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07/13/2005: "Creativity"

What is creativity? Is it the "language of the body"? I hope to start an active discussion because so many claims are made. In many discussions with my mentor Marcel Duchamp I set forth the following:

I suppose creativity is the mechanism that protects us from danger. You need to feel creatively to escape a life threatening episode. You will not necessarily think and usually not with words. You will manifest an image in your mind as a direct response. Chemistry and neural synapses are the mediums. Ah, the basis of visual art has been determined.

But wait! How to communicate with the part of yourself that is not verbal?

Something seems to be blocking any dialogue. You experience a sense of loss as if there is a part of you, familiar, but unreachable. Internal Images created by the functions of the autonomous physiognomy are unavailable to you. You cannot draw them out.




You must find a way to communicate with Your Silent Stranger, that pure essence bound by inhibitions of societal and parental mores and peer pressures.

Eureka! There is a technique. I call it Creativity, Drawing by Making Your Marktm. I discovered it accidentally and refined it to a process so simple it is almost childlike. Charcoal rubbed on the fingertips, smeared on paper - marks drawn, erased, blended - no words, only images as if looking at clouds in all directions.

Your Inner Critic collapses, you tread freely, the pictures you are pulling out are coming fast and furious. Penises, nuns, horses, nudes, waves, dark angry, light airy. Where are they all coming from? Unsolicited by any thought process and yet pure in composition and perfect in proportion. You didn't know you could draw so well. You have not used a word. You feel empowered.

I tested the technique with the blind at Braille Institute. Yes the images are in windows in the mind. Yes touching the medium allows them to draw what they see in their inner eye. With inmates interred at the Brig at Miramar Naval Base - raw feelings exposed; with incest survivors - visual screams emerged; with a woman who couldn't draw at all who saw a rose in the marks and drew the rose she had placed on her mother's grave.

Three published books on art later and with thousands of students suddenly drawing and painting better than they ever dreamed. Creativity, Making Your Marktm enables anyone to draw and paint and enhances the abilities of those who are already engaged in art making.

Don't you think you have a responsibility as an artist to draw out your creativity? To understand that creativity is the process that enables you to express your inner being: To define your craft if you intend to show your art to the world. Today when there is so little market for visual art works you must concentrate on understanding that you need to lead the way so others can get in touch with their creativity in order to appreciate yours.

Perhaps after all, the secrets of men and gods are buried within us waiting to be exposed.

Replies: 6 Comments

on Thursday, July 21st, Smeetha Bhoumik said

Creativity is really looking at the "BIG PICTURE'.
It's about utilising a large chunk of all resources available,whether intuitive, intelligent, inspirational.... to create something surprising, something altogether bigger than the original expected outcome - you know, when we are creative we don't just figure out how best to cut and share the small cake; we are able to bake a much larger one!The whole mix of ingredients is like the creative juices, in the right amounts spelling out magic

on Thursday, July 14th, R. Stoilov said

In my opinion the creativity is one of the manifestations of the basic instinct of self-preservation.In biological point of view the creativity proves the general ability of the individual to survive. Of course the creativity has many forms, but in the fine arts it looks more spontaneous than in others. In this logic the art creativity is language of the body first.

on Thursday, July 14th, paul said

Well Hyacinth,I sort of agree with tally,we artists do all this stuff all the time,and on different levels and at differing times in our development,also I agree with andrew,about everybody being an artist just dont wash,reading your blog reminds me of the 60's philosophies somehow,still good on you for bothering.Paul

on Thursday, July 14th, Andrew said

From art blogger to art blog critic. After all, we only learn from criticism, not compliments, right? That said, I'm going to take you at your word about starting an active discussion. I disagree with the instinctive response to danger theory, in that a well reasoned out response may save you better than an instinctive one. You're faced with a cobra you come upon unexpectedly within striking distance of your legs. Do you make a sudden move to flee, or toss your wallet behind the snake?
Next, the restrictions posed by societal and parental mores, and peer pressure. Easily used as tools to drive your creativity further than it would have gone otherwise. Resistance produces innovation better than acceptance.
I don't believe charcoal smears made with your eyes closed will be of perfect proportions. I'll need a lot of convincing for that one.
I do believe that your innermost feelings will be released and revealed through whatever you do, and whatever way you choose to do it. Your laziness, or your determination, your skill, or your lack thereof, your expressiveness, and your talent. Whether the viewer can see this or not, depends on their sensitivity. The clues are always there. Prisoners, battered women, priests, stock brokers or bricklayers, a few have talent and creativity, and the majority do not. If anyone can do it, then I'm hanging up my beret.

on Thursday, July 14th, tally said

I not sure about responsibility in the way you mean it. Don't you think that many, if not most, artists do this already? What is your point exactly?

on Wednesday, July 13th, R.M.J said

I just want to throw up after reading such gunk.