Moose Pasture

Creativity Development
in Wilderness Places

Moose Pasture

How to Spark Your Creativity

By Melinda Hunt

Only a very select few of us in the human species can be creative, right? The world is divided into those who create and those who cannot create. And if you happen to be one of those who is not creative, then you have to give up on the idea of ever painting, photographing, writing, and anything else that can be considered dreamy or romantic or creative, right? Wrong! Despite what all of the artists and authors tell you, there is no secret inner creative gene. You are not born an artist. You don't have to have "an artist's eye" to be able to see beauty and to be able to create something all your own. Don't buy into the hype. That's all it is: hype. Even if you are a business brainiac who has never picked up a paintbrush, you can create something special. Oh, it may not (and probably won't be) a Mona Lisa. But, the important thing to note here is that it will be something that you create. Something that you can look at and be proud of. But what does it take to actually create something? Use these ten ideas to spark the creativity that is lying dormant within you.

1. Take a class. If you have never taken a class in writing, photography, painting, whatever it may be, then you do not even know your own hidden potential. You may have a painter/photographer/whatever trapped in that brain of yours. The only way to find out if you have potential is to try. And taking a class is a great way to test the waters and bring out your creativity. It's also a great way to meet like-minded people who may be looking for their inner creativity too!

2. Do something you've never done before. There's no better way to get out of the box than to get out of the box! Climbing out of your own box might spark the creative aspect of your brain to get out of its box! Go sky-diving, bungee jumping, hot-air balloon riding. Okay, okay, you're right...it doesn't have to be something dangerous and wild. You could go ballroom dancing, horseback riding, sailing. Anything that is different will spark different feelings/thoughts within your brain and this can get your creative juices flowing like mad!

3. Take a vacation. Go somewhere inspiring. Need some examples? How about Hawaii, Bora Bora, Cairo? Like history? Visit England, Scotland, Italy. Can't afford an extravagant vacation? How about a road trip to the awe-inspiring Blue Ridge mountains, or the Rockies out west? The Grand Canyon has served as inspiration for hundreds of years. Being in a place where people were thousands of years ago can inspire even the most rigid person.

4. Go to the bookstore. The local bookstore has a wellspring of knowledge on almost any subject imaginable. There are books on every creative subject out there. And a magazine for every one too. You'll find ideas that will spark your imagination and give your own creativity a boost. Skim books and magazines that you normally don't gravitate to. Read articles that strike your fancy, but don't tell you anything about the stock market. Even if you don't buy a book, you won't leave there empty-handed.

5. Read a good book. While you are at the bookstore, don't forget to pick up a good book. Often a novel will spark the creativity of the novelist/artist within. Reading someone else's art is the surest way to get a kick in the pants for your own artistic endeavors. But don't just take my word for it. Go out and read a book. You'll see the evidence as you are inspired.

6. Surf the web. Just as a bookstore is a plethora of creativity and knowledge, so has the internet become. You can find almost as much information on the internet as you can in a bookstore. And as you browse, take time to notice the web designs, the photographs, the words that the artist who created the site used. The internet is not just for adult entertainment and e-mail. Can't get to a museum? You can view many fine paintings on the web. Not to mention poetry, prose, sketches, photographs...well, you get the idea. Chances are you will find something inspiring on the internet.

7. Take a walk in the park. Nature has inspired artists for centuries. Take time to look at the passing clouds and see the possibilities like you did when you were a child. Listen to the breeze blowing through the leaves. Listen to the birds singing. Really study the flowers-you'll find that they are truly amazing and breathtaking in their detail. Look closely at that butterfly. Can you see his soul on the backs of his wings? If you are not inspired by nature, you may not have any creative chops.

8. Hang out with children for a while. If you don't have any children of your own, borrow some! You can babysit your sister's kids for a while! Give them a piece of paper and some colored pencils and tell them you want them to create something. Then sit back and watch the creativity fly. Children haven't had a chance to develop that cynicism that blocks the creativity of adults, so their creativity knows no bounds. Learn from the children. Ask them questions about how they got their ideas. You will be surprised how much you can learn from a child.

9. Brainstorm. This is key, especially for writers. But it can also help the visual artist as well. If you don't know what to write about or paint, start with a blank piece of paper and start writing. Write the first thing that comes to mind. Then make a list. Set a timer if you want for say, 5 minutes. When you have finished your list, go back and write two things about each word that you wrote down. It doesn't matter if it is silly. You aren't going to show your list to anyone. Only you will see it. After you have completed this, go back and read your list. You now have some ideas to start you off.

10. And finally, exercise. I know this does not sound like fun, but trust me, you need it! And so does your brain. In order for your brain to produce ideas, it needs to be fed. And your brain eats oxygen. And how does your brain get oxygen? Through exercise! You need oxygen to move right? Well, so do those brainwaves! Get up and exercise! You will feel better, and you just might stir up some creative juices in the old cranium. There is no guarantee that you will ever write that novel that you've dreamed of writing, or become the next big photographer or painter. But the potential is there. And to unlock that potential, you have to do something inspiring. Whether it be surfing on the open water or surfing the web, do something to unlock your creativity and watch the sparks fly!

About the Author:
Melinda Hunt
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Spark-Your-Creativity&id=4727096] How to Spark Your Creativity

Custom Search	Contact Us Copyright 2010 ©Linda C Butler PO Box 92, Chilliwack BC V2P 6H7 All Rights Reserved Internationally Legal Notice and Privacy Policy