Thursday, February 12, 2009

THuRSDaY SWeeT TreaT


The key question isn't "What fosters creativity?" But it is why, in God's name, isn't EVERYONE creative?
Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled?
I think therefore, a good question might be not "WHY do people create" But, " Why Do People NOT create or innovate?" We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.
-Abraham Maslow

My beliefs:
- We are ALL artists.
-We were born naturally creative and artistic.
-We were taught to censor our creativity, to judge our processes, to critique our creations. As naturally as the majority of children know how to skip and hop, you were born knowing how to draw, sculpt, build and imagine: it is only the adult voices of judgement that taught you to be self conscious and to believe that there are "rules" to invention.
- You were born limitless; you were taught by adults that trees could not be purple and that the sky should not be black. You were taught that your creations could evoke responses such as "good" or "bad."
-You valued your own processes more than the product when you were a child-it was only in watching your products compared to those created by others, that you felt something was lacking.

But I am preaching to the choir here: because you bloggers all do something creative every time you click the publish button or leave a comment. The blogosphere has become a brain gym where we can all have the opportunity to flex our creative muscles. Like real muscles that grow stronger with each use, the part of our brain responsible for being creative function better when we challenge it to work harder.

That is why I participate in a blog called Thursday Sweet Treat. This is a blog created by my friend Natasha which challenges people to create things around an announced theme. Creations are shown every Thursday, new topics given on Friday.

Many of the people currently participating are Etsy artists, but ANYONE can participate. You could write a poem, do a doodle, make a scrapbook page, or shoot a photograph: it is all about the process of creating.

Come Play.

11 comments:

The Kitchen said...

What a great idea - thanks for the tip!

Jen said...

FUN! I am so going over there and checking it out.

*mary* said...

I agree that creativity is stifled somewhere along the way. It's a shame.

Natasha said...

I love you! You are an endless source of inspiration in my life..you make me think and often laugh till I pee (please don't share that with anyone). This post was phenomenal...thank you. Thank you for mentioning the Sweet Treat and to all of your awesome readers...as you know Lorrie rocks the house...she's the kinda gal you want to have beers with at the end of each day ...the kind of friend you want to call when things suck because she'll pick you up and help you see straight...she's the best piece of cake EVER AND on top of all that she's one of the most talented people I've ever met. Her submissions - like all her work - have been aces. I'm so glad you're in my life! Thank you :)

Debbie said...

That blog is a great idea. And I think unfortunately, a lot of our creativity is sucked out of us as a child. A teacher doesn't like our art and gives us a bad grade, another kid laughs at us, things like that.

Mrs. B. Roth said...

I like the blog as a brain gym concept ... like real exercise, sometimes things really hurt the next day ... maybe you wish you'd taken it a little easier ... alas, the more it hurts, the fast the muscles grow, as long as you don't rip anything.

J.M. said...

what a great idea! I am definitely going to check that out. Hopefully I can find my creativity!

Nonnee said...

The blog aside, wouldn't it be nice to have Lorrie's kind of encouragement while our creative juices are still flowing!

Spatula said...

I'm loving that blog! And I love your contribution for the sea theme, especially the one with the two black fishes.

LuckyMe said...

Oh cool. I'll check it out.

Funny. You mentioned bloggers and creativity. I was just thinking, I am way too lazy to be a blogger. Seems like everyone else puts so much creative juice and effort into it. For me, it's more social network. But I'm proud to be part of the club.

I don't know another soul IRL who blogs. Or maybe I do... They don't know that I blog. So the reverse could be true.

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

i have so much creative energy for art, etc., but no outlets. i've never been very good at it - so maybe i will check this out and give whatever it is a whirl! Thanks for link.