One Artist's Take on Creativity

I am often asked how I come up with the ideas for my pieces. This question usually stumps me. How do you explain something that is as elusive as inspiration? How do you define something that is as unpredictable as creativity? As an artist, I have found creativity and inspiration to be satisfying, challenging and often, fickle companions. There are times when both seem to flow from my pores, and times when they desert me completely. From discussions I’ve had with other artists, I am not alone in this. While it can be frustrating at times, I have found through my own experiences, as well as through the advice of others, ways to both prime the pump and channel the flow.
For someone who longs to create, it can be extremely frustrating when the ideas just won’t seem to come, but it can also be overwhelming when the ideas pour into your head faster than you can act on them. I have a few tricks I use to jumpstart the creative process. Sometimes these work, and sometimes the drought is just something that has to be muddled through. I have also found that the same tools can help me focus my thoughts and energy when my brainstorms threaten to cause a power outage.
One of the first things I do is spend time, either in person or online, with fellow bead artists. When I’m mentally tapped out, just ogling their creations and letting their perspectives rub off on me a little is enough to spark my imagination, and when the creative juices threaten to overflow, it helps me focus when I can bounce ideas of another artist. If this is not an option, flipping through a beading book or magazine and treating myself to some "eye candy" is often an effective substitute.
The world around us is also a constant source of inspiration, no matter the time of year. It seems that everywhere I look, I see something that plants the seed of an idea, whether it is the color of the sunset, the play of moonlight on a field, the shape of a new leaf, or the color in one that has turned. I try to look for ideas in unusual places as well. Have you ever looked at the bubbles in a bottle of soda and felt inspired to bead them? By becoming a more conscious observer of my world, I have found inspiration in all sorts of everyday places.
Another tool is simply spending time with my beads. If I can’t sit at my worktable with a variety of materials spread out in front of me, I tuck a focal bead, a gemstone cabochon, or a package of delicas in my pocket as I go about my business. I’ll take them out periodically and appreciate their color, shape, and texture. I try (at least at first) not to consciously plan what I want to do with them, even if I have a dozen vague ideas. I let them speak to me, tell me what they want to become. I know this may sound a little off the wall, but in discussing creativity with a number of my friends, I’ve found I’m not alone in this little habit! I don’t hear voices, but usually a design idea will take shape in my mind, almost as if the beads put it there.
Yet another tactic is to learn a new technique or facet of my art. It helps me to both focus and imagine new horizons when I learn a new stitch. In a dry spell, it gives me a new platform to dive from, and when I’m overwhelmed with ideas, it forces me to slow down and hone in on a particular aspect of my craft. This gives me a better sense of where I want to go and what I want to accomplish with the beads. Learning a new skill also bolsters my self-confidence as an artist, which is often a boost to creativity.
Finally, I have found that keeping a notebook at hand is essential. Whether I use it for making to-do and beady shopping lists, or for doing rough sketches of a design idea, I would be lost with out the ability to put pen to paper. No one would dispute the importance of jotting down a fleeting idea when they are coming on fast and furious, but a notebook can be important at other times, too. When my brain seems devoid of ideas, I sometimes sit and write down possible themes for freeform pieces. These range from simple word associations, to pieces based on poetry or classical music. It’s amazing what can develop in such a session!
For many of us, the need to create burns so strongly that it can’t be ignored or denied. The concoctions we spin out of glass and stone are the result of hard work, yes, but they are also the result of much thought and creative energy. Learning to harness your creativity and find inspiration is one of the most important things you can do as an artist.