I also want this to be a place for all types of creations: handcrafts, sewing, woodworking, historical costuming, jewelry-making, smithing/metal-working, toy-making, calligraphy, photography, amateur film-making, acting, ect...(I'm sure you guys can think of some I've left out).
~Sidonzo
Architecture! (That’s what I do for a living).
I’ll try to explain a bit of the creative process I use, which I imagine is similar in some ways to that of others, and different in other ways.
Architecture is the most utilitarian of the arts. While any other type of art can exist for purely non-utilitarian purposes, Architecture always has a function (at the very least it has to keep the rain off your head, and hopefully it does
). So the process for me always starts with collecting information, much of which is of the rather bland and boring type - programming (listing the activities to take place in te building), space planning (what spaces are needed to accommodate the program, how big do they need to be, what relationships need to exist between the spaces), researching typology (is the project civic, commercial, liturgical, residential, etc). I look for anything inspirational I can find while gathering this information, but I never commit to anything at this point.
Once I have collected enough information I simply let it ferment in my mind for a period of time. I may do some sketches along the way, but they invariably are weak, timid and end up being wadded up and thrown in the trash as soon as they are done. This period of synthesizing information is the most difficult for me. I grasp for ideas that are specific to the data I’m trying to process, which always leads to a degree of frustration. The harder I try to focus on the task, the more impossible it seems to become.
Eventually I reach a point where I have to let it all go, just take all of the leg work and set it aside, forget about it, block it out my mind. And that is when the creative impulse always seems to come. All of the prior thought is still there in my subconscious, directing what I do, but by not focusing on it I can free myself to allow other inspirations to come through. And when it does finally come, it comes fast and furious. Usually within about fifteen minutes I can come up with a design that is nearly complete in its conception. And these sudden fits can hit at any time - while I’m eating, taking a shower, even while I’m sleeping. I have actually
dreamed of building designs in my sleep. Not vague, conceptual ideas, but very specific, detailed designs. There are always adjustments and refinements that have to be made to these initial creative bursts, but the final product is usually very close to the original idea.
That’s pretty much the process for me. Mind you, this is my job - it’s all “work related†for the most part.
I do have one quirky idiosyncracy that I am curious if anyone else shares. I find that it is very difficult to do creative things for myself. I tend to obsess over the details to the point that the larger idea never materializes. I find it much easier to be creative when I’m doing it for someone else. I find that I can set aside my own preconceptions, and I feel more free to experiment. Does anyone else ever experience this, or is it just me?
Eruname,
I love drawing with color pencils. I used to do all of my architectural renderings in color pencil when I was in school. I love the way that you can different shades, practically different colors, from the same pencil, just by altering the pressure on them.
TTBK,
Legos were definitely my favorite pastime when I was young, and probably had something to do with my choice of career. You’re not thinking of going into Architecture are you?
To all of the musicians here - the ability to compose music is something that never ceases to amaze me. Its one thing that I really wish I could do, but alas, I have no musical talent at all. My hat is off to all of you.
To everyone - I like all of your creations! Please show us more!