When you finally do come up for air, your aware of the isolation that is a by-product of the creative process.

The creative process, for the most part is a solo one and if you’re an artist or writer I’m sure you understand this.

You have to have a level of isolation to get lost into your thoughts, vision and fantasy and express this without interruption.

How many creators can actually create in a public setting where there is an invasion of your thoughts and personal space?

I believe the creative process becomes an Achilles’ heel from the perspective of loneliness. The time alone that is needed most to create and produce is also the thing that makes me feel lonely from time to time.

I need quiet; to be alone, to reflect with no interruption. But it’s also lonely.

So what can one do?

First, don’t judge yourself and compare.

Second, The awareness of your limits is important. Don’t let yourself get lost in lonely thinking. Step outside the comfort zone and find others you can relate to.

Third, embrace the feelings. We all get into the place of feeling lonely. Don’t let it define you. As a creator know that you have the power (and everyone does) to create your own reality. What you believe, you become. Keep your work balance in check with your social life.

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Delight in the A-Ha Moment – A 5-Step Technique for Producing Ideas circa 1939

Just recently I was very excited to read some ideas from James Webb Young whom in 1939 wrote, ‘A technique for producing ideas’.

Young was one of the first to promote creativity as connections, the power of observation and intuition. If we were to make a creativity formula it might look something like this:

1. Gather materials with curiosity.
“Every really good creative person whom I have ever known has always had two noticeable characteristics. First, there was no subject under the sun in which he could not easily get interested”. Stay curious, feed the curiosity (in a healthy way). When starting your next project gather components that might seem to fit. Things you find interesting and fascinating.

2. Digesting the information – seek new relationships.
“What you do is to take the different bits of material which you have gathered and feel them all over, as it were, with the tentacles of the mind. You take one fact, turn it this way and that, look at it in different lights, and feel for the meaning of it. You bring two facts together and see how they fit. What you are seeking now is the relationship, a synthesis where everything will come together in a neat combination, like a jig-saw puzzle.”

Don’t analyze. Seek the relationship even if it’s abstract.

3. Let it go!
When you reach this third stage in the production of an idea, drop the problem completely and turn to whatever stimulates your imagination and emotions.

Don’t try to make sense of it. Process the items you are working with and let it go.

4. The A-Ha Moment: Out of nowhere the Idea will appear!
“It will come to you when you are least expecting it — while shaving, or bathing, or most often when you are half awake in the morning. It may waken you in the middle of the night.”

The A-Ha Moment is always the best moment!

5. Idea has to meet reality.
Now all the dreaming has to become tangible.
“It requires a deal of patience working over to make most ideas fit the exact conditions, or the practical exigencies, under which they must work. And here is where many good ideas are lost. The idea man, like the inventor, is often not patient enough or practical enough to go through with this adapting part of the process. But it has to be done if you are to put ideas to work in a work-a-day world.”

For more tips to cultivate your creativity, check out these other articles:

Create New Ideas and Enhance Your Creativity

The Creativity of Artists and Common Traits Shared

Get Past the Creative Block Now!
The Enemy of Creativity? Find out here
Creative Lull? How to Give your Artistic Creativity a Boost

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Early surrealists were experts at the art of perception. Dreams the workings of the subconscious mind inspired unique and unexpected art. Surrealists artists were masters at artistic vision.

As an artist you can learn to see more than meets the eye. Just like early surrealist, you can learn to be more creative. Of course it’s a good exercise to draw, paint or visually express what you actually see. This is the discipline of art, just like exercising. You have to practice it to get strong at it.

However, if you go deeper into what you perceive, feel or intuitively know, your art will take on a deeper meaning to you.

Vision and Confidence

So how do you get to the place of vision? How do you get in the artist zone to to the place of “more than meets the eye”?

Believe it or not it starts with confidence. The fact that vision is important to you as an artist is the first step.

You have to believe your work is good enough. You have to believe you’re good enough. When you stop questioning your work and talent then you can focus on what you are really seeing without questioning it. You can let the journey unfold.

It starts here:

Let Go of Expectation

When you start a new drawing or painting you may have an expectation of what it will become. You have a plan. However, creativity is a process. Your work may start with a plan – or vision on how you want it to look, however it evolves once you get started. Be open to your painting, drawing or whatever your creating… changing. Expecting instant and perfect results without going through the process can lead to a creative block. You know how it is… the harder your try the worse it becomes. Mentally you pressure yourself, get frustrated and use all the creative energy fighting it. Take a step back, change your thinking and let go of expectations.

Listen

In the process of creating your work, your evolving work is trying to tell you something. Artistic expression reaches into the soul for stories untold. Listen to how your feel when your working on it. When you are in tune with your feelings through your work, it will flow. When you are in doubt inspiration ceases.

Zone

You know when your in your sweet spot when your deep into a new piece your creating. Time stands still. Your at peace. It feels like a rush. Your centered. It’s so therapeutic and you totally enjoy it. When your in this zone, that’s when your internal vision kicks into high gear. This is when you can do your best work. Let it flow.

Motivated

Keep motivated, and look for the inspiration all around you. Study the works of famous artists, surrealist, abstract artists, and more.

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“Creativity takes courage,” as Matisse once said. This is especially true when you can’t get into the zone.

You stare and the blank canvas or paper and see nothing. You look at your files of inspiration and everything comes back flat and blank. It’s as if you don’t care. You lost your energy and and can’t seem to get in the zone. Your frustrated, you feel like giving up.

You’re stuck. What’s next?
It’s an awful feeling. Especially when you’ve experienced the high of instant ideas and visuals and create new, fresh and dynamic art and images on a whim.

First things first.
Walk away from it, walk away from the fact it’s just not working out.

Put it out of your mind.
When your under pressure to create something and your stressed or not finding the creative vibe that you need RIGHT NOW… switch gears.

Take a nap.
Something about being unconscious (in a good way) refreshes the spirit. The exhaustion that come come from creating or trying to, sometimes needs a nap.

You need a change of scenery – get outside.
Find a quiet spot in nature to help you get back into the creative zone.

Music.
Focus your senses on other things such as music or whatever makes you happy.

Exercise.
It’s amazing when you get out of your creative space/studio/office how much better you can think. Take time for your body, nourish your spirit.

As you let it go and focus your attention on not trying so hard… what is already inside you will appear.

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