Creativity

27 Jul

I’ve been honored to have been asked to write an intro to one of the chapters in Gary Molander’s new book, Pursuing Christ. Creating Art. It’s an amazing book and it’s out now. Pick up a copy at Gary’s blog. Also, check out the E-Confessional. I was blessed to work with Gary on the layout and design, and it’s a great companion to the book, filled with tons of deep questions and insight.

Below is my contribution to the book. This is for the chapter on creativity.

It’s morning, and my wife has just asked me how my late night work session went. Feeling accountable, I say “Good. It was good.” I know what the next question will be. “Were you productive?” A simple question really. But I tend to complicate things. “Uh, yeah. I got some good work done… a lot of research.” She gives me a knowing look. She has my number. By “research” I mean the desperate search for inspiration. You see, though I am not a lazy person, I tend to procrastinate doing any real work until the margin for completion becomes so small, I’m forced to work in a hard and focussed manner. I’m probably alone in this. It’s hard to imagine anyone else going through this cycle of unnecessary torment. It’s probably just me.
Once, I was given a beautiful opportunity. My wife seeing my looming deadline, and scarcity of finished work for a large art project, packed up the kids for the weekend, and left me too it. A beautiful opportunity really. All my excuses. Gone. Beautiful. Really. Crap.

I was given what I had always dreamt about. Complete space and freedom to explore. Yet I kept wanting to “check the map.” Afraid of taking false steps. As the weekend came to a close, I ended up painting over several canvases three times before bringing them into a finished form. And I’m glad I did. They ended up having more character that way. And so did I.

Inspiration is a very good and needed thing, but it is no substitute for hard work. Most artists I know are not at a loss for inspiration, though they may often feel that way. Instead they’re fearful of what will, or won’t flow out of them once they set about getting to work. I know that I need outside inspiration, but I have inflated it’s importance in the creative process. As a creative person, it is my duty to create at least as much art as I consume. Hopefully more. Consuming art can change me. Creating art can change the world.

The biggest problems that I face in the creative process is that I have bought into two myths about creativity. The first is that creativity is a sort of feeling, or mood to be summoned from the ether. Something to which I am at it’s mercy. But creativity is a practice. An action. To bring it into being, you must act as if it’s already there. It’s a lot like love. You may not always feel it, but the more you act upon it, the more you will experience it.

The second myth is the idea creativity is not a very serious business. While it’s true that it can be fun, and quirky, and nebulous, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t a matter of extreme importance. When I am dismissive of my art, I am denying the message that God has put on my heart, and the voice He has given me. I don’t think He takes that issue lightly. I am reminded of the parable of the wasted talents. I don’t want mine taken away for misuse. The more seriously I dig in, and try to reveal the truth, the more resistance I seem to come up against. But the outcome is always very rewarding. I don’t think that this is a coincidence. When we as artists put a face on truth, it can be a very dangerous business. But the world desperately needs it.

Much of this is probably all my own neurosis. Probably not relevant to anyone else. As I write this now it’s 1:30am. Because the deadline is here. And I’ve waited until the last moment. Wondering what everyone else has written. But it’s probably just my own issue. It’s probably just me.