THE FIVE "Cs" of CREATIVITY

“Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order.” Virginia Woolf

Hello from Anne and Helen of Creations Unlimited, LLC (http://www.creationsunlimitedllc.com/). We’ve been thinking about and discussing our different styles and approaches to creative efforts, and thought we would share them with you.

Anne’s creative style is deeply colorful, rich, and complex. She is unafraid of taking her creations to new levels of multifaceted intricacies and beauty. People look at the tremendous, time-consuming detail in her work and know she is patient, because her designs are elaborate and require focus and concentration. Her creativity reflects her intellectual depth, artistic flair, and stunning layering. She takes the same care in nurturing people.

Helen’s creativity is different. For her, simplicity can be profound, and humor is an essential part of her day. She wants each of her creations to have a purpose, meaning, or an application to daily life. Brimming with ideas, she sees possibilities and the value of creations through both philosophical and practical lenses. Her creations contribute a sense of hope, joy, vitality, and love, while reflecting her distinct voice.

Both of our creative processes use what we call, “The 5 C’s of Creativity:”

1. CLARITY. We have a project in mind when we begin working. It might be a poem, a quilt, or perhaps a new design for a gift, our tile art, or apparel. We focus on what it is we want to do, gather materials and ideas, and then let it all perk for a while. Very soon we notice that things related to our project begin to pop out at us—a piece of the design, a phrase or main idea, a color scheme—and our creations take off.

2. CONSISTENCY. Whether or not we feel inspired, we continue to work at our project. We may set it aside for a while for a short break, but we return to it quickly. Like doing a crossword puzzle, a particular piece may stump us and when we come back later, we get the answer because we have a fresh perspective, and the will to finish it.

3. COURAGE. In his landmark book, “The Courage to Create,” Rollo May considers creative courage “the most important kind of courage of all.” When we abandon good projects and start others, or procrastinate finishing something important, the creative courage to overcome obstacles is missing. While moral courage can right wrongs, Dr. May describes creative courage as “the discovering of new forms, new symbols, new patterns on which a new society can be built.” In practice, this is not as easy as it appears to be in theory, but what of value ever is?

4. CONFIDENCE. Confidence comes with developing talent. It is the clear, consistent, daily discipline of working towards goals or the completion of projects. In these efforts we see the results of work, and can also picture the final outcome or product. The creative process itself then becomes an affirmation, and begins to satisfy the deep hunger to produce. At this point, it’s important to stay on track and continue to strive for mastery. Guard against diluting strengths or becoming “jack of all trades and master of none.”

5. CHARISMA. All work has a certain charisma. Creative work has charisma in spades. We recognize charisma in creative talent when we look at a painting, design, or work of art, and our jaws drop with the “wow” factor. Talent shows through. The artist creates something new while revealing personality, a message, or a true and accurate reflection of a portion of life. Creative genius is at work, and the viewer not only appreciates it, but participates in it, if only for a moment.

A parting thought for the day:

“The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.”
--Thomas Edison

Warm Regards,
Anne and Helen

Come view our website at http://www.creationsunlimitedllc.com/ or visit our display at the Tacoma Dome Holiday Food and Gift Festival (Tacoma, Washington) from October 21-25, 2009 (Booth 1820) to see our latest offerings.