Moving From Fear of Novelty to Creativity
Wednesday Inspiration
For those who do not know, I'm a bit of an artist. I can't remember a time when I was not drawing.
When I was really young, I drew stick-figure soldiers, tanks, and planes. As I entered adolescence, I started drawing fantasy art. I played fantasy role-playing games (like Dungeons & Dragons) and I loved to draw portraits for my characters.
In fact, in my 20s, I even flirted with the possibility of drawing for Dragon Magazine, which was one of the magazines that went with the Dungeons & Dragons game. While my submissions weren't accepted initially, I did receive incredibly encouraging comments from the art director in a handwritten note. It turns out they had received way too many submissions, but he personally encouraged me to apply again. While I never did reapply, I still have the portfolio I sent and his letter as some of my treasured items.
Most recently (and perhaps this is not a surprise given that I'm also a dog trainer), I've gotten into pet portraits. I've absolutely enjoyed the experience of learning how to draw fur. It opened my eyes to new ways of working with pencils on a page. And it took my artwork up to the next level.
(In case you're interested, here's one I drew of one of my students a couple of years ago.)
I have to say, learning how to draw animals was a shock to my system. I was used to drawing fabric and skin, but fur was a whole new game. I watched videos and read books. As I worked on a picture, I would get frustrated and worried that I was going to ruin it because I didn't know what I was doing.
But, when it clicked, it really clicked.
That's part of the secret to creativity. It's engaging a process that stretches you to the point where you have no idea whether you're going in the right direction or not because you have no frame of reference anymore.
You've literally walked off your mental map and into the unknown. You no longer find yourself and familiar territory. You are now in the realm of the other.
After you start to become a bit familiar with exploring that realm of otherness, you find out what a wonderful, life-giving place it is, and suddenly it is a lot less scary.
It is this experience with otherness—with novelty—that makes creativity possible. If we decide we never want to venture outside of our own bounds, outside our own comfort zones, then the power of creativity will forever elude us.
Today, I encourage you to watch for the emergence of novelty in your life. When you see it, open yourself up and allow yourself to notice something that you've never noticed before. Let it inspire your imagination. Let it stir you deep within.
Remember, novelty doesn't have to be scary. It can enrich your life and enhance your appreciation for this beautiful creation of which you are a vital part.
Peace, Bo
The Evolving Christian Faith Network
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