08.07.2007 | Posted by Naomi Fujimoto

Thoughts on creativity

I've been reading 52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity. It's a cool book with ideas about how to express your creativity. The author, Jeffrey Yamaguchi, thinks that creativity begets creativity. That energy for one project will give you energy for other projects.

I've been thinking about this because we've been deep into the creative process here at BeadStyle. Each of us has designed about 30 earrings, and by the end of the week, we'll have designed 30 more. We've been spending our days designing, photographing, constructing, and writing about earrings. And reading and editing each other's work, too. So I'm thinking about creativity, its demands and rewards, both theoretically and practically.

At what point does creative energy run out? Do you tend to have more energy for other projects when you're feeling productive and creative? I do equate those two things, by the way; they're inseparable. I've been finding that developing creativity is a ton of work. But it's work that's worth undertaking. What about you — do you find creativity challenging? Burdensome? Liberating?

Wishing you a creative day, in whatever that means to you.
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Comments

  • beadmomma9 said:

    I love you thoughts on creativity. Many times I just have to do something creative. It is relaxing, refreshing, and gives me time to myself. My energy runs out when I do not create. It seems the more creative I am the more energy I have...

    I love the instant reward making a cute pair of earrings has, like the ones I made in the 365 EARRINGS new edition. But some of my favorite work comes when I have found the "ONE" bead I need to complete a set after maybe hours of working. So much satisfaction comes when all of the 'Ohs and Ahs' from my family and friends see my work.

    Creativity is work with a twist and for me I find it gives so much life and energy back to this sometimes weary mother of 9.

    Blessings,

    August 9, 2007 8:52 AM
  • fieldofbeads said:

    I'm a technical staff employee from Mondays to Fridays.  I look forward to weekends since this is an opportunity for me to tap the artist inside.  I go to bead stores and look around for new or interesting beads, charms, and findings.  Then I imagine how these will all fit into one piece, or how these will go together with my beads at home.  I select those items I like and assemble them at home to see how they all fit.  Once I like what I make, I tend to make more variations till the wee hours of the night.  At this point, I can say my productivity is proportional to how effective I'm able to execute my creative ideas.

    However, there are also times when I need to be productive because there are several orders to meet and deadlines to beat.  This is when I need to be inspired.  My inspiration?  That after a big order, I can go back to my favorite bead store and look for new beads and supplies for my next design.

    August 11, 2007 5:13 AM
  • Naomi Fujimoto said:

    That's a great way to describe creativity: "work with a twist." And, good point that productivity is proportional to how effectively you're executing creative ideas. I've noticed that if I'm feeling creative, I lose track of time and just feel like designing stuff nonstop. Thanks for the comments.

    August 14, 2007 2:58 PM
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