posted
Hi Heads. Have any of you ever thought about the power of imagination, and how it relates to "originality"? I think that we all posess imagination, but some of us nurture and develop it to a greater extent than others. How often have you had the experience of being able to "visualize" an idea within your mind, and seeing it quite clearly? Many folks don't seem to have that ability, so we prepare conceptual sketches, so that they can share the idea that you have "in mind". I've also observed that younger kids have much more "active" imaginations than older folks. Do we somehow lose these abilities as we grow older, or is it more likley that we have neglected to use this amazing gift, and have let it get stale through lack of use?
It seems to me that a lot of folks can and do have good or great ideas. Originality is the ability to "give substance" to those ideas by translating them into something tangible, that others can see, hear, or touch. This ability is also shared throughout "the arts" by writers, musicians, playwrights, sculptors, etc. How often have passersby watched you work, and then proceeded to tell you of some relative of theirs, who could have or should have been an "artist"? Their observation is probably acurate, but the difference between you, and their talented relative, is that you are "giving substance" to your ideas, while they are not. Whenever we "give substance" to a thought, or idea, there is a good chance that you also give expression to an "original thought". Remember the late cartoonist Chester Gould? He was the one who drew the original Dick Tracey strip, back in the 1930's and 40's. At some point, he introduced the "idea" of police using a 2-way wrist radio. This was back when typical radios were the size of console TV's. Today, Gould's idea is a reality, and police departments do communicate with devices that are remarkably similar to what he had envisioned. Had he not "given substance" to his idea by depicting it in a cartoon strip, I wonder how long it may have been before someone else came up with that idea, and expressed it in terms that would stimulate the thinking to bring it to reality. Worse still, is the possibility that someone else DID think of that same idea before Gould, but failed to give it any sort of "substance."
This is but one example of how powerful that the imagination can be in developing something "original". Do you work at developing and maintaining your imagination? When you get an idea, what do you do with it? Remember Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of flying machines,submarines, and battle machines? Those had to be quick doodles of ideas he visualized, because those things didn't exist at the time that he drew them.
I think it's somewhat ironic that society values so highly, those who are "creative thinkers", but I'm not aware of too many University level courses that teach people HOW to exercise their imagination, and stimulate creative thinking. Often, the educational systems that are presently in place are set up to suppress imagination and creative thought. They do however, teach kids to conform and assimilate, and that's where I feel that a lot of the power of imagination is lost.
What's your opinion?
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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I have always had an active imagination. Where I have had my trouble is executing the "image' I see in my brain into the same thing in a tangible object or piece of work.
I have always wanted to write a novel, one that could eventually be a movie. I love Horror movies and to be able to express some of the idea's I have in print and screen would be awesome. Unfortunatly I did not pay much attention in writing class back in school. The money would be great, I won't deny that but the real thrill would be the creativity and seeing idea's coming to life.
As I get older I notice that my imagination is just as strong, but my memory is a lot shorter. Some of this, my wife thinks, is due to all the medications I am on all the time. Maybe, or maybe just old age starting to take it's toll or a combination. Anyway, I just have to write my idea's down more rather than trying to remember them. I keep a notebook with me almost always. I write down thoughts or doodle or just do a quick sketch of an idea I get.
One area I have noticed as I get older is I don't seem to dream as much anymore and when I do they are harder to remeber all of the dream once I wake up. I wonder if this could be due to the medications also. I know some meds will make you dream more, so I guess the oppisite is true.
Both of my kids seem to have a passion for creating especially drawing. I encorage it all I can. Hopefully they will be one of the ones who expand thier imaginations.
Great Post Henry, really got me Thinking!!!!
-------------------- Troy "Metalleg" Haas 626 Kingswood Dr Evansville,In 47715 Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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When you are young you don't realize what it is, other than it is great fun 'daydreaming' seeing things that aren't there...looking at the TV but not seeing what is on...but instead seeing what's in your head...instead. When you get older....everything you do involves 'doodling'. It is just part of how you are. Then when you get even 'more' older you still daydream, find shapes in the summer clouds, sit and stare at your garden and can visualize how it will look when all the plants have grown, forget to GO when the lights turn green because you have an idea in your head instead. (Green means GO) I have always been the kind who sometimes waits til the day before the sign is due because I was 'visualizing' in my head all the different layouts til the right one came along. It drove my family nuts, and still does. However my son is just like me.
