Process It

When considering the creative process, creatively consider making new processes.  A new process will take your mind to new places and it can be a new way to look at old problems.  Stand back from your current methods and processes.  Break them down and analyze them.  With an understanding of them begin to develop and design entirely new ones.  Experiment with systems that have never been tried before.  Outline or describe the new approach and see where it takes you.  As you experience your new processes you can refine and improve them.  You will find that each new process gives you fresh perspectives for numerous creative challenges.


There are many tried and true creative processes that have been developed as well and they too are worth exploring.

The famous artist/musician David Bowie occasionally speaks about a method he likes to use when writing songs. He writes down words that he finds intriguing and collects them up over time. He then cuts the words up so that each word is on an individual piece of paper. He spreads the words out in front of him and begins to experiment with different; combinations, orders, rhythms and so on.  He eventually works these into lyrics, songs and music.

.                   Albrech Durer Wood Cut                                       Leonardo da Vinci

Fifteenth century Leon Battista Alberti developed a process for artists to view and grasp the correct perspective of a scene by observing it through a thin veil with a see-through grid (as seen in the Albrech Durer image above).  Leonardo da Vinci used and further developed similar contraptions as did many artists of the time.

Dr. Yoshiro Nakamatsu (the famous Japanese inventor) likes to submerge himself underwater with a pad and underwater writing instrument.  He feels it helps him think more creatively and he is able to write his thoughts down as they come.

Explore process as you develop your work.  Research the processes of people that you respect.  Try them, refine them and make your own unique systems to enhance your creativity.  It’s always an interesting exercise and it rarely disappoints in producing great results.

          In a nut shell

   1-Consider new creative processes
   2-Analyze your current processes
   3-Research other people’s processes
   4-Make and use new ones
   5-Refine and improve them

Quotes
David Bowie

“There’s nothing more embarrassing than watching somebody who doesn’t love what they do, but does it because they believe that’s the way they’re going to be loved.”

“I've never responded well to entrenched negative thinking.”

Videos

Yoshiro Nakamatsu holds a world record for receiving the most patents (over 3000).  From the karaoke machine to the DVD he has played a major role in many of the inventions we are all familiar with.  In the following video clip he shares one of his techniques for promoting “higher” inventive thinking.  It’s a clip from the documentary The Invention of Dr Nakamats.  He’s funny but he’s no joke.



Daniel Rozin is an interactive digital artist.  He creates installations and sculptures that respond to the viewer in very unique ways.  He is also the owner of Smoothware Design, a software company that makes his  interactive art possible.