The Creative Process- a Rhino and Bird

by David Finley

 My favorite thing about drawing and the creative process is coming up with new characters and funny concepts. I like imagining the stories and adventures behind the characters, and enjoy the limitless possibilities hidden within before you start fleshing the characters out.

 Take this drawing for example. I don't know their names or how they met each other, but the concept of strong friendship between two characters on a long journey appeals to me. I drew this quickly, without much thought.

 I see them riding an old World War Two era motorcycle, which will look somewhat tiny and silly under the girth of the rhino. It probably breaks down a lot. So, one of them should probably be a mechanic. The characters are raw and unrefined. They're really not much more than just a visual gag.

 At this stage you still can't tell if your concept is even good or not. Your characters could go in any direction personality-wise. It's the part of the creative process not yet burdened by the tedious details that arrive as you flesh your story and characters out.

 There is a lot of potential, which can be really thrilling. But, if I could share a bit of advice here, I would tell you to remember to enjoy, savor, and linger on this part as long as you can before you move forward.

 Although enthusiasm will increase your desire to hurry toward bringing your characters to life, rushing through the initial conceptual stage can mean more work later in the creative process. Haste might also bypass a natural personality and visual progression that you would discover with more forethought and planning.

 So, for now, all I really know is that a rhino and a bird are going on a road trip. And, that is fine with me. I'll get to know these two better next time they're up on my drawing board.

Thanks for reading Scofflaws!

-Dave

An Insiders Peek into the Artist's Creative Process

by David Finley

The Myth of the Creative Process

 We artists consider ourselves a creative lot. We'd love for everyone to believe creativity comes riding up to us like rainbow haired unicorns. But, for all you beginning artists and art enthusiasts, I'll let you in on a really important secret:

 Professional artists have to work at the whole 'creativity' thing just like anyone else. Why all the mystery? It's because we are as much in love with the classic myth of the artist drawing inspiration from a beautiful muse as you are.

 For example, which sounds more creative?

"I didn't know what my next piece was going to be so I decided drawing a bird was as good as anything. So, I made a series of small sketches and studies until I found one suitable for my project. Then, I labored vigorously for hours erasing, redrawing, and working with the piece until it came out. I'm still not happy with it, but I refuse to work on it any more."

or

"Since the beginning of humankind, man has envied the birds and their ability to fly. For my latest piece, I wanted to depict my own desire to fly symbolically though the simple image of a bird in flight."

The Artistic Muse Debunked

 There is no shimmering, porcelain-skinned, purple robed goddess anointing us from a silver amphora.

 Our muse of creativity is one big lie.

 Creativity is more like the elusive White Stag of legend bolting like lightening through the thickets of dense forest as we give dogged chase. It is a tireless pursuit of a strong and canny animal you can never truly subdue or tame.

3 Ways to Pursue Creativity

 It takes a lot of work to chase creativity, but here are just a few tips to help you start the hunt.

1. Be as open as a child.

 Children seem to be endless wells of creativity, and well... they are. Their minds haven't yet been filled with all the things we adults consider impossible. It's conceivable to a child that a dog might, under the right circumstances, speak plain English. And, don't you dare step on a crack as you walk down the sidewalk. Think of your poor Mom and her back.

  What have you been taught about life that you no longer question? I'm not suggesting you ignore reality and reject science, but there are multiple lenses you can see the world through. Why not look through as many as possible?

2. Connect with Others

 Humans are social creatures, who are wired for relationships. We are much stronger in teams than alone. Remember the old proverb:

"One can chase a thousand, but two can chase ten thousand."

 Social interaction takes the strain off of your own emotional reserve, gives you more experience and knowledge to draw upon, and helps you learn to better communicate with your own audience.

3. Work Very Very Hard for a Very Long Time

The race for creativity is not a sprint, but a marathon.

If you paint, make paintings as often as you can. If you compose music, fill books with your songs. If you are writing the Great American Novel, then you better be at your desk daily.

 Justin Timberlake is a great example. He was "discovered" early on with the Mickey Mouse Club, worked really hard to find success with InSync, but he is a household name today because he continues to labor as hard as he has as a singer, writer, performer, and actor.

Your Creative Journey

 So, now you know the big secret we artists have been hiding. Creativity is hard work.

So, go. Chase your White Stag with vigor and tenacity.

Happy hunting, Scofflaws!

-Dave