Following is a short excerpt + artwork from my new book, The Art of You.
Making art is a process of discovery. You might have an idea in your head—a desired destination—but exactly how you’ll get there remains a mystery. Creativity is an act of invention, and invention begins with experimentation and play.
“There are no right answers for anything involved in art. We’re all trying experiments to find a way. I don’t have a set way that I do anything. I come to every project blank.” – Rick Rubin
Like scientists working in a lab, you need to try different experiments to find a breakthrough. Not all experiments work, but through trial and error, they get closer and closer to a solution.
The definition of “experiment” is to test a hypothesis by purposefully trying something new without attachment to specific results. All creation is a series of experiments, repeatedly asking, “What if?” What if I play these notes together? What if I add this color? What if I use this metaphor? What if I introduce a new product to the market? None of these questions has a right or wrong answer. Each is merely an experiment, an artistic game of make-believe. If you don’t like the result, try something else.
Experimentation keeps our work fresh and infuses it with new energy. If we keep doing the same thing over and over again, we’ll keep getting the same results. If we want to reach a new destination, we must be willing to sail off into the unknown and lose sight of the shore.
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine—it is lethal.” – Paulo Coelho
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) teaches a practice called “pattern interruption.” Interrupting your pattern means altering a mental or behavioral state by introducing a random or unexpected element. For example, think of how drastically your daily routine would be interrupted if you were suddenly transported to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. With no default state to fall back on, you would have no choice but to experiment and explore.
Interrupting your creative process on a regular basis is a great way to stay fresh and inspired. If you’re feeling stuck, try something new. Experiment with form or technique. Step outside your normal process and do something that makes you uncomfortable. Creativity has no right or wrong answers, no predetermined path. Like life itself, we make it up as we go: trying, failing, experimenting, and learning lessons along the way. The deeper we explore, the more we discover.
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New podcast episode with Bunny Michael
I recently recorded a great podcast episode with one of my favorite artists and writers, Bunny Michael, in my living room in Austin TX. Listen now, and learn more about our upcoming creativity retreat, The Art of Your Higher Self.