A year and a half ago I wrote an article: How to Save Energy for Creativity when You Are 50? Unexpectedly, I got a widespread response here on Livemaster. I realized that "creativity ecology" issues concern not only me... Today I would like to discuss with you, colleagues, another important topic: How to avoid crisis in creativity, and if you have it, how to overcome it?
Let's start with the fact that crisis itself is not bad or good. It's just a turning point in disease, relationships, creativity development... Maybe it's even useful. Some part of you either dies or recovers :) It's all about how to treat such things. I think crisis is a challenge that we must learn how to accept. The key word here is "learn."
I remember a long story that happened to me while working in the theatre. Once I had a conflict at work. One very honoured lady, all hung with diplomas and medals, like a thoroughbred cat, gave her last argument:
- You're just a dilettante!
It was the moment of truth. I went silent. No, I was not offended. I smiled. Of course, I am a dilettante! Despite I am 40+, I am young and open to everything new. I am willing to learn, even from such women. Because perfection, as you know, has no limit. Are we so perfect?
It is important to understand, being at the darkest, dull point, that not everything is bad, but planning of work and rest, for example, are bad. Or you may lack knowledge. Or fresh impressions. These factors have led you to stress and fatigue. To that situation when it seems that everything is annoying, and you want nothing. Yes, it is necessary to be able to organize your life correctly, so that it has place for rest and new knowledge. Of course, it is important to be aware of yourself as a professional, to be an expert in your field. But it feels better to remain an eternal student. Crisis often overwhelms you at the peak of your development, but we have not reached the peak yet!
So, it will be more about a pre-crisis state :) Here are some useful habits of a creative person that help to be cheerful all the time.
1. Piggy Bank of Observations
Everyone who studied painting at least in children's art school, remembers advice from teachers: always have a pencil and a notebook with you. Great advice to develop brain-hand connection, which is especially important for an artisan. For those who do not know how or do not like to draw, there is an easier job: take pictures! A phone is always at hand now. Camera of an inexpensive smartphone now allows you to take good pictures easily. You do not need to go to exotic places for beauty. I go out to the garden and take 10-15 photos almost every day in a few minutes. Unusual colour combinations, weather, angles - nature changes all the time. When I lived in the city and went to work every day, I took pictures in the morning yard. At lunchtime, going to a cafe along a snow-covered street. Even from a trolley window. In the evening I loaded them to a special folder on the computer, from 15 photos I selected 2-3 good one and deleted the rest. 10 minutes of my time. What does it give you? It develops colour, composition, proportions, freshness of perception senses.
2. Illustrated Books
Many of us, when children, had a favorite book with pictures that we knew by heart, but continued to look at them for a long time. I had several books like that. One of them was Ole Lukøje with wonderful illustrations by V. Pivovarov. Later I had albums with Nesterov`s and Bilibin`s reproductions. I especially loved a little gloomy, but for some reason very clear and recognizable and fabulous landscapes by Bilibin. Only later I learned that he travelled along the Yonga River. This dense forest region is located at the junction of Yaroslavl and Tver regions, very close to my native Rybinsk. This once again confirms the idea of how impressions of what you see, even some subtle landscape nuances, affect artist`s style.
Therefore, another important exercise for me is watching children's pictures, high-quality reproductions and, of course, if you have an opportunity, visit exhibitions. What does it give you? It deepens knowledge of composition laws, develops associative thinking. How can you list all benefits of watching works by outstanding artists?
3. Good Old Films
This is a controversial issue. Before, I as many artisans of my age, I liked to work with "good old movies" or TV series on the background. Of course, it's so familiar and cozy! But gradually I stopped doing this. Why? How to explain it... Maybe I'm not quite right, but they have their own design, their own aesthetics, far from perfect, which you have once learned. So, it is just a multiple repetition, everything is so expected and predictable... It is hardly useful for your creative potential development, you can watch a masterpiece of the cinematography world as an exception :) It is important for me that my eyes are busy with nothing but work. As for ears, they are free. Audiobook, music — something that does not distract or knock down the rhythm.
I prefer to watch movies in the evening, when all the daily planned things are done. By the way, one smart lady-marketing expert advised me that as a means of professional burnout. There should be at least an hour a day when a person, despite all the love for his/her work, is not engaged in it and does not think about this business at all.
What kind of movies? It's a matter of taste. I prefer artistic. I also prefer films by foreign directors. Why? I have no opportunity to visit other countries, to communicate with people of other nationalities. But high-quality, talented films let you learn about other cultures, get rid of stereotypes. What does it give you? First of all, it broadens your mind, allows you to see the world a little from a different angle :)
4. Folk Art
In my opinion, a good artisan needs to learn folk crafts, even if his kind of creativity is not traditional. Why? Original works of applied folk art have nothing accidental, every detail is thought out. There is no beauty for just beauty. It is this meaningfulness that captivates you, in spite of all form imperfection. One more thing. In fact, most of us, artisans, create contemporary folk art. In addition to beauty it always values benefits, strength, functionality. This is a huge unknown space for creative growth! You can get acquainted not only with materials in your direction or art of your nation. Again, here is a question of expanding horizons, an ability to transfer knowledge from one field of to another. For example, if I make dolls, it does not mean that old cooking technology is useless for me :) I'm not talking about secrets of fabric dyers from Indonesia or patchwork from Japan. Life is hardly enough to learn it thoroughly — so to catch up with artisans. But this is not required. At least have an idea about it, that's not bad.
5. Communication with Luminaries
In conclusion, another useful and very pleasant habit. Let's communicate more with smart, gifted people who are able to achieve their goals. It does not matter who they are — artists, businessmen, teachers or successful grandmothers-gardeners who grew a botanical garden on their small piece of land. The main thing is that you have something to learn from this person. So, you will not just have enough time to think about creative crisis.