Comments on: Creativity is a discipline of learning

By: Small and Simple Thoughts » Blog Archive » Learning from the process of creating art

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:51:30 +0000

[...] Read the entire article: http://www.ideasonideas.com/2006/06/creativity_learning/ [...]

By: Tin

Tin — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:30:33 +0000

I felt like I was getting a warm hug from you, especially when reading "We love to love our crap". I'm going to thank all of my previous crap & kiss them goodbye.

By: debbie millman

debbie millman — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:07:35 +0000

What a great story to share, Eric. Thank you. Particularly relevant to me, as I very purposefully started a writing class because I felt I wasn't critical enough of the work I was doing a needed a more objective, honest perspective.

It has been a really insightful experience thus far, hearing the criticisms, the suggestions and the counsel. The school I am taking this class at (The Writers Studio in NYC) has a policy that when your work is being critiqued you can't respond or address anything until after all of the comments have been made. Yeah, that's easy.

One last thing: I think I read somewhere (and believe me, I am paraphrasing) that Picasso said that whenever you love something most in your work, you should just throw it out.

I just love that.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 17:13:26 +0000

Nice work. I hope you find the time to keep learning with paint.

Thanks also for the blog, I've been enjoying it.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 14:16:04 +0000

I am a young designer experiencing what seems constant frustration – thank you for the perspective and encouragement.

By: Stefan

Stefan — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:18:17 +0000

"...I’m convinced that good creative comes from training, just like good athletes become so as a result of focused coaching and hard work. Some may have a greater propensity for creative work than others; yet, I tend to believe that this rarity is overemphasized in our culture. I firmly believe that those who are built to last in this vocation are so because they enjoy the work and the process of learning..."

This is absolutely right on. I completely believe in this perspective, that creativity can be trained, it can be learned, and more importantly, we can get better at it if we choose to engage ourselves in creative thought and problem solving everyday, the same way an athlete trains themselves to perform. The creative process thirsts for new challenges, and the only way to quench it is to engage in new opportunities as often as possible.

I wrote a book on that very subject, although it's more of a resource. It's called "Caffeine for the Creative Mind," and it's a collection of quick, 15-20 minute creative exercises that give us an opportunity to engage in creative thought. Think of it as your creative sit-up! It doesn't come out until September, but I thought your perspective touched on the foundation of the process and the misconception that I think we are fed that creativity is some form of mutated symptom of the soulfully tortured.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:23:48 +0000

Thanks for a personal and insightful read. I really enjoyed your perspective.

cheers

By: Micke

Micke — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 20:11:18 +0000

Good read, thank you.