Building Your Own Da Vinci
The word creativity fosters two images in my mind; Da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa and grilling rib-eye steaks. Da Vinci was the archetype man of the Renaissance, the poster child for creativity and way out of my league. No one is putting my doodles on the front of a medical book or artistic journal anytime soon. The second image hits closer to home: hear the sizzle, smell the char, taste the tender, medium-rare rib-eye dance upon your tongue.
Welcome to creativity.
In its most raw form, creativity includes two parts: thinking and doing. John Steinbeck wrote East of Eden, but before he unfolded the classic American novel there was the idea behind the story. Alexander Bell invented the telephone, but first came his idea. Before Bob Ross painted a single happy tree he saw it in his mind’s eye. MTV’s Behind the Music grabs people’s attention because they want to know what was the idea or experience that fed the making of their favorite chart toppers.
Up to this point, you are in the same league as Da Vinci, Steinbeck and Bob Ross. You have ideas. Where the paths diverge is in the second half of the creative process: after you think it you have to do it.
This single fact is the bane of empty steno pads, crying sketch books, every unsolved problem, and uncooked steak. People get ideas but never do anything about it. The people you label creative put pen to paper and shoulder to wheel. However, do not distinguish between “creative” from “non-creative”. One person has an idea and acts on it, one person has an idea and sits on it. This is not about the quality of the craft but your willingness to give an idea life. The more you rise to your challenge the easier it becomes.
I am a pastor of creative arts and I shepherd the artist in everyone at my church, ZION. God said, “Let us make man in Our image”. (see God think) God took the dust of the earth and formed man. (see God do) The kicker, God created people in His image, creative. Nothing cripples a person’s raw potential more than thinking they aren’t musical, artistic, or able. The self-titled non-musical person can become the concert artist once they decide to do something about it. Yes, some people carry a greater proficiency for the arts than others but this does not mean each person does not have potential. Let me give you an example.
A dear friend of mine is a contractor. He builds houses and might be one of the most creative people I know. He enters into people’s chaos and looks at broken banisters, thinks how to fix them and then does it. People ask for a new deck, he thinks it out and builds the clients a summer haven for bar-b-que and evening conversation. My friend is an active creative. This is why when I think of creativity I can say grilling rib-eye steaks. I think it and I do it. The empty plate becomes filled with hot-off-the-grill joy. Creativity. What does this mean for you? How can you foster personal creativity? If you want to see creativity raised in your organization put these three things on a tacky poster with clipart.
- Creativity is about thinking and doing. It does not stem from being or not being an artist. Help yourself and others by re-seeing creativity not as art on a wall but the process of bringing something to life from nothing.
- Fill the well. Writers are readers. Musicians are listeners. Painters take in the landscapes around them. Before anything can come out of you things need put in you. Give your mind things to chew on. If you lead teams of artists or want to raise more artists take them to places where creativity is on display.
- Make a habit of unnecessary creating. Sit down and just write. Just draw. Just sing. Get an idea and run with it and give yourself permission to fail miserably. The more you can laugh at yourself and your handy work the more freedom you will have to realize the unimaginable when the need arises.
You are the only thing standing between your idea and seeing that idea dance. What are some current ideas you keep playing around with but are afraid to see come to life?
