Woohoo my creative project is finally finished!!
Below are some images of my completed project.
The theories and ideas behind my creative project are explained in the ‘Creative Project’ page located in the links above.
Creative Project - Photographed at night
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I started to then experiment with various colours and techniques to achieve the look I envisaged. This process basically relied on trial and error to give me a clear view of my favourite colour choices.
Dark SideBright Side
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After deciding on the main structure for the tree I began to cut out the stencils. I traced the tree on to plastic sheets and cut around the outline with a scalpel, leaving me with both the inside and outside stencil of the tree’s shape. At first I wanted to use a few symbols such as the black crow or superstitious cat on the dark side, however I decided to use colour as the main feature for representing my idea. The only other feature I have decided to include is a moon on the dark side and maybe flowers on the light side.
Stencils
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I kept sketching as none of those trees styles represented the look I wanted to achieve. I ended up choosing a more straight edge tree, which would have sharp pointy branches and features on the dark (evil) side and more soft curly features on the light (good) side. You can see that with the slight differentiations to the branches and roots I am able to vaguely portray those opposite sides.
Tree
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After deciding on my idea for my project, I began sketching different ideas..
Deciding on the type of tree that I wanted to use was very important as the same tree needed to be able to represent two completely opposite emotions and representations. These are a few of my first ideas.
Design Ideas
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Does originality still exist today, or are we simply repeating and presenting already created ideas in unrecognisable forms?? Idea’s always come from other ideas or influences, they do not simply pop into your head for no reason at all. Although you may not be consciously acknowledging the source of your idea, subconsciously it would have developed through making analogical connections. “When we think analogically (or metaphorically), we take ideas (or words) from one context and apply them in a new context, producing the new idea combination, new transformation, new theoretical perspective or more colourful literary passage” (Davis, 2004). We must ask ourselves however, where we must draw the line on “borrowing” creative influences and idea’s to stealing or plagiarising somebody else’s work.
The human mind naturally looks for similarities, which is a key component in metaphorical thinking. It has been proved that this process is very important and successful for creative thinking. Metaphors are extremely helpful for pushing your creative boundaries and perceptions of reality as ‘excessive logical thinking can stifle the creative process.’ (Metaphorical thinking, 1996) Basically we need to constantly ask ourselves questions to stimulate the creative process of analogical and metaphorical thinking. What is the problem, what else is related to this problem and how can I solve this??
It is fair to say that most people consciously or unconsciously, get their ideas from other concepts and add various ideas and alterations so it has involved from its original form or creation. While some may argue that this challenges originality, others will say that the ‘new’ idea is expressing the individuals own mixture of originality. This process constantly repeats itself forming new ideas which give birth to more ideas, which are building blocks for others and so on.
This cycle is made very evident within the fashion industry. When the cycle has revolved in a full circle, squeezing every last drop from the sponge of creativity, you end up back at the start, taking ideas from many generation before you. At the moment in many clothing stores there is the strong influence of the sixties and seventies, ‘hippy style’ inspired clothing. Maxi dresses, maxi skirts, headbands, slouchy knit wear and so on. You could say this is simply copying the fashion from the 60’s/70’s or you could say it is original, as it has being so modernized and altered for our current times.
60's/70's inspired clothing
We should embrace our influences and motivations for our inspirations, instead of pretending every design is pure originality created within our minds from nothing at all. When you ask a musician who their influences are, you would almost never get a response of. “Nobody!” We each contain different influences, experiences and perspectives which guide our paths of creativity. As we are all unique, nothing will be exactly the same. There will always be differences, some big, some small and some so minute that we may seriously struggle to recognise them!! With each creation leading to the inspiration of another idea, our possibilities are endless.
References
Davis, G. A. (2004). Creative inspiration through analogical thinking. Creativity is forever (pp. 145-170). (5th Ed.). USA: Kendell/Hunt.
Metaphorical thinking, (1996). Retrieved May, 12th2011fromhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~charles57/Creative/Techniques/metaphor.htm
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My creative project is going to be based on opposites which we have reflected on in our creative readings. The second weeks reading, about the mysteries that the night time held for the people of the eighteenth century really interested me. There was such a difference between the day and the night and the ideas and connotations they inhibited. A forest would be so beautiful and enchanting during the day time then so terrifying and mysterious at night.
This makes me think of viewing the same thing or objects from a different point of view and position. In life, especially within creativity, opposites seem to play a very important role. Freud explains the conflicts between the opposing sexual urges known as the id, verse the repressive influences of our consciousness in society (superego). For others, such as Lawrence Cubie he explains the competing opposites of the conscious and unconscious mind, almost your imagination vs reality. This leads me to the fantasy world of the night, suggesting temptation and crime, occupied by robberies, theft, murders and superstitious characters. The day time however reflects the reality and true appearance of the world. During the day, the criminals become conscious of society and their judgments, causing them to hide within the shadows of the night.
As my field of study is interior design, I wanted to create something that you could decorate a room with. To tie the two sides of ‘opposites’ together I’m using a tree, to symbolise life, growth and the different paths life can branch off too (good and bad). On one side there is the dark, mysterious, superstisious side and on the other, reality and beauty. It shows the same tree being separated by night and day and the ideas which are associated. One side is dark and scary looking, with superstitious symbolic characters. The other is in light with a beautiful life-full tree covered in such things as leaves and flowers. I narrowed by design down to creating two canvas painting, a pillow and a bed head. After more thinking and sketching I’ve decided on creating a split canvas.
I think I will stencil the work on to the canvas with spray paints, adding finer details after with a paintbrush.
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Has advanced technology in creative practices destroyed traditional art forms, or simply created a new world of opportunities for designers? While some may argue that ‘true’ creativity comes from manual pencil to paper or paint to canvas work, we cannot deny that new technological tools expand original limitations to creative art forms.
