moki

Creative Flow

1. Meditation and brainstorm

Mediation sounds too new-agey.  I guess I’m thinking back to a time when I was absorbed in making work and I created 3 banners x 20 m long in a day.  I forgot about eating and just kept working.  I’ve been trying to figure out what led me to this state and I think it was through something like meditation.  I see mediation in this case as more like playing with a rubics cube.  You’re swivelling the sides and trying to make sense of the colours.  In this case you’re turning the problem in your mind, trying to see a pattern, trying to see it from different angles and perspectives.

2. Identify purpose: Why am I doing this? 

I think when I stop and start creative projects, it’s usually because I lack a clear purpose.  I’m not entirely ‘convinced’ of what I’m doing.  I remember my violin teacher saying, “If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, how can anybody else?”  And those particular words have always stayed with me.

There must be some good reason to do it, it can’t be half-hearted otherwise the output usually turns out crap, tight and self-conscious. 

3. Interest: What interests me?  What message am I trying to convey?

At the heart of creating flow comes down to how well you know yourself and how you work.  What do I like/don’t like?  What part of this problem is of interest to me? What don’t I know and need to learn?

4. Medium: What’s the best way to convey this idea?

This is more of a question of how can I master the medium so I can communicate effectively?  I think part of my problem in the past is that I’ve tended to stick to one medium because it ‘feels safe’.  I’m more knowledgable in the area but it may not be the  appropriate solution for what I’m going to do.  Each medium has its constraints based on its physical properties and the facility of its user.  I’m starting to think that professionalism doesn’t necessarily equate with specialisation.  I think specialsation can limit options.  It is better I think for one to develop versatility.  When I say versatility, I don’t mean be a ‘jack of all trades’.  But I think it’s important to cultivate a versatility so that there is at a minimum standard,  a proficiency to communicate in the various mediums within that field.

5. Element X: Unknown

I think there is a deep, almost primal fear of what is unknown to us.  We have this idea of where we want to go but no real map to get there.  And I think if we can muster the courage to overcome this primal instinct to run or stay safe we can accomplish great things.  I always think of the great explorers, back in time where countries were still undiscovered.  They just set off into the eternal horizon with no idea of where they were headed, with only this vague feeling in their minds and hearts that something was out there waiting to be discovered.

6. Determination: Be willing to fail (alot)

The final element.  I think it’s kind of ironic how this actually works.  I think the real secret is to have this willingness to fail.  Fail and still you’ll succeed in the end.  Failure isn’t what stops from you succeeding it’s your ability to deal with the doubt that follows that will determine your success.  At this point, you’re given a choice.  It’s not so much someone pushing you down and you falling, as you’re willingness to pick yourself up and keep going.

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I’ve managed to acquire a bit of space to work over the next 6 weeks.   So I’m looking forward to testing this scaffold to see if it works.