Computer Arts

Tam Hoi ying:
Being Disappeared

Alexandra Serrano: Daydreaming Girl

BACk To BASiCS

computerarts.creativebloq.com

cREATiViTy iS LiKE A mUScLE

AND yOU’VE GOT TO PUT iN THE

HARD WORK. FOR EVERy SiNGLE

miNUTE yOU SPEND cONSUmiNG

SPEND FiVE cREATiNG

what you do again and again

day in day out. Reading books

watching films or the TV going

to talks and visiting galleries may

feel like expanding your cultural

repertoire but they can just as

easily be a form of procrastination

and may even become a source

of anxiety for some people.

Ira Glass host of the radio show

This American Life describes

this difference between knowledge and ability as ‘the

gap.’ “For the first couple of years that you’re making

stuff what you’re making isn’t that good” he says.

“But your taste the thing that got you into the game

your taste is still killer. And your taste is good enough

that you can tell that what you’re making is kind of a

disappointment to you” he explains. What’s the best

way to close that gap according to Glass? “Do a lot of

work. Do a huge volume of work.”

Then when you’re surrounded by precarious

towers of paper throw away everything that doesn’t

make you say ‘Hell yes!’ You’re often asked to make

big bets with your ideas – with your time or money

or both. So if an idea doesn’t elicit more than a weak

nod ditch it. You need strong views loosely held.

If an idea makes you say ‘Hell yes!’ there’s something

in it so pursue it with conviction. But also be open to

other ideas other opinions and better information –

be prepared to change your mind.

The world is changed by your example not by

your opinion. Often writing and drawing act as

a form of working out; it’s no surprise that school

kids who show their working out in maths exams

get more answers correct – the process of doing is a

form of thinking. Creativity is like muscle and you’ve

got to put in the hard work. For every minute you

spend consuming spend five creating. If you can’t

be bothered spending the time applying what you’ve

just learned then you’re consuming the wrong thing.

Likewise be wary of trends. Once you have a

trend you have lots of people doing it. And once

you have lots of people doing it you have lots of

competition and little differentiation. So avoid trends

and instead develop a sense of mission. Does the work

you’re making help to create a world you want to live