Keep the Creative Juices Flowing - Issue #4 - Time to Create
Hello Creative Friend!
Spring is here, new energy, Signals, Dots and Inspirations are everywhere.
It's time to Create!
As usual a few things about the newsletter.
The section known as Food4Thoughts is now Signals and Dots
This time there in no external contents on my website: everything is in the Catch All section (let me know if it's too much)
Creativity is about to Create
The step of "making it real" in the Creative process is, to me, the most important and yet the hardest part. The majority of the ideas I have don’t see the light (and that is ok) because I fail to initiate this last step.
We all have different ways to approach this and I want to share my personal flow when it’s time to MAKE!
Of course I can create something intangible, not physical, like a habit or a mental model or a "routine". Whatever I create, it have to change something, it has to have an impact on how I live, even if just that little. Otherwise, forgive me for being blunt, it is everything but Creativity.
The space between and Idea and a Creation is the most dangerous for me. A good project, a Creative spark, can linger in that space for ages before I start to make it real. And, sometimes, even great ideas die there.
Although simple, this flow is powerful and bombproof. I do this every time and for every single project. I usually have 3-4 different projects running at the same time and I’ll explain why in the next issues, it’s a promise.
I bet you found my "I try to keep everything in my head" confusing. I just want to reassure you, I'm still a Visual guy! I draw for anything.
To better articolate this point I made the above map to show what kind of notes and tools I use to help me in the 3 steps we have seen so far: Getting Signals, Connecting the Dots, Making it real.
You see I mentioned two of tools I use on a daily basis, Obsidian and Notion. Among others I think these are the most effective when it comes to help the Creative process. I'll tell you more in the next section.
Signals&Dots
think:Creativity requires Optimism
A short read by Jason Fried . You may find it a bit obvious but I like it because it witnesses a sort of "general understanding" about Creativity. Knowing that we look all in the same direction is kind of reassuring. Jason is the Founder of 37signals and CEO at Basecamp and you may know it from his books.
BTW, "Remote" and "Rework" feature gorgeous illustration by Mike Rohde.
think:Sparking Curiosity
Interesting post by Harold Jarche about curiosity. I just quote him:
The skills required to live in a world dominated by complex and non-routine work requires — creativity, imagination, empathy, and curiosity. The core skill is curiosity. Curiosity about ideas can foster creativity, while curiosity about people can develop empathy (not sympathy).
tool: Obsidian and Notion
They are very different tools and, in a nutshell, I mainly use Obsidian to take and organize linked notes (Signals and Dots) and Notion to create repositories, databases and planning processes for projects that take a big deal of organization and sharing over time (Making).
The Catch All
Let we address the elephant in the room: everything is a remix!
Whatever you and I do, no matter how creative we are, the outcome of our creative processes is a reuse/reinterpretation/innovative mashup of something that already exists.
I'm pretty sure you know this but I add it just in case you missed:
Now, as frightening or disappointing it may be, I made peace and I embraced that a long time ago.
Why I'm telling you this? Because of this:
And now I want to share with you some of my favorite resources, some places where I heavily draw ideas, inspirations, dots and... wildly Remix!
Ok, grad a cup of coffee, there is a lot here
ClipArt ETC
You know how much I love retro and vintage stuff, right? This website is a well of wonders! PLEASE, be kind, be respectful and take a good look at the Licensing before using their contents.
The Public Domain Review
An incredible collection of collections of
out-of-copyright material that everyone is free to enjoy, share, and build upon without restrictions
One of my most loved resources.
Anatomy of the human body
Do you need inspiration to draw the human body? This is the original, 1918 edition of the Henry Gray book. And, no, the series is Grey's Anatomy but, yes, the name of the show was inspired by this book.
BTW, is the temple of incredible crosshatching!
Do you know Nicholas Rougeux?
If not, you must take explore his work! He describe himself as a
Chicago-based designer and data artist focusing in web and UX design.
C82: Works of Nicholas Rougeux — c82.net C82 is dedicated to the works of Nicholas Rougeux, including data art, visualization, and design.
His website is magic! Nicholas elevated curation at the highest levels and beside the contents of his works I'm sure you'll find his processes, that he describes accurately in his posts, fascinating and enlightening.
Finally, what is the best source of inspiration?
It is YOU yourself!
Do you still have your first sketchnotes or the first thing you did that started a passion/career/course of events? I do!
These are my first EVER sketchnotes I did on July 2012 (yeah, in a few month there will be my 10th Sketchnote Anniversary: big party ahead!). Sorry for the poor quality. I still have it, I mean the paper version, because I keep everything. Particularly those doodles and sketches I do on loose paper.
I religiously gather EVERYTHING and when I have enough pages, I bind them in booklets. I look at those booklets from time to time and, believe me or not, I always find ideas to be developed or inspirations for create something new.
My Stuff - Support
Treat yourself with a gift!
Are you a Sketchnoter? There is a whole line of cool things to say it loud.
Love coffee? Here is the Coffee and Art Print Collection
As always, no pressure at all!
Donate to "Keep the Creative Juices Flowing" — www.paypal.com Help support Mauro Toselli by donating or sharing with your friends.
That’s it!
Thank you so much for reading this beefy issue! I hope you had fun and some bright ideas.
Of course if you have suggestions or ideas I’d LOVE to hear from you, just reply to this email or DM on Twitter, even if we don’t follow each other
Let's go to make something beautiful and useful!
Stay Awesome
Stay Creative
Hope to see you the next time: May, 2nd 2022 h7.30 AM CEST sharp!
Ciao
Mauro