A review of past work can offer a glimpse of where your next move will be. I often find that when I’m stuck, trying to figure out what happens next, a review of past successes and failures will point the way.
I like looking at successes as a reminder that I’ve busted through blocks before, and failures can perhaps be reworked and improved. For that matter, so can successes. Using past work as a springboard for new work is a great way to get creative and productive again.
One thing I try to keep in mind is what I call “trajectory.” I don’t like the idea of simply repeating older work. I try to take it to a new place. If past work is considered part of a history, or seen as part of a continuum, then it is likely to reveal where things could go. Reviewing past work and projecting it into the future gives a whole new line of projects to work on.
Monday, August 31, 2009 – 9:31 pm
In an earlier post, I mentioned how helpful a regular work schedule is to being creative, and related to that is the idea of getting away from everything on a regular basis. Part of the rut we get in is to do the same (non-creative) things over and over. This results in useless distractions that present themselves as “noise.” A good way to combat this is to spend long periods of time doing nothing: meditation, in a way.
I spent 11 hours in a car by myself twice in the last week and for much of that time, no music, no radio. The only conversation was the noise in my head. At some point, all that noise becomes boring, and then really interesting thoughts start bubbling up to the surface: “What is it about this landscape that is so compelling?” “What kind of narrative can be told through these views?” Without the chatter of the day-to-day stuff, quite a few ideas came up and led to other compelling trains of thought. I now have new directions to explore.
The point is to find long periods of time, I suggest a couple to three hours at least, where you are not doing anything. No TV, no newspapers, magazines, books. Just sit and be quiet. The first half hour or so might be very difficult. You’ll need to resist the temptation to get up and do something, but if you can get past that, I think you’ll be richly rewarded.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 – 11:34 pm
…or perhaps the result of an active mind.
Normally, I can fall asleep within a few minutes of hitting the pillow. Even when I’m being extremely productive during the day, it is easy to fall off immediately. However, I have a rule that has served my creativity well: If I’m still awake after a half hour of lying there, I get up and go back to work. I find those times to be very productive. I take care of things that have been left unfinished, or test out some new ideas that have yet to be explored. The hours before the sun comes up are really magical. If you’re asleep and dreaming, obviously that’s true, but if you’re awake and making art, or trying out new techniques, things will happen that you’d never expect. It’s a good time to play. Keep your eyes open to accidents and intuitive voices.
It could very well be that the reason sleep does not come right away is that the creative process needs to be engaged. It’s ready and willing to get to work. Go for it. Laying in bed trying to sleep will only make you tired in the morning with nothing to show for it. You may as well be tired and have something accomplished.
Monday, August 17, 2009 – 6:35 pm