As far as teaching people how to use their imagination...I think it is best to just let it unfold. I do remember having friends over a few years ago, and I was paiting. Both of my friends said they couldn't paint. So I said 'everybody can paint!' so they did. And did very very well. They just didn't know they had it in them and never tried.
It is all very entertaining.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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I have found my ability to "see" images in my head a great asset to my work. I just think of something and its instantly there. I can see it and not only that I CAN SEE IT FROM ANY VIEW whether it be from below , above , behind or from any odd angle kind of like Tom Cruise's character in the movie MINORITY REPORT, you know that screen he was moving pictures on? I also have the ability to do this when I paint creatures that don't exist. its weird so say the least! But , Knock on wood its been a big part of my success as an artist. I had a person just recently ask me " Where do you come up with your images?" I told the person "In my head" and he said " So you sketch them out and then commit them to memory right? " I told him no and just pointed to my head and said "I just think them up in here! " He couldn't believe that I just made them up as I went along. it didn't compute to him. I can even "hear" what I'm painting like if I'm painting a dragon, I can imaging the sound its making with it's scales dragging across each other as well as the sound it makes when it screams just before it blows fire out its mouth! By being able to do this I can put any creature in just about any situation I wish.
I've told this to a few people and they just have a hard time understanding how it works so I tell them they can do it too and then I give them a little test to prove it. here's how it goes;
I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind, Now, I want you to think of an elephant's head,an african elephant to be exact, you know the kind with the huge ears? can you see it in your head? good! now think of that elephant charging up to you while you're standing there, can you see its huge head from underneath its chin looking up at it... see it? can you hear the elephant trumpeting? can you feel the dust and wind from it hitting you as you stand there? you can almost smell it right? good! thats how I do it, thats how I can just walk up to a refrigerator and paint a fire breathing dragon on it with no refference pictures.I just think of a subject and "see" it in my head. I also have a great ability to remember images I see in a flash of a page from a magazine, or while I'm driving etc. BUT, I am terrible with names! hahahaha Being able to communincate the images I see to my clients so they can "SEE" it in their heads is very helpful in sales also. I remeber one sale I made all on one little image I told him about that instantly sold the job and turned out to be one of my more popular paintjobs I've ever produced. here's how it went: My customer was the owner of a local Indian Motorcycle dealership, He usually gave free reign on design. I had an idea to do a bike that looked as if it where wrapped in buckskin leather, I explained the idea in detail to him but he just wasn't the type to be able to "SEE" it in his head,then I said these words and he intantly got an image in his head and the rest was clear as a bell to him. I said " Think of the Indian Logo being branded into the leather on the tank like that old dog food commercial where they brand the dog food and you see the little puffs of smoke and hear the searing sound" it was just then his eye's lit up and you could see that he "GOT IT" and the job was sold. It's a skill you just have to work on to develop. thanks for the Post Ken very cool! Mike
[ January 19, 2003, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Mike Lavallee ]
-------------------- Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And Dance like no one's watching. :) Mike Lavallee Mike Lavallee's Pinstriping & Airbrush Art Everett, WA Posts: 449 | From: Everett, WA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
Imagination and the ability to visualize clearly something that does not yet exsist is a gift.
I think many younger kids possess it. My observation is that about age 12 or 13 kids tend to choose a direction in their lives. Imaginative and artistic kids will either keep developing these wonderful skills or put it away and go after other pursuits around this age. The passion stays with them or not right around this critical age.
It is also my observation that imaginative folks see and observe what is around them more accutely than prople who don't posess this gift. I think it is part of the process. To be creative and output ideas we must constantly have input and massive amounts of it.
Take a look at any creative persons space and you will often find it is a treasure trove of ideas. In my case I have hundred and hundreds of books and periodicals, many thousands of pictures, many toys, found objects, and many things that simply defy description. They are all fuel for creative ideas yet to come.
I have a large shelf of sketch books, which to the casual observer seem to be full of meaningless doodles and half cooked ideas. But they are the basis for a lot of creative projects.
Original ideas are most often a rearangement and combination of found ideas from the artist's own experience and observation. This collection and unique arrangement of the ideas make them truely original.
