sEEING THE eXTRAORDINARY

It is interesting to listen to customers' responses when Alfred & I ask if they might be interested in taking a drawing class.  Many times, they will answer “oh no, not me…I can’t t even draw a straight line!”  Our reply is, “look around you… how many things in your environment require a straight line?  And for those that do, there is always a ruler!” 

There is a difference between those who choose a more technical, logical field and those who power from imagination and intuition.  However, there is no rigid defined boundary that separates either. Some of the most creative people in history also had an amazing logical mind, for example, Leonardo da Vinci.  Interesting research shows that creative people tend to be smart yet someone with a high IQ is not necessarily an imaginative mastermind.  In an article in Scientific American, Why Are Some People More Creative Than Others, Ralph Beaty suggests that the creative brain is wired differently and combines brain networks that normally don’t work together. 

We are all creative to some degree.  Tasks in our modern, everyday lives can use both logic and inventiveness:  cooking, gardening, home renovations, making Halloween costumes...  Creativity is a skill that can be acquired, but like any other skill, needs practice.  Alfred has been painting over 50 years and will not hesitate to describe the stages all his paintings go through.  It’s a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.  One must be curious, open-minded, playful, passionate, persistent and a risk-taker, but most important be interested in the subject.  Without this attraction all the above will eventually fizzle out. 

Freedom of expression is a powerful motivator that tunes our overall well-being.  It helps to clarify our thoughts and feelings and plants mileposts along our journey of self-discovery. Along the way, the creative experience can be a source of great joy.
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