There seems to be endless possibilities as ‘developing a new medium brings an entirely new art form into existence’ (Mitchell, Inouye & Blumenthal, 2003). This of course encourages computer science researchers into generating as many tools achievable for the expansion and growth of various art and design practices. This should stir excitement and transformation into the industry with new techniques and forms being created at this very moment. We are no longer confined to the constraints of traditional art but instead living in a period of endless possibilities to creativity. If we continued to repeat forms of the past without embracing new technologies, we would be refusing the discovery of ‘new expressive possibilities and genres’ (Mitchell, Inouye & Blumenthal, 2003).
In our fast pace technology driven lifestyles of today, we naturally never want to be left behind. Coupled with creative skills, you need up to date knowledge of technological software used within your creative practice. This has lead to the declining interest of traditional arts and craft to the rise of digital, technological driven art. Why would you restrict yourself to a minority craft, when searching for public visibility and recognition?
University art departments in the UK noticed these changes over the years, undergoing structural changes to suit the creative needs of students. As they struggle to protect traditional art and designs practices such as ceramics and glass-making, they are constantly forced to expand and upgrade in expensive technology software. From 2002 – 2006 the number of students enrolled in art and design courses rose from 72,235 to 79,530. As the demand for art and design increased you can see changes within traditionally favoured courses. While fine art increased only slightly, graphic design almost doubled in size going from 4,645 students in 2002 to 8,190 in 2006. Interactive and electronic design also doubled as calligraphy, along with other crafts, ultimately plummeted.
Teachers worry that students are producing finished products, unaware of the basic skills and techniques of design. “Basically, you don’t have to know how to use dyes and weave to design for woven textiles, because you can do it on a computer,” says Tuckett. “What I worry about, is that by the time we see what’s happened (the loss of core art and design skills teaching), it may be too late” (Tuckett, 2008).
Everything has been affected, from graphics, art and game design to film photography and music. While the positives are increasingly evident in most practices, due to technological advances, I see a loss with traditional music. Yes technology allows us to capture a performance within a recording but technology also destroys creative spontaneity and raw musical skill and technique within a live performance. Many people now known as ‘musicians’ are composing their music entirely on computers. ‘The computer can now be the performer’ (Mitchell, Inouye & Blumenthal, 2003).
A musician is generally defined as a musically talented and skilled person who can play an instrument. Now you can call yourself a musician by turning knobs and clicking buttons. So can anyone be a musician? Obviously is takes a sense of creativity to create any music, however you can’t really compare a live Jimmy Hendrix or Jimi page guitar solo to a digitally created DJ set. In an area such as music, I believe advanced technology software will never replace the true creativity of traditional musical talent!!!
References
Mitchell, W., Inouye, A., Blumenthal, S., (2003). Beyond Productivity: Information Technology, Innovation Creativity. Washington: The National Academies Press
Tuckett, S (2008). Artistic licence. Retrieved May, 4th 2011 from http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=402969
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Visualize life, enjoying something to its full extent regardless of fortune and fame. Regardless of society’s opinions and judgment, a life filled with endless enjoyment in all activities you engage in. So what is the secret for making activities enjoyable, and what is enjoyment? Playing music, dancing, singing, swimming, whatever the activity may be, most people discover this inner feeling of enjoyment in, “designing or discovering something new” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996).
Although all creative individuals are different, they all share a key ingredient to happiness in life. They all love what they do!! Groups in society, who could see the importance in this theory have even strived to protect those individuals who enjoyed being creative. In day to day life we are constantly juggling the opposing forces of creation and entropy (enjoyment from not expending energy). We can become torn between these forces, separating individuals from those who enjoy comfort (entropy) to those who enjoy designing or discovering something new.
The quality of our everyday experiences, keep us focused and motivated or distracted and unsatisfied. The majority of people have explained enjoyment in experiencing risks and challenges which involve discovery and opportunities of personal development. Csikszentmihalyi has named this enjoyable experience flow. This flow experience is felt by everyone, regardless of the age, sex, gender or nationality of the individual. Nine main elements have been developed to describe our experiences of enjoyment. Some include, no worries of failure, our self consciousness disappearing, our sense of time distorted and receiving immediate feedback to our actions. Although it may sound like simple intoxication it is not. While some may find enjoyment in alcohol, drugs, gambling and sex, these experiences of flow will never lead to happiness or satisfaction in the future. Therefore as an individual, it is of great importance to find pleasure and enjoyment in what Plato referred to as the “right things” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996).
Whether it is art, science, economics, building or whatever the activity may be, ‘it is not what these people do that counts, but how they do it.’ (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). Naturally we will get a sense of satisfaction from solving a problem and for this reason should be constantly asking ourselves questions. Why doesn’t this work, could this work and could I make it work. Frank Offner explains “I don’t care what kind of problem it is. If I can solve it then it is fun” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). In life sometime challenges are too high causing frustration or to low leading to boredom. An element of enjoyment and experiencing this sense of flow is achieved when our abilities are matched with our opportunities and we have clear goals for what has to be achieved.
I believe that two of the most important elements of enjoyment are when actions and awareness have been merged and our distractions excluded from our consciousness. With this, we are living in the now with no regrets of the past and no worries of the future. How can you truly open yourself up to creativity with your mind is floating around elsewhere. “The living moment is everything” (D.H. Lawrence). With this, we can be fully emerged in flow, to lose ourselves in creativity and reach our full potential. We should all aim to living an Autotelic life, to achieve a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from endless experiences and activities!
References
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). The Flow of Creativity. Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention (pp. 107-126). New York: HarperCollins
D.H Lawrence. Quotations about living in the present. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.quotegarden.com/live-now.html
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