This ability is a matter of excercising the brain. While a basic ability is required, it is also a matter of PASSION and practice.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
People have lots of practice at receiving creative Ideas, (movies, TV, Advertising, Books, Radio) but they don't much practice at conceiving new ideas and then following through.
It's just like people's painting skills, most people give up by high school. They get discouraged and then never try again. A few months ago our family decided to try Bob Ross style painting a few times a week. I can't believe the creativity we had hidden in the family. I had to convince my 21 yr old daughter to give it a try and by the third painting she was doing better than I ever have.
The best most people can do is to criticize someone else's effort. When I go to a "brainstorming session" at the research center, everyone stares at the wall waiting for someone else to have an idea. Fortunately we have one crazy creative person that can spin out new ideas all day long. Occasionally he has a real winner.
ernie
-------------------- Ernie Balch Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 518-885-9899 Posts: 405 | From: Malta, NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I understand viewing any project in my head complete with colors and then executing it perfectly well, I do it all the time as I always believed it came naturally.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Wow, great responses folks! One thing that Mike said was impressive...the ability to not only visualize, but to hear and sense feelings like heat and dust of that African Elephant's charge. Here's another "test" of the power of what your imagination you can do. Imagine yourself in a harshly cold environment. The cold wind is blowing and sucking any heat away from your body in seconds. Your breath comes in clouds of icy mist,and you begin to shiver uncontrolably.
Did you find that your own body reacted to that image? Did you find that your skin raised "gooseflesh"? Have you ever awakened from a dream, and found that your body has reacted to those images that were generated by your imaginary dream? Cold sweats, Extreme thirst or dry mouth etc.? Imagination has that power...to make our own bodies respond to thoughts or images that don't exist in reality...but only in our brain.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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You and others have expressed their observation that children possess imagination. I agree. But as I grow older I see parents innocently not nurturing the creative imaginaton in these wonderful little minds. We have so many fantastic toys on the market that don't allow much creative thinking in every day play time.
Years ago children had wooden toys that only vaguely resembled dolls, trains, musical instruments guns, and etc. The child "dreamed" of the real thing as he played, thus excercising the creative powers and instinct that we are born with.
When my boys were young we built boats, trucks and planes from wood scraps. Not that I couldn't afford to buy them, or that they didn't have real toys, but to stimulate their imagination and give them a sence of pride in their creativity. I did this not out of wisdom, but from the memories I had as a child because of my parents doing this with me.
Some are born with the "gift" others with just the ordinary imagination, but it is often not excercised because of today's society. We all know one or more persons whom we consider to be a genius but cannot organize ideas or visualize anything 3 dimentional.
I am grateful that my oldest son would not allow even a pop up play tent in his house when the girls were small for fear of their not having creative play time. Instead he played with them and built tents with bedspreads and such. One child benefitted from this, the other makes straight A's but can't pour you know what out of the proverbial boot with directions on the bottom. Furthermore if the directions were there she would never think to look!
In summary, my beleif is that we are all born with some creative ability, some more than others. Sometimes it is not developed, sometimes there just isn't enough there. I have also noticed that many creative folk are multi-talented. Look at how many musicians we have right here in letterville. And how about the wit? The great cooks? Poets and songwriters? It is all in the mind's eye but not all of us can see 20/20.
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
AMEN Dan! I get it all the time for being a pack rat of "JUNK" I know that some day that little piece of a photograph will be the genesis of a great piece of automotive art! Just yesterday in fact I bought a $6 pack of speaker wire that I didn't need for the graphic in the back of the package! ok, I am sick - sick man
-------------------- Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And Dance like no one's watching. :) Mike Lavallee Mike Lavallee's Pinstriping & Airbrush Art Everett, WA Posts: 449 | From: Everett, WA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
My wife and I were talking about this very thing this morning over breakfast. (your quote) "Often, the educational systems that are presently in place are set up to suppress imagination and creative thought. They do however, teach kids to conform and assimilate, and that's where I feel that a lot of the power of imagination is lost."
