Creativity...and what is it?

[Dawn S.]

Amongst other things , webwise, I subscribe to bi weekly letters from Robert Genn, a painter, who writes this interesting and thought provoking letters about visual arts & ways of looking at things. This week's I found particularly interesting http://clicks.robertgenn.com/john-cleese.php, especially as I followed the click back link to the talk by John Cleese about Creativity, what is it and how to access it.

Hope the rest of you find it as interesting I did.

[Rita C.]

Very interesting talk by John Cleese. I think the reason older women take up quilting more seriously is that they finally have space, time, time, confidence and humour once their children have grown up and are less in need of their services. However, in our household there is a perhaps too much of the open mode and too little of the closed mode occurring as we never seem to be able to keep on top of the accounts and the other daily grind elements. ops: Thanks for an interesting detour Rosemary.

[Rita C.]

Thanks Rosemary. The only problem is that the time I should have been using for being creative have been used to listen to John talk about how to be creative. Maybe, I should get back to it.

[Rita C.]

I had it on whilst I was ironing & tidying things in my sewing room (very necessary) and have listened to it several times. It only takes 30 minutes, and he advocates that you need sessions of 1 1/2 hours for creativity play sessions. I suppose it depends on what part of the quilt you are at - do you need the 'open mind, what if' play section or the 'closed mind, get on with it' section.

[Rita C.]

I take my time dwelling on the problem that needs the creativity and then walk away, I may take several days of looking at it and thinking about what might work, the answer usually comes when I am not thinking about it. Once the answer comes then I have to think about how to go about accomplishing it. Once that decision is made--I just go for it.

Having said that, my best friend, spends so much time thinking about what she wants to do that she never does it. She does her best work when I can convince her to just do it and not think about it. She has a very creative mind.

[Rita C.]

If you have got a system that works for you great 8)

But sometimes we need a 'kick up the backside' to actually get on with 'difficult' creativity rather than sidetracking to easy things.

[Rita C.]

I think DH would say I don't need any help with my creativity ;o)

[karen f.]

Thanks Rosemary for the John Cleese link. It was enjoyable and thought provoking.