rules of creativity /06

RULE 06: LOVE THE CHAOS.

Control what you can, enjoy the ride with everything else.

I love to create in a variety of ways. Some I have 100% control over, like in Procreate for instance. All digital, no smudges, or running paints, unlimited undos, almost everything under control. However, control is overrated. Perfect is boring. Smooth is cold.

What I really love the most is ‘toy’ camera film photography. Lomo, Holga, Diana - plastic lenses, light leaks, imprecise focusing, guesswork with framing, and so many variables with analog film.

This is also why I love watercolor painting. Sometimes the reaction between the paint and water and paper is not what I envision but I am forced to roll with it and even use it as I explore the journey of that particular piece.

I love riding the wave of chaos. I love directing a creative process without knowing where it will end. I love the surprise, the imperfection, the human touch.

As I’ve grown in my professional career, I’ve been steered to maximize what I control and minimize what I don’t. Yes, this helps to create predictable results, however, does it always create the best results? Is the goal of art to create the predictable? If you know the outcome before you start, is it truly creative?

Just questions. No answers.