My oldest son (of whom I am very proud) has always been very artistically talented ...yet he refrains from doing much with it. I recall being called to school one day for a teacher parent conference. He was in about the 3rd or 4th grade when the teacher informed me that my son was spending too much of his time drawing pictures ...I asked how his grades were and she said they were good but she was afraid his ability to draw was distracting for the rest of the kids.When I asked if he was getting his work done the reply was yes he geets it done quicker than most then starts his drawings...and I just can't break him of that.
I told her if he was doing his work and getting good grades then she needed to leave him a lone or send him from the room...her reaction was that he couldn't be treated special and that he would have to follow the guidelines.At that time ther were no options in change to anothers class so he had to suffer thru.
You just have to wonder what he would be doing today if it hadn't been for this one sightless thoughtless individual...I wonder how many other lives she affected along the way.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Just before we began to build Giggle Ridge I walked our banker through the property. The drawn plans were vague at best and he didn't get it. So I took him for a walk.
As we walked around the flat and bare property I described the project in detail to him. Here we were walking up a slope. with planters on each side. Here a waterfall tumbled down a six foot bank, with colorful rocks and trees around. I walked him over bridges, through caves, under a trestle, complete with antique train. We passed by the hollowed out stump where Flapjack lived and walked through the valley where cool blue water flowed. I described the ancient rusty steam donkey and even heard the whistle blowing. I saw and heard it all in perfect detail. I could smell the flowers and hear the music playing.
He confessed that all he saw was flat grassy ground and the old chainlink fence, what was actually around us.
Four months later, on opening day I had the pleasure of walking him through once more. This time through it was exactly as I described it to him previously, and he could see it without any problem.
He expressed amazement at the clairity of my vision. I'm just grateful he had the vision to trust me and give me the money I needed for the project.
I take a great deal of delight in working with people who don't necessarily "get" my vision. They need a great deal of faith to work towards something that they don't understand. Often, without working drawings and plans I ask contractors of all types to help me achieve my vision of a project. They must put aside their conventional way of doing things and fly with me. They just have to trust me that it will all turn out right.
ANd as often as not it isn't until the very end of a project as all the pieces and details come together does it begin to look right. All of a sudden the light comes on and everyone 'SEES" what you had clearly in your mind all along.
THAT is the magic of IMAGINATION.
-dan -dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have a pretty good imagination, but when I"see" an idea it is only a very vague impression that fades in and out. I've never normally been able to "hold on" to an image for very long, the way Mike was saying. I have tried to cultivate that ability but to no avail. Instead, I've learned to trust my instincts more and more. It's kind of hard to explain, but I get enough of a vague impression to start painting something, then I trust somehow that my subconscious mind is still "seeing what it is I'm doing, even though I'm not,and I just add to the painting sort of by feel.In other words, I never know what it's going to look like exactly 'till I get done.
It's kind of a crazy way to work, but it works for me ! It drives people who are watching me nuts...they'll ask me something like what color this or that will be when I get done, and I have to tell them I don't know. It's sort of like a secretary we once had in a shop where I worked. If you asked her for an obscure phone number, she wouldn't be able to remember it, but if she could put her hand on an adding machine keyboard, her hand would type out the number, without her looking. Then she would look at what she had just typed, and that was the correct phone number.
I guess for some of us the subconscious is actively working for us behind the scenes to help us to be creative.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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We are two of a kind. I drive Janis crazy with the things I collect for the sake of a small piece of inspiration. Hundreds of books for one or two good pictures in each. Way too many 'kids' toys. Just about anything that sparks my imagination has to come home with me.
My studio overflows with imaginative ideas and inspiration.
I need to be surrounded with all this stuff (others might call it junk)... it just feels comfortable and easy to get creative while in my 'laughing place'
Visitors to my studio are overwelmed by my collection. It has becoem a landmark of sorts... a must see for folks who have heard of it. Kids absolutely love it here and generally respect that they are MY TOYS, mostly to be looked at and admired.
I have a wonderful Coca Cola collection, a hat collection (with uniform hats, fire helmets, mining hats, military hats, and a host of others), a stuffed toy bird collection, many wierd and wonderful models from projects, there's a full sized antique gas pump. a gumball machine, and 8' dragon, snowshoes, an ancient aluminum boat motor, lots of model trains of various scales, and hundreds of other wonderful things.
