What is Creativity?

For years, even in my old corporate life, I wonder about creativity.  What was it?  Is it a skill or a gift?  Was is a procces or divine intervention?

Wikipedia has a good definition, namely, "creativity is a mental process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the existing ideas or concepts, fueled by the process of either conscious or unconscious insight."  But I prefer a simplier definition.  Creativity is the act of bringing an idea into reality.

When I have an idea, it is just an idea.  It lives in my head.  No one else can see or experience it.  The idea is real but that is all that it is, an idea.  However, when I applied action, I begin to do things that will make the idea real in substance.  It can become physical, given sufficient action is taken.

In this broader definition, creativity is everywhere.  Everyone is creative.  When I think about what I want to eat for dinner, I have an idea for a specific meal.  If I just sit there and think about that delicious meal I want, I would end up starving.  It doesn't make itself.  I have to do something, namely cook, order out or go to a restaurant.  So I decide to stay home and cook.  I take out the pots and pans, start the stove or oven, locate the ingredients and begin mixing.  I am active in the creation of the meal.  It would not happen without me.  My idea, my action.  I continue with the cooking of the food and finally place the meal on the plate.  The meal is real.  It was previously just an idea. 

This is an everyday example of how there are instances of creativity in all our lives.  The great novel or painting masterpiece are what I often hear people talk about when referring to being creative.  But a profitable sales strategy, a successful teaching plan, a decorated room, a new mousetrap also are examples of creativity. 

Look around.  Everything we see, touch, experience in our daily lifes from a toothbrush to a Picasso started as an idea.  Creativity is everywhere all the time.  We are all practice creativity.

I Leased a Studio!

Well, I did it!  I found a studio space and signed a lease late last week.  I'm scheduled to move in May 1st (Happy May Day!).  The new studio is located in the Lacuna Art Lofts in the Pilsen neighborhood on the south side of Chicago.

The experience of hunting for a studio was a bit surreal.  No matter what I saw, I was unable to imagine what my work day would look like.  Then after some seemed like setbacks after making a decision, I forced myself to sit still.  I didn't look at any additional studios.  I didn't followup with any emails or voicemails regarding a space. 

Then, at the moment I thought I was back to square one (actually I felt I was even further back than that), I received a call, saw a space, and I imagined how it would work.  The images came with little coaxing.  I saw the walls that didn't exist yet, where the door would be, how I would hang the existing art, where I would place the workbench, where I would do my work, how I would store the paintings.  I even saw my new bonsai tree which I had purchased for the new space.

At the lease signing, I was excited but at piece.  Signatures were exchanged and the check slid across the table.  That was it.  Kinda anti climatic given the struggle I made of looking for a studio. 

One interesting thing I noted is that during the searching process, I didn't paint very much.  I was stressed.  I was concerned about schedules, money, getting a new exhibit, etc.  But since the lease signing, I have been painting up a storm or as much as I can given my current space limitations.

I'm still a bit nervous not knowing where the rent will come from each month but then again that is also part of the fun of this adventure.  I am experiencing many feelings at once, triggered by the new studio.  I hope I can capture some of them in my art.  Regardless, I am very grateful to have a studio.

A Frustrating Day

The hunt for a new studio space has proven to be a much bigger ordeal than I could ever have imagined.  For weeks now I have looked at studios across Chicago, north, south, west.  I calculated a budget and double and triple checked the numbers.  I measured out my current space and figured out how much space I needed and then how much space I wanted.  I backed into how my space I can currently afford, somewhere between "need" and "want". 

After weeks of searching and contemplating, I spent the last week debating two studios, apples to oranges comparison just to make things more interesting.  I have now made up my mind 3 times, second guessing myself each time.

So last night, I decided to pull the trigger and sign a lease.  I slept like a baby in spite of my seasonal allergies kicking in.  I was excited with a touch of being anxious.  Finally, I can moved on, or at least I thought.  I spent the morning completing the application, running to the bank and collecting the random pieces of paper needed for the lease signing dance.  I drove out the building which was to be my new work space imagining driving there day in and day out.  I was filled with excitement.  My first studio.  How cool!

Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I found out that the building manager wasn't there and wasn't available for the scheduled meeting.  In addition, the paperwork the application required isn't the paperwork I needed to bring.  My excitement turned to disappointment and then quickly anger.  I felt that my time was wasted and my business wasn't appreciated.  I also wondered if this is indicative of how the building is managed. 

Perhaps I seconded guessed myself too many times and the other studio is where I "should" be.  Time will tell.  I decided to take the afternoon off and not move on the studio today.  I am resisting the urge for a knee jerk reaction.  Although I am impatient and I feel that I am behind schedule, I will end up where I end up when I am suppose to end up there.  I don't want to force it.

I'm still frustrated however.  I thought I was so close.

Yet More Studios to See

The search for a new studio space continues.  Playing fortune teller is not easy.  Not only is this a case of space and budget, but the neighborhood, amenities and how the space feels are also key considerations.  Also, since I work with resin, the fumes force some shared spaces out of consideration.  Bacically, when it comes down to it, there is no perfect space. 

Right now, I'm stuck in paralysis by analysis.  Given that there is not perfect space within my budget, I have to compromise.  This is where being a fortune teller is getting tricky.  I don't know what I don't know.  Having a dedicated art space is new for me.  I'm excited and I expect good things but yet I am unaware of what may lie ahead if I choose one space over another.  Simple lack of experience.  So, all I can do is work with what I know today and move forward.  The best part of a month to month lease is that I can always move if I have to.

I currently work in 250 sq ft.  This includes the area I am using for storage.  Basically my den and guest room.  I have 3 spaces in one building, 350, 400 and 450 sq ft.   Since the cost difference per month is small from the smallest to the medium size studio, I am leaning towards the 400 sq ft space.  I don't know if I will notice the extra 50 sq ft in the larger studio.  Does size matter?

So I have measured and calculated and looked at the checkbook 4 times now.  I'm going to walk away and see if any of the spaces resonated with me.  I'll keep you posted.

More Studios To See

I continue to look for a new studio space. After a while they begin to look a like. Although, I think I found one today that may work well. Or at least, it has potential. Of course, I have to re-evaluate the budget.

I'm also working on the new web site. I can envision what it looks like but it is slow going. This includes a revamp of the blog as well.

And while I'm doing all of this, I'm also writing my first newsletter. One of these days (hopefully soon) it will go out and I can start building my mailing list as well.

Funny. When I have energy and motivation, I can't move fast enough. When I don't, it can all wait for tomorrow.