Look inside yourself
Insights on creativity from Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones
Field in Winter, Anne Houde, December 2019
Creative inspiration comes from places deep within our minds where our hidden selves live. All of our life experiences, our genes, our hormones, our mood today, what we ate for breakfast (or didn't)—all of these affect how we make art or respond to it, all without conscious thinking. How to unlock those hidden places and tap into deep connections to our innermost selves?
Like all artists, writers view their work as a practice essential to their lives and many use a specific way of releasing their inner creativity through “free writing” or, as Natalie Goldberg describes in her classic, Writing Down the Bones, “writing practice”. For her, writing practice is to sit down and write, continuously and with as little conscious thought as possible, for a set period of time, every day. The benefits? Well, practice! Just being in the habit of letting words flow from mind to paper. And unlocking! Those words that flow to the page unconsciously? Where do they come from? Yes, those hidden regions of the unconscious mind where creative ideas are born.
Writing practice can help every creative person, not just writers. All those words that stream out are inspiration for us all. Besides writing, we photographers can unlock creativity with our cameras. I call the practice a “What’s on my mind photowalk”.
Here’s how to do it: Grab your camera with your favorite and most familiar lens. You want to be able to photograph with the least possible amount of conscious thought, in a mind meld with your camera. You can even use auto settings or your phone. Now go for a walk in the first place you think of in the moment. Plan for 15 minutes to an hour.
As you walk, look all around you and open your mind. Don’t think about finding a good subject to photograph. Walk slowly, and when something catches your attention, take a moment to notice what it is, what is drawing you, how it makes you feel. Approach, frame an image, and make a photograph. Walk on and make more photos of things that catch your attention.
River Abstract, Anne Houde, December 2019
The benefits? Well, practice! Just developing a habit of framing an image from something that catches your eye will strengthen your mind meld with your camera. And unlocking! Those photos that you are making are windows into the hidden regions of your unconscious mind where creative ideas are born. What caught your interest comes from all of your life experiences, your genes, your hormones, your mood today, what you ate for breakfast (or didn't)...
As you review the images you made, see if you can recall your feelings and reactions at the time and apply some adjustments accordingly. Perhaps even write a little about each one. You will begin to learn about your innermost selves and reveal their creative ideas through your photographs.