26 April 2017
How to be creative
Some of you will have been reading this magazine, thinking to yourself that while creativity is important for some people, it’s not something you can get involved in. Maybe you failed your art exam at school, haven’t picked up a musical instrument since recorder class or will never understand the new grown-up colouring trend. Well, we’ve asked three very creative people to share some of their insights into creativity – and how you can give it a go.
As a photographer, my eyes lead me in my creativity. We live in a created, creative world and there is purpose, design and craftsmanship everywhere we look. The intricacy of human skin, the contours that line a grassy valley, the segments of a tangerine, God’s design is exquisite if we have open eyes to see it and be inspired by it. I think we can learn a lot from the awe, amazement and delight we can see in children’s eyes – imagine if we daily practiced this attitude of surprise and wonder.
Ella Dickinson is a London-based visual storyteller and documentary photographer. She’s part of the Document Britain collective and media manager for Alliance member Compassion UK @ella_dickinson
As a creative professional I spend most of my time repackaging ideas I’ve seen elsewhere for others to use. The most naturally creative people I know tend to be under the age of four. To be creative is to explore, and to find others who, through their own journey, offer us ‘permission’ to move in new directions - whether those inspirational folks be known or not, contemporary, historical or fictional. Ultimately any creative journey is all about the permission we are prepared to give ourselves.
Ian Oakley is a home-educating dad to four and managing director of Whitestone Media, a video production and media consultancy company (@whitestonemedia). He is also an experimental musician @ian_o_music
‘Being creative’ is not about following a prescriptive formula, or copying the creativity of others. Genesis tells how being human is being made in the image of creator God! It’s not that only some people reflect God in this way - all of us have a capacity for creativity. Seek to understand how God has designed you – what makes you unique and what gets you excited. God doesn’t want everyone to be an artist or musician. He wants creative dreamers and creative builders; creative communicators and creative administrators. He wants artists and scientists, idealists and pragmatists. Don’t just copy. Embrace your unique creative potential.
Luke Aylen is a writer, speaker, photographer and filmmaker currently working as the creative coordinator for Spring Harvest @lukeaylen
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