Chillin' , 6x9", Acrylic on watercolor paper, ©2012 Lucinda Howe

Recently I seem to be in the entropy phase of the creativity cycle.  I’m flinging paint randomly while looking around for what to paint next.  I’m gestating ideas for my entry for the State Fair and for a future exhibit, but not making much visible progress.  Even though I’ve been through this cycle enough times that it doesn’t worry me, I’m looking for ways to reignite the fire.

So, I started re-reading one of my favorite books, The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.  She’s a famous choreographer with a long career, who doesn’t believe in waiting around for inspiration.  She says, “Creativity is  a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.“ She talks about how to prepare to be creative, and how to generate ideas.  Her book lists outlines exercises to get started and to re-group when things go wrong. And how to recognize when the habit becomes a rut.

If you haven’t read Tharp’s book, I’d like to recommend it for your summer reading list.  And don’t skip it just because you think you’re not creative.  She says, “Creativity is not just for artists.  It’s for business people looking for a new way to close a sale; it’s for engineers trying to solve a problem; it’s for parents who want their children to see the world in more than one way.”

While I get back to work, let me know in the comments what you think of the book and what you are doing to make creativity your habit.