Creative Times

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/films/view/creativ

Science of Happiness

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8DngXKtvEQ

Some late night TLC for creatives!

Thought I'd share some words of encouragement, inspiration and motivation from Meg Mateo Ilasco's 'Craft' tonight, for all creative individuals who doubt their abilities, have 'wobbly' moments and procrastinate just like me.


Ilasco (2010) acknowledges common myths regarding creativity and enterprise within this fantastic book, which i am reading yet again!

• You don't need a creative, artistic degree to start a successful creative enterprise. Ilasco (2010) refers to Tadao Ando, famous architect who practised and won the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1995. http://www.tadao-ando.com/index_eng.html
• There is an age limit on setting up your own creative business. Age has many advantages. Ilasco (2010) assures that age brings greater life experiences, greater self awareness, confidence, increased knowledge and understanding of skills.
• 'All the great ideas have already been done' (pp.13). 'A classic creative 'cop out'' (pp.13).Creativity can be stifled, restricted, diminished by pressure, particularly by the pressure each of us puts on ourselves to succeed, achieve! Ilasco (2010) emphasises that we need to remove this pressure we put ourselves and have Faith!
• You have to wait for the right time. Are you wondering whether it is the right time? There will never be a perfect time! When is the right time to start-up, to make a change, a difference in your life? The answer, says Ilasco (2010) is RIGHT NOW! 

'Meaning'

Just thought i'd post this, whilst doing some late night blogging to keep you all on your toes and thinking!


This is a clip of Guy Kawasaki (one of the 'BIG' silicon valley guys who brought us Mactintosh) talking about creating 'meaning'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQs6IpJQWXc


...and this is what Pablo has to say about 'meaning'...

'People want to find 'meaning' in everything and everyone. That's the disease of our age...'Pablo Picasso

Kawasaki gives 3 key ways of creating 'meaning':

1. Improving quality of life or of an experience
2. Righting a wrong
3. Preventing the end of something

My fellow masters students have already taken part in a discussion critiquing Kawasaki's theory, so for everyone else WHAT do you think? Is this all 'very nice' but to idealistic and not realistic? How do you determine a right or a wrong? Is Pablo right is it a disease?!

Let me know!

'Every act of creation is first an act of destruction' Pablo Picasso

'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up' Pablo Picasso

 'An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought' Pablo Picasso  

'The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web' Pablo Picasso  

How Freelancer's Dance!

'A successful freelancer is passionate about his art and seeks inspiration to fuel it-even in his off-duty hours-simply for the sake of generating work that he loves' (Ilasco, 2010)

Creative freelancers are curious creatures! Curiosity is a driver, a motivator and is a well primed tool for new opportunities, new skills, new techniques new ways of creating. Creative people are 'culture vultures' devouring all sorts of newspapers, magazines, journals and books watching the latest films, world cinema, theatre and documentaries (Ilasco, 2010). 'We vultures' or as i prefer 'magpies' (!) also like to travel and absorb new experiences be inspired by our adventures, by what we have seen: people, places, colours, textures etc.

'The more diverse your experiences and interests, the stronger your ability to come up with ideas' (Ilasco, 2010)

Although Meg Mateo Ilasco's book 'Creative Inc...' (see 'Tools of the Trade') is specifically aimed at freelancers/'wannabe' freelancers in my view it also sums up the qualities of a creative individual and a creative entrepreneur.

Ilasco lists 9 essential qualities for a freelancer and in my view a creative entrepreneur:

1. A strong business sense: '...there's enough ego and talent coursing through the creative world for even the most gifted artist to get lost in the crowd. The ones who flex their business muscle become the most identifiable and successful' It is important to be a confident decision maker, with motivation and resourcefulness. Competence in maintaining structure and schedule, marketing, accounting and office admin is also equally important as this will be a day-to-day task (Ilasco, 2010).
2. Love of your art: '...you have to be passionate about what you do' You need to be excited each morning to get out of bed and start your day, you need to be prepared to have very long days, a 9-5 day is unrealistic! 
3. Curiosity: As stated earlier a creatives' are curious creatures! Creative entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in general need to be connected and engage with the world observing, listening, reacting, being influenced and inspired and forming networks and alliances everywhere, even in the most unlikely places.
4. Confidence and a strong vision: initiate projects from your ideas, from how your perceive them to 'look', 'just do it' and have faith in your abilities.
5. Good listening and observational skills: as a creative entrepreneur you may always want to 'Do whatever you want, when you want' however as Ilasco illustrates for creative freelancers to stay in business you need to please your client before yourself, likewise to be a successful entrepreneur you'll need to please your respective market, be adaptable.
6. Good communication skills: you will need to connect with your market - whoever it might be. You need to inspire and persuade effectively, to be a successful entrepreneur you still need to make money and communication skills are vital for marketing and selling your product/service!
7. An ability to handle criticism and rejection: although it has been emphasised that creative individuals and indeed creative entrepreneurs like to  'Do whatever you want, when you want' in business it will be tough and if creative entrepreneurs are to succeed they depend on appeal to their market, it is therefore essential not only to develop a thick skin but also not to ignore feedback and react to it positively! (Ilasco, 2010)
8. A positive attitude and professional demeanour:  'A positive attitude is priceless when you are running your own business. It's important to handle every job, whether small or large with joice de vivre' ...'mistatkes are part of the discovery process' (Ilasco, 2010).
9. Good work habits:  as both a creative freelancer and creative entrepreneur you need to organise a good suitable structure that ensures you are able to focus on business tasks and responsibilities day-to-day whilst having the fluidity to be creative and realise your ideas! 'As a freelancer, you have to be self-motivated, because only you can set the bar for your skill and output' (Ilasco, 2010).

A Clear cut? - continued

Continuing to 'ponder' upon this HOT topic i am adding further weight to this debate, having progressed in my 'consumption' of Howkin's The Creative Economy. Howkin's (2007) refers to Bob Geldolf, a highly successful entrepreneur who seems to regard himself as a creative entrepreneur. Although Howkins acknowledges that Geldof is somewhat 'unconventional' in the way he runs his business he explains that Geldof 'manifests' creative success.

Geldof famously doesnt work in any one of his offices, opting to work alone armed only with a telephone, no email, no fax. In explaining why he chooses not to work 'at work', surrounded by his employees he says that 'if you have staff, you start to think about them and you lose the freedom to think and write' (Howkins 2007, pp.125)

'Business is as creative as songwriting, but not as personal' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007 pp.127)

His ideas derive from 'irascibility and invention', and mixing boredom with his imagination results in a 'strong cocktail' (Howkins 2007,pp.127).

'Business - its a cliche - absolutely as creative as anything. Business creates ideas. Around something as dry as a boardroom meeting there can be a confluence of ideas that creates and promotes more ideas' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007 pp.127)

Geldof refers to creative entrepreneurs as being truly capitalist, that manging creative wealth will give rise to more wealth. Creative entrepreneurs:

'...use creativity to unlock the wealth that lies within themselves' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007pp.136)