nature of creativity-how to use it (with reference to the elements of design
Recently, an adult asked me, sorry reminded me! that I offered to share my creative wisdom. So here is some:
I pondered where to begin. Inspiration, motivation particularly. People often espouse that the ‘mood must take you’. Well, may I say, you are not to be taken.
Inspiration is a funny thing. Novels begin, based on inspiration, or written about the lack of.
When inspiration is needed, I say, look to nature.
Nature has many clues on to how create something- it is creatiity personified. Or metephorized , actually.
since we are one with nature, perhaps we should be aware we simply opne ourselves to the oneness we share with nature. Then, like the tide, it flows, in and out. So yes, sometimes we are more active, sometimes more reflective.
But that’s not the focus today!
Today, we shall compare the elements of design, and nature. This is because the best way to see those ‘elements’ is find them in the big picture.
First, take yourself to the beach. Mentally or physically. Now, look out over the water, and draw nearer to a rockpool. Ah, here we are. Have you taken your shoes off? Ok-you are now experiencing texture. Grainy sand, hard rock, wet waves…or maybe you only tip a toe into that refreshing water. (it’s summer here in Australia!)
You know the feeling of texture. Texture changes our experience of life. We like different textures. It keeps life exciting.
Nature like variety, and so does creativity-endless variety. Sometimes, it’s enjoyable to involve ourselves in a number of textures, and sometimes, more than one, but focusing on two alone eg legs in the water, feet on the sand and wind through our hair. It is pleasant to combine cool water and warm air. Or perhaps it’s a cold wind, sharp on a wet body. No matter what the experience, our art can reveal it through texture.
So that’s ‘what’ (texture) and now for ‘how’. How do we represent those textures. Through line, we can create the feeling. It may be of sand-lots of dots, but showing every grain of sand ? Look at examples of other artists. Ask yourself: do I need to render this myself with line…or would it be better just to take a picture? Must it be realistic (is what I’m saying) or do you intepret the situation? (this is the purpose of art, I think).
Waves may simply be wavy lines…but remember, as adults, we often draw from our extensive memory, of what we think we know. Look, really look at those waves. Is the horizon a line of up and down, sharp waves? You tell me.
Sharp lines are good for the foreground, or things up close. The horizon is usually flat, and only when we get get the shore waves, do we have more movement. Even then, those lines may simply be squiggly. Technically, we may call these soft, organic lines.
The opposite of this, is hard, structural lines. Man made surfaces usually require straight, geometirc lines. They are great for creating perspective, but of course not the only way.
Now this is all year 7 101 basic.
Great for beginning. I will continue in a seperate lesson
Add your comment
You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.