Trash head
Make art from thrash in your Sunday creativity prompt
Somehow, along the way from childhood to adulthood, we lose our creative confidence. That is a huge loss. Not just to us personally, but to our professional lives and to everyone around us. Creativity helps in finding the best solutions to any challenge, creativity is fun. Don’t just take my word for it, watch this talk by David Kelley, one of the founders of IDEO.
I am a strong believer in creative confidence. As a poet, I notice that creating new work goes better when I am in a creative mood and when I have built up my creative confidence. Sometimes, you need a little help to get started. That is what these Sunday creativity prompts are about. On Sundays, I will challenge you to do something creative, in the hope it helps to get your creative energy flowing, which in turn should help you in what you do.
Turn trash into art
Friday I shared a poem about litter and making change happen. Today, we act on it. I often pick up litter when I walk the dog. Our park has many bins, so I don’t have to carry things around too long. But some pieces of litter inspire. I have a (cleaned) collection of strange pieces I found and have been playing for quite a while with the idea of creating a series of artworks with them. The working title is Trash Heads, see the picture above for an example.
Your creative prompt this Sunday: find some pieces of litter and create a piece of art with them.
If you dare, share a photo of it in the comments. But remember: this is to get your creative energy pumping. It’s not to create great, shareable art. Just have fun and flex your creative muscles.
This creative prompt is a new series in your inbox poetry magazine. Find it every Sunday in your inbox. In January, these prompts are open to everybody. Then, they will be for paid subscribers only.
This is a very creative prompt, Arjan! And a great tie in to your previous post. I also want to send you a deep bow of respect for your unfailing clarity and courtesy in this post's Comments section.
I will check back later in the week and see if anyone has posted photographs! Hoping.... :-)
Good article, Arjan. I loved the video. I have lived a creative life and yet I experienced those who have criticized my creative work. In first grade I remember loving to draw fish, but someone must have told me to stop because I did not attempt to draw again until I was in my fifties. In the sixth grade I volunteered to write articles about our class for the local newspaper. The message that I received back was what I wrote was not journalism. It was advertising. I did not write again until I was a junior in high school when I started writing poetry. Fortunately, I have overcome the comments of others and let my creativity blossom.
I remember taking taking one of those personality tests at work. The person who taught the class told my boss that I was a person who could come up with 10 creative ideas but only one would be any good. People don't appreciate creativity as a skill.
These days I teach classes in abstract art to cancer patients. The most common comment I hear is: "I am not creative." Everyone is creative if they allow themselves to be, but most have had it drummed out of them.
One of my favorite songs is Flowers are Red by Harry Chapin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cVpkzZpDBA
I do agree with John Charles that the older I get the more creative I feel. I have lived a life of creativity.