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Can Creativity Be Taught? by David Weintraub

By on March 17, 2010 in Blog

David Weintraub is a writer, editor, photographer from South Carolina. I happened on his article, (click here) CAN CREATIVITY BE TAUGHT? ,  saying to myself, ‘whoa – now. Is it possible that someone’s finally got an answer to this age old question?’

He asked his students and …

“About half the class wrote that, yes, creativity can be learned. But the other half said no, you are either born with a creative gene or you are not–and all education or training can do is unleash your already existing creative potential. In other words, this group of students said creativity cannot be learned.” Read article…

So, there I was, back at Square One. Half & half.

My personal belief is that it is both… innate and learned. I don’t believe there is anyone who ever starts out his/her life with NO creative ability whatsoever. I believe it is necessary for our survival on this planet. And I believe it must grow and develop, like muscles — you gotta use ’em! Now, then, how we develop, and how we are encouraged to develop — ah, that’s the key!  Let me know what you think…

For you who teach music … and singing… [Photos:  I took these Old West singers, in a Santa Fe, NM, shop window. Oct. 2009, ]

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Back to the Drawing Board – Cat Bennett

By on March 17, 2010 in Blog

I found this article in the Huffington Post (which I read almost daily, online, also called the HuffPost).

This one is by artist/illustrator, Cat Bennett. She nails some things down about the creative process, in such a direct, easy manner, that you will find yourself nodding in agreement.

She advocates something you’ve heard before (but do we DO it?) … that we should draw (or write) something daily. She reminds us how this process can help solve other problems or challenges in our lives, that have nothing to do with creativity, (per se),  in that the end product is a solution to a problem, or a result, rather than a painting, drawing, poem or song.

She also reminds me of some experiments we tried with the employees when I worked in Talent Development at Walt Disney Imagineering (1988-1993). We asked the ‘suits’ at the company to try their hand at being artists (just to experience it) … they were practically frozen with fear. Her story here is very close to that… talking about calming our “inner critic” voice so we can just have a little fun. (And they did, eventually!)

She talks about how/why being a creative person helps us to use our tools to work through the glitches/obstacles in our lives.  Wonderful article. Only thing is she seems to have mixed up the ‘right brain’ with the ‘left brain.’  It is the left, not the right, that is the linear, ordered, verbal side. But, we’ll forgive her!!

Click here to read Back to the Drawing Board.

Now, go get those crayons you have hidden away in that drawer! Draw a picture of ANYTHING … and just have fun!

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Creative Thinking Isn’t Just Born – It’s Bred (article by David Ginter)

By on March 10, 2010 in Blog

There are several things I love in this article… like how “group-think” doesn’t always work, and why (we are so eager to PLEASE rather than do the right thing) … how ‘follow the leader’ is always more comfortable than breaking rank (to be more creative) … but mostly, finally, this article points out that PLACE has a lot to do with creativity. I’ve always believed this… that there are some places that are more stimulating to be in… but then, it’s about our powers of observation too. Most importantly, this article says it, “Get out of your rut.”

So, here’s the link plus a photo of me getting out of my rut … after all, we live in Los Angeles, which is mostly bright and warm. Here I am, in the snow, a rare event… when we crossed over Mingus Mountain, recently, going from Jerome, Arizona, to Prescott, on our way back to LA.

CREATIVE THINKING ISN’T JUST BORN – IT’S BRED, by David Ginter, March 2010.

I'm delighted with snow, near Prescott, Arizona, Feb. 2010

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The Pursuit of Flow

By on February 24, 2010 in Blog

I’m having a good day… this article, by Bruna Matinuzzi  is definitely worth checking out and passing along.

Maybe some of you will remember the wonderful book, Flow, by Mihali Csikszentmihalyi. (cheek-sent-me-high-ee)  so, this will be a continuation for you…

Monkey in State of Bliss, Calabasas, California, 2010

Frog & Kitty in State of Bliss, Calabasas, California 2010

Click here: Ten Tips for Harnessing This Psychic Energy





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What Meditation Can Do for Your Creativity

By on February 24, 2010 in Blog

Below is an excerpt from the kind of article we’ve all seen before, but need to pay more attention to (says “Mama JoAnn”). It’s posted by: Mark McGuinness.

Click here: What Daily Meditation Can Do for Your Creativity.

The Benefits of Meditation Practice for Creatives

It’s important to note that there’s a lot more to meditation practice than simply “boosting your creativity.” If I were to promote meditation as some kind of creative thinking technique, the monks would be rightly appalled — or amused. So the benefits I’m going to describe, while very real, are really side effects of meditation — if you approach meditation looking to “get” any of these things, you’ll probably be disappointed. On the other hand, if you just practice it for its own sake, you may be pleasantly surprised…

http://the99percent.com/tips/6314/what-daily-meditation-can-do-for-your-creativity

Ohmmm, in Sedona, Arizona, Feb. 2010.

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Building Something from Nothing

By on February 27, 2009 in Blog

Just take a look — DeZeen (design) magazine, South Africa.

This is creativity … something from not much … and so ‘green.’

An artist ‘painting’ murals by using scraps of plastic bags – incredible.

Also a home built (basic, but practical) by using sandbags.

Play this:  video clip … for some inspiration. Enjoy!

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