Hari's Corner

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Thoughts on creativity

Filed under: Life and Leisure by Hari
Posted on Sat, Jun 9, 2012 at 21:03 IST (last updated: Sun, Jan 25, 2015 @ 10:24 IST)

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I've just been thinking about my comics, cartoons and other creative writing on this blog and it appears to me that most of my creative work has occurred in spurts, rather than in a regular stream. I think part of the reason for that is something about creativity itself. To me, creativity is not a spark or inspiration but something you have to keep working on in order to improve. Of course, sometimes ideas come in sparks and that ignites creativity. But that one spark can die quickly if the actual process of creation doesn't happen soon after. And indeed, one reason why not all ideas are put into execution is because of this reason.

I have come to the conclusion that creativity is 20% idea and 80% process. The idea is necessary but not sufficient. If the process doesn't happen, the 20% dies quickly enough. The best way to preserve an idea is probably to write it down in a concrete but brief form in a way that retains the original essence. But that of course, is not always possible. And so, sometimes brilliant ideas go to waste. It's amazing how the human mind can quickly lose focus when the idea is put in the backburner because of the lack of concrete expression.

This is where I think professional creative people differ from mere hobbyists. I am a hobbyist, meaning that I cannot devote a substantial chunk of my time in creative pursuits like a professional can and does. Professional creative people or professional artists have time, but more importantly, they have fine-tuned the discipline by regular practice and the process that fuels the creativity and turns ideas into concrete work. The idea that comes off and is executed to perfection is probably the greatest achievement of any artist and a moment of pride and satisfaction. It also comes down to the fact that the creative professional has also mastered (to a greater degree) skills that require quite hard work to master. This is what lends class to the finished product. It is something more than the mere idea and its execution. The touch of experience and mastery of skill takes creativity to a newer height and allows the creator to explore deeper into the art.

The reason I state this is because it is very hard for a non-professional creative person to stay motivated and creative. As a hobbyist, while I try my best to improve my skills while creating, I do so only in fits and starts. I can be creative only whenever I get the time and the freedom to devote to the process. I also have to admit that I will take a lot longer to master any particular skill. I also have to admit that I may not be able to execute each and every one of my creative ideas because of lack of time. Professionals do it because it's their regular job. It's so easy for any hobbyist to get dismayed and demotivated by the quality and quantity of work that a professional creator churns out and comparing it with his/her own work.

I think hobbyist creators need to understand is that the process itself is the reward and not just the end result. The hobby should take away the pressures of regular work and free the mind; filling it with enjoyment and pleasure from creating and learning something new without the pressure of having to master it within reasonable time or even at all; and of course the enjoyment from exploring different ideas, skills and art forms. While I don't mean that a hobbyist shouldn't be bothered about getting better or improving, the hobby itself shouldn't become a chore. If it does, then perhaps it is time to move on to a different hobby.

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