the creative Q

The Creative Q is like a wine-of-the-month club for artists/crafters/creative people who have stopped making art or feel uninspired. Members receive a simple physical object and a related prompt that is open-ended and "media agnostic" so they can interpret it in any way they choose and make whatever they want, whether its a painting, a song, creative writing, etc. There also a little mini envelope that comes with the prompt in case the members wants more "Qs", but they only open it/look at it if they need more help. The goal is to provide just the slightest amount of help to get the creative person "unstuck" without limiting or really changing how they choose to express themselves.

Another key part of the service is an online virtual studio, where members upload their work, write about it, and give feedback to their peers. Work will be tagged with the associated challenge # so people can see how other people responded to the same prompt/object.

the creative Q home page

the creative Q studio page 

 

my solution: code name "creative challenge"

Creative Challenge is a subscription-based service (web or snail mail) where users receive prompts, materials and timelines to create work and share it in a virtual studio.

INSPIRATION

My interviewees cited a lack of time, inspiration or funds to create art. There was also a common longing for the structure of art classes and the sense of community found within a working art studio...so why not create a service which provided minimal structure, subtle prompts and a responsive community to get them back in the habit of making art. I do not want to create a "crutch" for artists, merely a set of training wheels to allow them to acheive balance and gain confidence, only to remove the training wheels and ride off on their own in the future.

If people were to receive creative prompts, they would make work and share it with others. This could create a virtual “studio” space where artists could interact, seek feedback, and express themselves. Eventually people may get back in the habit of making art without having to receive the prompts.

my conversation with myself and "the doubter"

I'm working with Elle (my communications professor who is an artist/corporate vision coach) to help her update her website. In return, she is giving my coaching sessions.

My first assignment was to have a conversation with myself. For the goal setting course I took earlier in the summer (also taught by Elle) I had mapped out my goals and then had to write a list of stumbling blocks that would prevent me from reaching my goal. Elle personified these stumbling blocks, calling them the work of "the doubter." SHe asked me to stage a conversation with "The Doubter" and write it down. Since I apparently prefer typing to writing by hand (my handwriting has deteriorated, unfortunately), I sat in front of the computer and typed out the conversation I was having in my head in a very non-judgemental way. I typed exactly what I "heard" from the conversation that was going on in my head. It made me feel pretty insane, but in the end, I am pleased with the results and the sense of ease the exercise created. Some of the "conversations" actually turned out quite amusing and for some unknown reason, I will air the results, right here, on my thesis blog, since this is definitely part of my project and part of the process I am following.

Some excerpts:

Doubter: That's true. But don't you want to have an "amazing thesis"?
Me: I do. But this direction doesn't mean that I won't. This direction means that I have a place to start, and nothing more.
Doubter: Fair enough. But I'll be back in a few months to second guess you.
Me: I have no doubt that you will.

And:

Doubter: That's true. But will people be honest? Will they tell you it sucks?
Me: I think so. I try to encourage all kinds of feedback--negative and positive.
Doubter: Hmm. sometimes.

And:

Doubter: You might not be good at other stuff, you know.
Me: I know. I am scared about that. I don't even think I'm good at design. I still don't think I know what I'm "best" at. My dad has always said "anyone can make things with your hands. Not everyone can use their mind." That's biased me.
Doubter: whoaaaa family issues. this is about you. what does it mean if you fail?

creative anxiety

Apparently creative anxiety is a hot topic.

There are creativity coaches, like the multi-book author Eric Maisel, PhD who help people deal with anxiety related to creative production. In a write-up on this random blog, Barbara Martin quotes Meisel, saying:

“We get anxious when we fear that we are about to embark on something with potentially negative consequences for our mental, emotional, physical, existential or spiritual health. That is not irrational. That is the epitome of rationality.”

and comments that:

Anxiety or fear can prevent us from creating at our best and sometimes causes blocks, stopping us from creating at all. These fears can make us hesitate at the outset of a project or take a detour in the middle or fail to complete, and fear or anxiety can skew our decision-making in ways intended to protect us against bad consequences.

anxiety

Back when I was working on Small Steps, I conducted an expert interview with my mom to learn about anxiety treatments in the mental health profession (relating to eco-anxiety). My mom said a few things that really resonated with me...anxiety is necessary. Too much can become debilitating, but without any a person cannot anticipate consequences to their actions and end up somewhat sociopathic. But what really stuck with me was the notion of anxiety as a motivator.

