Val Andrews's Blog - Posts Tagged "creative-thinking"
Five questions to inspire you on this Majestic Monday
Wow. It's only 12 days to Christmas. How fast the year has gone and how hard we have all worked. Have you thought of a nice Christmas gift for yourself? Something you could become immersed in, inspired by, and moved to action? If so, you could start by opening your journal and scribbling your response to these questions:
Q1. Have you ever felt the urge to express yourself in a new or different way? If so, describe how. Write as much detail as you can about the ways in which you would like to express yourself. For example, this may be a shift from photography to painting, or you may be someone who’s always painted and now wants to make music, or you may be someone who’s never picked up any creative tool, but you know you want to. Whatever your desire or curiosity is, write about it now, in your journal.
Q2. Are you unsure about how to start this new mode of creative expression? Record in your journal the details of how and when you’d like to start this new way of expressing yourself. If you sense you don’t have all the details, just list as much as you can. If possible, draw pictures and / or shapes or symbols to represent your thoughts or make sounds in your recording device, whatever feels right to you.
Q3. Are you put off trying something new because you think you can’t do it? If so, then write about this in your journal. Be completely honest with yourself. List all the barriers you feel you may be facing. If you don’t think there are any barriers, then write a quick plan of how and when you’ll make a start on this new mode of expression. If you do think there are some barriers, then make a note of them, and decide how you’ll get around them.
Q4. Are you a skilled and experienced creator who feels blocked? If so, list all the things which you feel are blocking you. This could be anything from family commitments to a fear of failure to niggling health concerns or uncertainty about breaking into something new or simply a lack of inspiration to express yourself in a new way. Whatever it is, be completely honest with yourself and write about it in your journal.
Q5. What would you be prepared to give up, to become the creator you want to be? It may be less time with Mr. Netflix, or a tiny corner of your studio or kitchen table, or a certain amount of money which you will allocate each month to buying new creative tools. It might be a combination of these things or something else entirely. Whatever it is, make a note of it in your journal.
Taken from my book: Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
Q1. Have you ever felt the urge to express yourself in a new or different way? If so, describe how. Write as much detail as you can about the ways in which you would like to express yourself. For example, this may be a shift from photography to painting, or you may be someone who’s always painted and now wants to make music, or you may be someone who’s never picked up any creative tool, but you know you want to. Whatever your desire or curiosity is, write about it now, in your journal.
Q2. Are you unsure about how to start this new mode of creative expression? Record in your journal the details of how and when you’d like to start this new way of expressing yourself. If you sense you don’t have all the details, just list as much as you can. If possible, draw pictures and / or shapes or symbols to represent your thoughts or make sounds in your recording device, whatever feels right to you.
Q3. Are you put off trying something new because you think you can’t do it? If so, then write about this in your journal. Be completely honest with yourself. List all the barriers you feel you may be facing. If you don’t think there are any barriers, then write a quick plan of how and when you’ll make a start on this new mode of expression. If you do think there are some barriers, then make a note of them, and decide how you’ll get around them.
Q4. Are you a skilled and experienced creator who feels blocked? If so, list all the things which you feel are blocking you. This could be anything from family commitments to a fear of failure to niggling health concerns or uncertainty about breaking into something new or simply a lack of inspiration to express yourself in a new way. Whatever it is, be completely honest with yourself and write about it in your journal.
Q5. What would you be prepared to give up, to become the creator you want to be? It may be less time with Mr. Netflix, or a tiny corner of your studio or kitchen table, or a certain amount of money which you will allocate each month to buying new creative tools. It might be a combination of these things or something else entirely. Whatever it is, make a note of it in your journal.
Taken from my book: Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
What causes creativity in childhood?
According to mainstream science, human creativity is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including brain structure and function, dopamine levels, personality traits, cognitive processes, emotional state, and environmental factors. Each of those factors, on their own, are complex enough, but when you add them all together, to varying degrees, applied in unique ways, you probably get an infinite combination of possibilities for individual creativity making it almost impossible to explain why a person is creative and in what context their creativity shines.
EARLY INFLUENCES
If I were to pinpoint one influence or one moment in time in my life, when my creativity was stimulated, it would have been when I first read: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". At seven years of age, I was probably open to influences more than any other time in my life. (Mainstream science seems to suggest that seven is the age when our cognitive processes finally become clear.)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
I own many copies and versions of the book, each with their own unique style of illustration, and I love them all. They are my babies, in a way. Some forty years later, I still read them and every time, I am struck by the genius of the writing and the plot. Having written a series of magical adventure stories for children aged 7-12 years, I now understand how and why "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has stood the test of time, surviving as an icon of creativity and imagination.
