Thursday, March 25, 2010

Creativity: what drives it?

When you are facing a blank canvas and the brush in hand or your mind is ready to take it on ... what is it that drives you?  How do you find your inspirations?  What drives that artist to the passionate paintings you create?  For me, it is a movie with special lighting, the way a person stands in the sunlight, watching someone in their zone, and many other events.  There are so many things that come to play in that part of the artist that really trigger that feeling of wanting to recreate.  It could be music, watching someone sing, a costume or clothing style, the lines in someone's face when they smile ... there are so many things that move me to paint.  When I paint, I feel the movement, the colors, the sence of light, and so much more.  I think my students are far wiser and stronger as a group than I have ever had.  It's a great feeling to know that these stong minds are so hungry to learn more.  I love seeing them passionate and moved by their own paintings.  Likewise, when they are not moved by their artwork and they say negetive things about themselves and their abilities, it is hard to listen.  I feel like I try so hard to get them to change thier minds to understand they are capable (or I wouldn't be saying so) that sometimes they don't believe me either.  I think the hardest part of being a teacher is watching a talented person not understand their talent even when I can see thier talent.  Talent is work.  It isn't a gift that just appears.  It begins with believing that you CAN do it and ends with seeing it and having pride in what you create a step at a time ... a day at a time.  It's the pure insight that you see in every step that comes to you.  I just try to open that door for all those I teach.