Perhaps I can play off of this concept and use anxiety as a motivator for creativity, or aim to reduce the anxiety associated with creativity...plus my undergrad thesis related to anxiety/obsession so maybe I could connect the concepts I explored then with my master's thesis. ha.

what's my passion?

If I am going to work on this for a year, I think I should be passionate about the topic, audience, something...

Here's a list of things I am passionate about. Or, things I like/get excited by that I doubt I'd get sick of over the course of a year:

• Creativity
• Home Decor
• Diet Coke
• Ceramics
• "Pretty" things
• food
• Illustrator
• digestable information/infographics
• craft
• empowerment
• ownership
• fun/playfulness
• TANK
  

crayola embraces the power of creativity

About a month ago, when I started thinking about this project, I did what most people do when they are looking for something: I Googled it. More explicitly, I googled "power of creativity."

Crayola has a program called "Power of Creativity" which asks parents to encourage creativity. I the opening letter of the program guide, Cheri Sterman, Crayola Director of Child Development says:

Creative expression helps children believe in themselves and feel that they have something unique to offer. Art helps children enjoy bright, colorful lives and reach their full potential.

Creativity is not so much about children becoming accomplished artists, as it is about expressing what’s inside. Expressing thoughts and feelings through art is important throughout childhood and in helping children develop into accomplished adults. Our parental role is to encourage creative activities to ensure our children reach their full potential...

While I am less interested in empowering children through creativity, the words of Cheri Sterman resonate with me.

[It] is not so much about children becoming accomplished artists, as it is about expressing what’s inside.

Other words of wisdom from Crayola:

Those with the ability to “think outside of the box” will lead the future and make special things happen...Seeds of creativity live in everyone.

The guide goes on to suggest projects parents can do with their kids. It's an odd creative jump-start for parents, and makes me think "since you were deprived of this as a child, here's some ideas." Are there guides like this for parents?

the beginning

All theses start somewhere. Mine is starting with an amorphous idea...

Throughout high school, college and after I graduated from college I worked at paint-your-own pottery studios. I worked at 4 different studios, but they all were basically the same: people walked in, picked out a piece of pre-formed, slip-cast bisque, painted it with underglazes, we glazed it with a clear glaze, fired it, and they came to pick up their food-safe, somewhat dishwasher safe creation. I loved it. It was basically a retail position with art mixed in, but there was another element that was very appealing to me.

One thing I experienced numerous times at all of these places was a customer who would transform over the course of their visit. Typically it would be a 30-40 year old woman who would come in with a group of friends. Upon entrance to the store, she would confide in me and shamefully say "I can't draw" or "I'm not creative" or "I suck at art" or "Mine will look like a 5-year-old made it." They'd putter around the store, taking forever to pick out a piece, and I'd talk to them about potential ways they could paint their piece. I'd show them idea books, stamps, stencils, and sample pieces throughout the store. They'd nervously come to a decision about their piece and their design direction. I'd give them their glazes, go over instructions, and then watch the transformation begin.

The timid woman would sketch with a pencil on her piece, and dip her paint brush in the glaze. Everything would be slow, painstakingly approached and restrained. About 30 minutes into painting, there would be a change. The woman would be helping herself to more paint; offering advice or feedback to her friends; or even sitting there, experiencing flow. After finishing her piece, the woman would proudly show it to me, her friends, and others in the studio. Her sheepish expression that she had when she entered the studio would be replaced by a big grin, or a calm sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

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For my thesis, I'd like to explore the power of creativity and doing, and the transformation one goes through by embracing the creative process. I plan on investigating the reframing of one's identity from someone who "can't draw" or "sucks at art" to an individual who can create beautiful things, and what that enables the individual to accomplish in all dimensions of their life.