Sunday, January 15, 2006

How To Notice Creativity

I often feel that simple things in life can provide us with a "creative" moment. Whether you write, paint, or do craft, nature is a fantastic teacher. While you take a drive, walk, or sit on a beach or in the bush etc, let your mind and heart open to the countless possibilities that exist in nature. Use your senses. Life is not a senseless journey. Not only look, but listen, smell, and yes, even taste. Try those fresh strawberries, lovely cherries, or red raspberries!! (yum yum)

When you are waiting for public transport, at a traffic light, or even in a lift, use these brief moments to pay attention to what the people around you are doing, what about the music played in a shopping centre, or even the smell from the corner restaurant. All these you can file away in your memory bank and use them later. They can add a touch of realism, a new angle to your creativity, or even a new insight into a common thread of thought.

I have a habit of taking along a pocket notebook with me wherever I go and jot down things I find creative or inspiring. When in a hurry, I use word associations so when I do have the time I can recall the moment and add to its description (perhaps during blogging or journalling).

Really creativity is all around us. We just have to take the time to notice it. Every week I have at least half a day of 'creative arty date' where I slow down just a bit from my busyness and breathe in the air of new ideas, concepts, and views through arts, films, songs, photographs, paintings, multi-media and poems etc. I try to stop, look, and listen, and in so doing I draw close to the most creative ONE - the Creator Himself! And I am so thankful for that.

17 comments:

Amanda Hunt said...

Great post Kitty, after three years of an art degree, my mind is trained to see things from an artists perspective. I often have thoughts like 'oooh, such and such would be a great idea for a painting or series'. Problem is, I'm really bad at keeping a visual diary so I often forget the ideas!

Kc said...

I appreciate your guidance in this area. I've never been able realize any real use from my own creations and I don't believe that's my gift but I would want to use what I have as He intended.

Kitty I also want to thank you for your faithful prayers and support. You are a blessing to us. ;-)

Kitty Cheng said...

Thanks Amanda. By the way, in my diary there is a quote from Henry David Thoreau, which says "The world is but a canvas to the imagination." I thought you would like it.

Kitty Cheng said...

You're very welcome Kc. You and Corry are a blessing to me too.

An Ordinary Christian said...

I enjoy getting to know you. I like creative things, but I don't think about that as a primary objective. My parents were way/over-the-top creative. They may not have even had a left side to their brains. It was a good place for me to be raised, I guess, because it helped me to see things in a different way that I wouldn't have appreciated before. Whenever I write, well, lots of time, its like I hear music in my brain. My parents gave me that. They were musicians for a living.

Anonymous said...

i agree with OC. you helped me looked things in a different way. thank you. God bless you always, kitty.

Kitty Cheng said...

Andrea, I also enjoy getting to know you. To me, my primary objective is to glorify God. Creativity is what can be used to do that, hence I place a high importance on it I suppose. I like creative arty things, but I believe I am not particularly right-brained either. I am sure it was great for you to have musicial parents ;)

Kitty Cheng said...

Pia, thanks for you kind words. I praise God for giving me the opportunity to learn to look at things in that perspective.

God bless you all the time too, Pia.

forgiven said...

Hi Kitty
Miss You Too.
I have been away and just got back.
What a great post ,you are so right. A God that loves us so much that He gave us Color to see , Differnt smell and taste . He just didn't give us a place to live but much , much more .

And the Lord has given you the eyes to see the beauty.

In His Love Sis

Mark D said...

Hi Kitty,

Great idea about the pocket notebook! I'm going to do that...although for me it would probably be directed more toward song ideas. I like music, acting, directing, and writing but would have to say I am quite weak in things like drawing and painting.

P.S. Of COURSE you are forgiven for getting my name wrong! :) Matthew is next to Mark in the Bible so it's easy to do...I've been called Luke before too.

Kitty Cheng said...

Hi Brother Doug,

Thanks for your kind words. You're always so encouraging.

Certainly color, differnt smell and taste are certainly God's blessings and grace to us all .

God Bless you.

Kitty Cheng said...

Hi Mark,

Actually I am like you. I am better at performing arts than visual arts. However I really enjoy other people's painting and drawing.

Haha has anyone called you John yet?

audrey` said...

You're right, Kitty :)
Life is a very colourful journey.
Enjoy all the senses.
Haha!

Kitty Cheng said...

Actually I am now enjoying the senses as I type...I am looking at the beautiful postcards on my desk, I am listening to the lovely music in the background, I am eating sweet candy, and I can smell gorgeous perfume haha!

audrey` said...

HaHa!
You've said it right, Kitty :)
May I have a piece of your candy?
Thank you.
It's so yummy =P
HeHe!

Kitty Cheng said...

Anytime Audrey! Email me your address and I'll send you something for your senses hehe.

audrey` said...

Hehehe!
Your comment always put a very big smile on my face.
Sometimes I laughed aloud too, like now =D
You're a very fantastic girl. Love you!