It makes perfect sense. (to me)
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Creativity and originality are different for children for a fairly simple reason. A child's mind is not cluttered with images and experiences to the extent i hope that we pick up as we get older. He/she can't help but be original without having the stockpile of experiences to color an idea.
As we become older, we become prejediced towards and against various ideas and thoughts. We will have heard along the way that this color doesn't go well with that color...that shape doesn't work with that shape...this typestyle and that typestyle clash. In other words, if we aren't aware of it, a world of potential original thoughts will be naturally overlooked. A child is not bound by these things, so being original isn't really a goal for them....they have no choice in the matter. We do!
Now, on the other hand....once we've gathered information over the years, I think we have a clear advantage over what we were as children when it comes to creativity. We have mental tools available, as well as skills attained, that we did not have in our youths.
Enough philisophical pontification from me for one day. sorry, I just enjoy this kinda topic discussion.
[ January 19, 2003, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
posted
i try to spend an hour every morning sketching. usually i'm drawing comics (cartoons), that have nothing to do with my sign work. i used to feel that i was "goofing off" but in the past few months i've realized that this is important time for me to keep my creative juices flowing and keep my visualization skills sharp. so now its part of my business day. sometimes (often) i'll have ideas pop into my head that relate to the business. by drawing, i turn off the "thinking" part of my brain, and it seems to allow the subconsious ideas to bubble up to the top where i can notice them.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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I can pretty much dream anything up and make it real, things just pop into my head and trying to put them on paper before execution just kills it. The harder and more challenging the project is, the better, although once the challenging part is over with and the rest is just "going through the motions" to complete it I usually lose interest and get bored with it.
A lot of my ideas come from some sort of competition. Somebody will tell me I can't do something just because they dont think it's possible, so I set out to prove them wrong. I haven't lost a bet yet.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Wow....So very true. All my work is in my head before I ever lay a brush to the surface! I see the whole thing in my head....I even have "mental" paintings in my head yet to be painted (I am a watercolor artist also). I think all kids have it in them if only the adults will encourage it, and not deem it as dreaming. And not only in the arts but everything as well...say for example to "see" mechanically or whatever. I always say that everyone has a natural talent be it a garbage collector to a computer genuis and that they should be proud of whatever it is and do it to the best of their ability. My boys, (my son and his friends) right now have a band and they are awesome...all teens from 13 to 17...and I turned one of the upstairs bedrooms in my old farm house into a studio for them. All that comes from their heads is amazing to me! How they can come up with original tunes is beyond me. But the other parents don't encourage it like I do and I can never understand why because it is such a gift. And if you take away the "gift" what do you do to the kid? And not surprisingly they are all very visually artistically talented too. I encourage them to continue to use their minds in the respect of creativity. School can only take you so far, then the rest is up to you. What a great topic, Ken. One that I have lived with my whole life. Thanks for "thinking" about it!
Be Humble, for you are made of the Earth. Be Noble, for you are made of the Stars!
-------------------- Kristie Byrnes Paintbrush Graphics 6126 Big Cut Rd. Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 rugbyrnes@hotmail.com (563) 357-7614 Posts: 90 | From: Thomson,IL | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
I, too, can see things in my mind... actually when i paint or draw... it is like I can see the thing on the blank paper and I am just sort of outlining it. sort of pulling it out of where ever it was. To me, painting and drawing and even writing is quite emotional, like the elephant story above....
Another thing that Im not sure all do but I have a habit of is.. I wear glasses... can see anything up close but at a distance.. thngs start blurring somewhat. I use this by seeing something very interesting and filling in what I think it is, like a painting in a gallery or something. I put in my mind what I think the image is... a lady standing over a fountain with reflection... but 9 out of 10 times... the painting is of something much more mundane..... and I have an idea for a painting that will be really moving.... heh. Nature is a good resource for this as well....
-------------------- --If you don't care where you are, you ain't lost.
Tony Potter Blind Mice and Company 3001 Bever Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 (319) 573-9001 www.blindmiceandcompany.com tonypotter@yahoo.com Posts: 209 | From: Cedar Rapids, IA | Registered: Nov 1999
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you still daydream, find shapes in the summer clouds, sit and stare at your garden and can visualize how it will look when all the plants have grown, forget to GO when the lights turn green because you have an idea in your head instead. (Green means GO)
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