Creativity. It is to art (and life) as chocolate is to milk. If art lacks creativity, it’s only a pretty picture to hang on the refrigerator. Pretty pictures are nice, but a creative artwork is worth so much more.
You know you have made something creative when people actual stop to look at your work, rather than glance at it, then walk past it to look at the next pretty picture. When they bring a friend over to talk about it, you may have made something creative. When you have put part of yourself into the artwork so that you actually don’t want to part with it, your creativity shows.
I feel that creativity is essential every artwork that I make, in the decisions I make, even in the way I approach each day. My goal in life is to live in a way that makes people wonder. I want them to wonder why I do what I do, and depending on my mood, I either tell them or I cock my head to the side and say, “What do you think?” (It’s a teacher thing.)
I am not saying that making something pretty is a bad thing. I am saying that it is definitely not as good as creating something that shows how one feels and thinks. And it is my passion to always create with this in mind. Yes, it takes more time. True, it is not always easy, but it is always, always worth it!
Everyone can benefit from being a little more creative, no matter what they do or want to do. As an art teacher, creativity a major grade I give. I feel that if I can inspire a creative thought in another person, then perhaps I can open a door to some locked vault inside them. I know that sounds corny, but that’s how I feel.
I expect students to be creative in the work that they turn in, and I expect nothing less of the teacher! I have started this blog and website to create and produce tools that will help teachers and students become more creative and to have discussions with others as to how to inspire creativity.
If you don’t have creativity, there’s no use in creating anything!
Join me in exploring this fascinating topic. I plan to make sketchbooks/workbooks, read books about creativity and write reviews, and I am hoping to have conversations with like-minded people that will help me become a better teacher and a more creative artist.
As I gear up for the school year to start, I have been thinking a lot about how to inspire creativity in my students. I have created a creativity journal which I will be sharing on this blog soon. It is a carefree exercise which I have not even decided if I am going to grade yet. I don’t want them to feel obligated to make things perfect to get the grade…but at the same time, I do want them to do it! I will let you know what I decide when the time comes.
Comment below if you have a sure-fire way of inspiring people to become more creative.
Be Creative Today!