I agree about routine being both necessary and mundane or the appearance routine is lacking creativity due to the repetitiveness, kind of running on autopilot. However, I do also believe those activities/experiences are peripheral as well as foundational.

Maybe, what I’m trying to say, the routine provides a framework so the creativity can and does flow without too much interference. Hence, I believe creativity is always present, at least for me, but I do also think it is universal.

If anyone would have told me recently I actually could see this or believe it, I’d be the first one to argue for exactly the opposite. My recent experience has included very hard work, work at times I thought I really didn’t want to do, still some days feel that way. I get stuck and stopped dead sometimes. So where in all this is could I see creativity, I’ve asked myself. I saw myself continually returning to the work, even though it seemed impossible. If I hadn’t had a new idea or approach, some sort of opening, maybe help from someone else with their ideas or knowledge, I wouldn’t have been able to try again. Must be creating something it seems.

So, no, Evan, I don’t think there has been a time when creativity wasn’t present in whatever I’ve done. I also see this is probably a broader view than you were asking. I do think what effects my perception of lack of my own creativity is ultimately failure, unresolved situations or maybe being uncomfortable or not accepting of a result. I can see now I used those things as criteria for my own feeling creativity was absent. In other words self admonition, if only I knew this, had that, etc., then equating me not doing anything further because I maybe wasn’t somehow equipped. More likely I went on to something else.

Another thought provoking article, even as it seems you intended more instructive or helpful ideas to those wanting alternative ways to create. Thanks for both, Evan.

Barbara

I think I resonate to both…and have required both ways in my own personal experiences but I am most in tune with play as it frees me up to see more ideas and values and useful ways to go about a project or art. And of course just experience more joy surrounding the process of it! I guess its because I have taught that I see them both as equally important.