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    An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative: How to Build, Honor and Support a Creative Life
    An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative: How to Build, Honor and Support a Creative Life
    An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative: How to Build, Honor and Support a Creative Life
    Ebook136 pages50 minutes

    An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative: How to Build, Honor and Support a Creative Life

    By Pam Fingado

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    About this ebook

    A step by step guide for becoming more creative. This book provides support and direction for artists and would-be artists in all disciplines starting with the initial creative spark and moving through presentation in the marketplace. Artists learn how to identify their artistic purpose, define objectives and develop a successful plan that implements strategies to insure creative growth and the the tools to sustain a creative life.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateOct 23, 2017
    ISBN9781543913569
    An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative: How to Build, Honor and Support a Creative Life

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      Book preview

      An Artist's Guide to Becoming More Creative - Pam Fingado

      Bibliography

      Introduction

      My father, Howard Morrill, was an artist. My father’s advice to me about becoming an artist was, Don’t go into art because artists don’t make any money. During my childhood, he supported our family through his own trucking and drayage business. On the weekends and in the evenings, he painted.

      He and my mother met at the Art Institute in San Francisco. They hung out with the likes of Richard Diebenkorn, Clyford Still, David Park, Elmer Bishoff, and Hassel Smith. My aunt often remarked how she envied the lifestyle of her sister and brother-in-law. These artists and the art community to which my Dad and Mom belonged during those post-WWII college years were exciting! There was a palpable stirring in the art world at that time and my aunt could see that. A new direction in art called abstract expressionism was emerging and my parents were in the middle of it.

      Growing up during the 1950s and 60s, my dad, sister, and I often would visit the local museums on the weekends. Here, my Dad often would walk up close to some of the paintings and study the work, commenting on the artist’s technique or palette. This is where I learned to appreciate and understand art. I also learned to model and eventually emulate the frustration and inner conflict of my father’s artistic path. I, too, experienced the pull of the world of money and success and the lack of monetary rewards from the sales of my artwork.

      Although his words echo in my head, I have made peace with those demons and, in quieting his voice, come to terms with our culture’s definition of success. I have learned to define my own success and it has nothing to do with sales or fame. It has to do with my intention and motivation for creating art. The pleasure, values, and creative contributions I make, share with my community, and offer the world—whether small or large—have given my life purpose and meaning.

      This book is a guide for learning how to build, honor, and support your creativity and become a more creative person. I believe we are all born with the ability to be creative. Why some of us choose to develop that creativity and others don’t depends on a variety of factors. First, you need a model, mentor, teacher, or hero who encourages that creativity. Second, you need to agree to a value system that supports the love of art and the necessity to create. Next, you need to be courageous and follow your dreams. Then you will be able to devote time and energy to learning all you can about your chosen craft. This skill building is necessary to produce work that not only displays a passion for what you do, but also guarantees an excellence necessary for cultural contribution. Finally, you need to learn to sustain that devotion by supporting those values. Share with others what was learned, encouraging and demonstrating those attributes so the next generation can inherit your creative legacy.

      Look to your earliest experiences as an artist. Reflect upon your wishes and dreams, remembering what it felt like to choose art as a path. Construct a family tree of those creative individuals who have encouraged you to follow a creative path.

      I BUILD A CREATIVE LIFE

      Building…. Constructing, Growing, and Expanding a structure, business or life.

      Chapter One

      Beginning . . . Imagining . . .

      "Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it; they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things."

      —Steve Jobs

      Concept 1. How to Begin

      Maybe you’ve seen a picture on Pinterest or a print in a book, a photograph in a gallery, or a painting in a museum and you think to yourself you’d like to do something similar. Maybe you just finished reading an inspiring novel, were moved to tears by a powerful play, or attended a performance that left you exhilarated, then thought, I want to do something like that.

      The arts provide culture—and a means to express and enrich our humanity. Whatever your desire—to write poetry or put lyrics to music, paint or craft two-dimensional work, sculpt, throw a pot, act, sing, or perform—there is a need to share your story with others and communicate thoughts and feelings through an art form.

      Maybe you dream about having the time or money to take a drawing class or do some creative writing. Whatever the dream, or wish or fleeting fantasy, recognize the desire to make something personal and unique. Begin here. Next, take that class or workshop. Buy a writing journal or a pad of drawing paper. Even this simple act can start the journey to realizing your creative self.

      On the other hand, if you stopped yourself from beginning, or got caught somewhere in between because you couldn’t find the time, ran out of money, or any of the 101 excuses that kept you from fully expressing yourself, then I suggest a creativity coach. A creativity coach can help you set priorities and learn to put that time aside so you can hone your craft. He or she can offer feedback, direct you to resources, and provide tools to help you stay on your journey.

      If you have started, but then stopped because you were told or felt that what you were doing was silly, unproductive, frivolous, or valueless; would not make money; or would not contribute to society, then you absolutely need to identify your core values and develop behavior and actions that keep you in touch with them. You need to be with others who believe that using and expressing your creativity leads to self-fulfillment and gives purpose to your life.

      More importantly, you need to believe in, honor, and build the creative life you want. Your creative life needs to be nurtured. It’s a process that requires time, patience, and resilience.

      Concept 2. Introduction to Creativity

      Cultivating your creativity starts with the desire to create. One of the reasons many don’t create is that fear stops some part of the creative process. You can reduce apprehension by realizing inspiration is gathered from stillness and quiet, and that discovery and exploration will carry you through to a creative project. The very act of problem-solving—which is working to find a resolution whether it is pictorial, written, movement, film, or some other medium—can soothe the internal tension brought on at the beginning of a creative activity. Also, the simple act of acknowledging that this is part of the first stage of the creative process will help

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