The Creative Process

The creative process is the mysterious aspect of the craft. Elusive if pursued as an object, creativity accepted as a process, it is the natural state of being open and receptive. It is the face of consciousness.

There is a natural cycle that holds for the creative process. First there is a period of receptivity, an open acceptance of change and wonder. If we do not block receptivity with rigid concepts or self limiting negativity, the well is bottomless. Then there is a period of transmutation where creative impulse is blended with experience and ideas begin to form. The creative act is the manifestation of the process, but it is not the culmination, that comes in the quiet after completion. When the vessel is empty, then it can be refilled.

Work Cycles

Everyone has times during the day when they are more productive, think more clearly, and are receptive to new ideas. If you are a careful and objective observer of the self, these natural rhythms can be recognized and utilized. We have been conditioned to work by the clock because this was assumed to be the most productive method of extracting labor, but this may not be the most efficient for the individual. The craftsman who works for himself is able to establish his own hours and find his own most productive cycles. The caveat is that one must also be the boss and the bottom line is productivity.

The tendency for some is to work all the time and unless you take time off you don't get any. Time off is essential, not only to rest the body, but also to renew the mind and spirit. Time is needed to recharge and stimulate. The well worn path from house to shop can be a comfortable routine and one gets lost or bored when it is broken, but it can also become a stagnant environment.

There is also a period of downtime after completing a really complex or creative piece. I use to try to fight through this period, but now have come to accept that I have been drained and any attempts will forestall the recovery time. I use this time to putter and tidy. Those projects that you have put off and been meaning to get to, now come in handy. Slowly things will start coming back into focus and before you realize it another piece is started. The struggle for the artist is to keep the bills paid while you are recharging. The only way I know to do this is to have several income streams. Developing a less complicated product or service can generate enough capital to fund the more creative efforts, but they have a way of growing out of control and taking over your time. Striking the balance is the lesson.

Ingestion

The creative process is the expression of your experience. If you are not taking the time to reflect on your life or make it stimulating, you will quickly stagnate. You are expressing growth, but to grow it is vital to feed your spirit. My first blacksmithing mentor, Peter Happny, plans an annual vacation adventure. He will save the time and money to visit the shops of Europe, explore the islands, even drive around the country and visit with other smiths. It is a good way to recharge, learn and experience new ideas, and is vital to personal growth.

My approach is more sedentary, I love books. When I read my books, I am absorbing images, line and design. The problems presented by the materials are universal and the solutions are wonderfully creative from culture to culture. The advantage of being born in the US is that we are not bound by tradition and can freely borrow ideas from all other cultures. The trick is to absorb what rings true and honest, learn from it and then let it come back with the same honesty.

A simple walk when done with a clear and open spirit will often recharge and revitalize. There are number of books out there describing right and left brain function. Activity that uses both sides of the body, like walking, helps to balance the mind. Deep breathing has a balancing effect as well.

It is difficult to quiet the mind sometimes. We block receptivity by holding onto negative thoughts and instead of growing, we chose to limit ourselves by allowing these thoughts to dominate. One way to break through the cycle of negative and limiting thinking is to remind ourselves of our ideal.

Digestion

Most creative thoughts and experiences come more though the environment in which we surround ourselves rather than from some epiphany. Since we are seeking to find expression through difficult materials, often beauty and discovery are revealed as we observe the work. We learn to use our tools and discover new uses by allowing ourselves the freedom to play. By observing our interactions with our world and reflecting on them, we will be drawn to discovery. It will fill us up.

Doldrums

There will be times when we hit the doldrums. There is no wind in the sails, no direction to our efforts. These can be frustrating and potentially destructive times especially if we are burdened with overhead. There is a difficult balance between going to the shop and having fun and the driving need to make a living. These two forces should not be in conflict, but without a balance they often seem like opposites. There is only one answer to times like these and that is to start moving again. Begin the next order or next project, begin and work patiently. Soon inertia will begin to loose it's hold and you will regain momentum.

We all go through these periods, it is a normal cycle and part of the recovery. It is the balance to the creative burst that will inevitably come at the other end. The difficult part is to remember that we are in a cycle of balance and to have faith.

Inside Out

Too often the artist/craftsman is working from his intellect. Intellectual work is  immediately dated or so subjective that it requires verbiage to sustain it and it is rarely satisfying. Creativity is an inside out activity. You can not get there by consciously imposing yourself on the material, but rather you have to find yourself through the material. You have to let go.

Fire

Peter Powning Discus