It was bound to happen sometime, but I skipped sketchbook 84 last week thanks to a bunch of personal commitments and generally being too busy. The up side is that part of the distraction was related to a big art project, so I figure it all balances out in the end. I'm still not keen on skipping weeks, so here's hoping it's a rare occurrence either way.
The coolest thing to happen creatively in the last couple of weeks has been a long brain storming session that I had about this big project I’m working on. It was a good reminder that when you're feeling stuck, having someone else's perspective and input can be a great way to get the ball rolling again. Sometimes just talking about an idea is all you need to clarify the concept and get over any barriers.
So I suppose my current focus is on feedback and how important it is to continual creativity. It's all well and good to be productive in a bubble, but at some point we all need a reference point to properly assess our progress.
Historically I try and avoid feedback as there are always caveats to an 'in-progress' idea. Without the chance to polish and refine an idea, I tend to be a bit cautious about revealing it to others. What if they focus on something I know needs to be fixed? What if they misinterpret the main purpose? There's so much explaining that needs to be done to head off the known weaknesses before they ruin an idea's essence.
While my point here is that this isn't a good way to do things, I can still recognise that it comes with a big 'if' that makes all the difference. The potential of misinterpretation and misunderstanding is only a problem if the person you're sharing with fails to listen and empathise with your dreams.
There has to be a level of understanding to share an incomplete idea, or at least a certain amount of conscientious empathy from the listener. I can't count the amount of times I've tried to discuss a concept with someone who has already come up with a solution before I've finished presenting my opening thoughts.
Although, like everything else, it's a two way street and there's no doubt that the delivery has to be as nuanced as the reception. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I often avoid sharing incomplete ideas and concepts, as it's a rare thing to find another person that you understand instinctually, and who understands you completely.
Thus, when brain storming ideas and planning out a big project, there's nothing more beneficial than bouncing ideas off someone else. However, let's not forget that delivering concepts is as important as listening to others. One can't excel without the other, but when they're jamming in unison, great things happen.
I'm almost at the stage where I can share more about this project I'm constantly alluding to, as I will have some progress underway in a short while. Once it starts, the entire thing could take many months to complete, but I'm hoping it will be worth it. The best thing about brain storming over the last couple of weeks has been that I went from almost giving up on the whole idea, to being more motivated than ever before.
Always remember to ask for help when you need it, and hopefully we will always have people in our lives willing to brain storm with us. Creativity doesn't always have to be a solitary affair and collaborating might just be the secret to evolving to the next level.