Help Desk 4 Creatives: Learning Creatively
By Merritt Minnemeyer
arttimesjournal September 4, 2018
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Sweater weather is almost upon us here in NY (though one wouldn’t know it yet by the thermometer). Whether entering a new semester as a student, or as a parent, or perhaps as an observer, this time of year brings to mind school busses, Ticonderoga #2’s, and that iconic New Crayon Smell.
Yes, it is the season of Back to School! “But I finished school years ago,” you say? That may be true, yet as artists our charge is to continually seek and tap into new sources of inspiration and learning. What happens, though, when our inspiration has run dry? How are we to know from which well to sip in order to get those juices flowing again?
The answer may be simpler than it appears: take the pressure off of yourself, and assume the role of student. Here are some suggestions.
Hone Your Craft
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It behooves us as life-long creators to make certain we are offering ourselves and the world the best of our gift(s). Jumping into a class that dives into a special technique or an innovative technology can lead to some fascinating – and indeed, inspiring – discoveries. Check your local community college for opportunities to up your game and stay relevant in your chosen field. Who knows? It could result in some exciting discoveries and opportunities!
Get Back to Basics
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As sometime happens, passion can elude us. The cure for this lack of luster may be reuniting with what excited us about our work in the first place. By approaching an old trick with new eyes, we open ourselves up to nuance while strengthening our foundational skills. Join a beginner’s class – you may be surprised how surrounding yourself with others who are eager to learn for the first time what you have known for a lifetime can breathe new spirit into your practice. You may even find yourself mentoring someone. As the adage goes: one of the best ways to learn is to teach. Your local library is a great place to start for programming of this nature; or, try auditing a class at an upper crust art school, if that is more your speed.
Step Out of That Comfort Zone
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You have heard this before, I know, and there are hundreds of way to approach the concept. It could be as easy as borrowing a book from the library on a topic you know nothing about. Alternatively, a trip to a country you have never visited in order to absorb a culture that contrasts to your own could be just the ticket. However you choose to shake things up for yourself, make sure that you strike a balance of challenge and manageability. The goal is to blow your own mind – it’s up to you to define what makes the most sense for your age and stage.
At the heart of creating is expressing our unique perspective. If your perspective has grown a little stale for you, that is a sign from your soul to get out there and learn something new. By stretching yourself, your art will in turn stretch others to consider and grow. And that, friends, is what it is all about.
Happy learning!
Merritt holds a BFA in Acting, an MPS in Humanistic/Multicultural Education, and is a life-long practitioner and educator in a plethora of artistic media. She serves the arts community in her current role as facilitator of funds after nearly 20 years as a funds-seeker. She lives in Ulster County with her three vibrant sons, two goofy pound pups, newly adopted kitty, and one remarkably darling husband.