What's the secret of creativity? ~
When wearing seat belts in cars became mandatory in Italy, a stall appeared in Naples selling t-shirts with a black diagonal stripe printed on them. Don't we want to call them artists? They had a problem: heat in Naples and tickets from the cops, thus an idea was needed!
Necessity sharpens ingenuity
This idea is not as simple as it sounds. Many novice and even expert painters think art is pure fun, and freedom of expression. However, self-expression does not take place without rules, because it does not trigger original solutions.
In art, sport and business
Thinking of sports might help better understand. It is essential to work around the things you are forbidden to do. You can't touch the ball with your hands, not even unwillingly. Why do we consider Pelè or Maradona genius? Precisely because of their creativity, inventiveness, style and intuition in working out their way to the goal without using their hands. Oh my God, Diego was actually accused to cheat a goal with his mano de Dios! Let's call it an exception
Challenge and divergent thinking
So in order to be creative, in art or business, we should make a set of obstacles and restrictions: what if i paint in 30 minutes? If I use only five forms? If I lay any color but the local one? If I paint with one eye closed? ... Result is unpredictable. And there lays the magic of creativity!
This is a concept that an artist such as Larry Moore practice and shares in his What If University on Facebook Larry reflects on this matter extensively and suggests some very intriguing challenges at times.
Hope I was creative enough to inspire you within the limit of less than 360 words and 90 minute writing time. Please let me know your thoughts, I am likely to return on to this topic.
Happy Art life! -- Francesco
PS. Some of this ideas are applied in my paintings. at the current Small Work Studio Sale
