com’s numerous musical tools, this one offers up a thorough education on the fundamental chords.
Snipshot: Edit RAW picture files with special effects and face detection tools before saving them as a number of other types for a $5 two-week pass.
Blender: A free piece of open source 3D and traditional animation software, Blender is absolutely perfect for anyone hoping to create compelling, fun, and engaging videos.
GIMP: GIMP edits pictures for GNU and boasts an almost fully customizable interface and a number of excellent features to bring out the best in a work of art.
Innovation is the application of creativity to give rise to a new concept, product, service or process delivering something new and better to the world.
When we innovate, we work with the creative ideas we have developed and put them into practice. Innovation is NOT just about making new gadgets and fancy widgets. We can be innovative in New Product Design, but in many other ways too. New concepts, like how to lead and motivate people at work, as well as new services and processes.
Thanks to Mark Batey Ph.D. for his research on creativity.
Innovation relies on creativity. You can not innovate without first developing some ideas. Creativity is the source of innovation. If we do not use our creativity to develop a range of ideas and potential solutions, we can not select the most promising ideas and put them into practice. Every improvement at work starts with an idea.
Thanks to Mark Batey Ph.D. for his research on creativity.
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