WHY IT'S SO AMAZING
Imaginative World-Building: Carroll creates an entirely unique and whimsical world filled with fantastical creatures, bizarre rules, and surreal landscapes. Wonderland defies logical conventions, inviting readers into a realm where anything is possible.
Original Characters: The book introduces memorable and eccentric characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit. These characters are not only distinct and imaginative but also challenge conventional character archetypes.
Playful Use of Language: Carroll employs wordplay, puns, riddles, and nonsensical poetry, showcasing a deep creativity in language and storytelling. The poem "Jabberwocky" is a prime example of his inventive use of made-up words and imaginative scenarios.
Surreal and Absurd Logic: The narrative structure and the events in Wonderland follow a dream-like, often illogical progression, which mirrors the fluid and unpredictable nature of a child's imagination.
Encourages Imagination: The fantastical elements of the story encourage children to use their imagination, envisioning the curious and often bizarre scenes described in the book.
Promotes Creative Thinking: By presenting a world where normal rules do not apply, the book encourages children to think outside the box and consider alternative perspectives and solutions to problems.
Engages with Playful Ideas: The whimsical and humorous tone of the story, along with its playful ideas, can inspire children to approach life with curiosity and a sense of playfulness.
Stimulates Interest in Language: Carroll’s inventive use of language can spark an interest in words and storytelling, prompting children to play with language and create their own stories and poems.
Exploration of Identity and Curiosity: Alice's journey is also a metaphor for self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, themes that can resonate with children as they explore their own identities and curiosities.
CONCLUSION
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is undoubtedly a creative masterpiece. Its imaginative world, original characters, and playful use of language not only highlight Lewis Carroll’s creativity but also have the power to stimulate creativity in children. The book invites young readers to explore their own imaginations, think creatively, and embrace the whimsical aspects of storytelling, making it both a creative work and a tool for fostering creativity.
Why is this important? What do you think?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
EARLY INFLUENCES
If I were to pinpoint one influence or one moment in time in my life, when my creativity was stimulated, it would have been when I first read: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". At seven years of age, I was probably open to influences more than any other time in my life. (Mainstream science seems to suggest that seven is the age when our cognitive processes finally become clear.)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
I own many copies and versions of the book, each with their own unique style of illustration, and I love them all. They are my babies, in a way. Some forty years later, I still read them and every time, I am struck by the genius of the writing and the plot. Having written a series of magical adventure stories for children aged 7-12 years, I now understand how and why "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has stood the test of time, surviving as an icon of creativity and imagination.
WHY IT'S SO AMAZING
Imaginative World-Building: Carroll creates an entirely unique and whimsical world filled with fantastical creatures, bizarre rules, and surreal landscapes. Wonderland defies logical conventions, inviting readers into a realm where anything is possible.
Original Characters: The book introduces memorable and eccentric characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit. These characters are not only distinct and imaginative but also challenge conventional character archetypes.
Playful Use of Language: Carroll employs wordplay, puns, riddles, and nonsensical poetry, showcasing a deep creativity in language and storytelling. The poem "Jabberwocky" is a prime example of his inventive use of made-up words and imaginative scenarios.
Surreal and Absurd Logic: The narrative structure and the events in Wonderland follow a dream-like, often illogical progression, which mirrors the fluid and unpredictable nature of a child's imagination.
Encourages Imagination: The fantastical elements of the story encourage children to use their imagination, envisioning the curious and often bizarre scenes described in the book.
Promotes Creative Thinking: By presenting a world where normal rules do not apply, the book encourages children to think outside the box and consider alternative perspectives and solutions to problems.
Engages with Playful Ideas: The whimsical and humorous tone of the story, along with its playful ideas, can inspire children to approach life with curiosity and a sense of playfulness.
Stimulates Interest in Language: Carroll’s inventive use of language can spark an interest in words and storytelling, prompting children to play with language and create their own stories and poems.
Exploration of Identity and Curiosity: Alice's journey is also a metaphor for self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, themes that can resonate with children as they explore their own identities and curiosities.
CONCLUSION
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is undoubtedly a creative masterpiece. Its imaginative world, original characters, and playful use of language not only highlight Lewis Carroll’s creativity but also have the power to stimulate creativity in children. The book invites young readers to explore their own imaginations, think creatively, and embrace the whimsical aspects of storytelling, making it both a creative work and a tool for fostering creativity.
Why is this important? What do you think?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
