In the two earlier posts in this series, we talked about the need for innovation, the importance of imitation to help develop early artistic successes, and the differences between imitation and plagiarism. Now, we’ve come to the real meat of this topic: How do you build innovation into your creative process? What can you do to put your artistic voice into a project?
For this post, I’ve collected a list of techniques that I use in my own design process. If you’re a new artist, these suggestions should provide a solid foundation for exploring your sense of creativity. For everyone else, I hope you’ll find these methods a perfect complement to your existing processes and add them to your private bag of tricks.
Recognize and avoid the “low-hanging fruit.”
“Low-hanging fruit” is my term for a theme/subject that everyone seems to be doing at the same time because it’s become publicized or popular. It also covers design elements that are too expected – too common – to feel like a fresh approach to an old subject. It’s as if an artist walked by the tree of inspiration and grabbed the fruit within easy reach, not the ones near the peak that require a little extra work.
The simplest way to bring innovation to your art is to go your own way. Choose your subjects because you enjoy them, not because they’re popular. For those subjects that seem to be trendy, find ways to challenge your designs. Consider the faun in Pan’s Labyrinth. Rather than having the traditional mythological figure, Del Toro chose to create a character that appeared knotty, splintered, and wooden. He kept a traditional silhouette, but borrowed design elements that linked the faun to its earthy, nature-based roots. That made the subject – the faun concept – his own unique vision.
Experiment with new processes/materials.
At times, a change in process or materials can produce a major shift in your creativity. You might find that an epoxy gives you a better degree of control when shaping up your projects. Maybe series baking your polymer clay sculptures will help to create layers of details that better reflect your artistic vision. By studying what others are doing and keeping up with both home-grown and industry-standard techniques, you can use tools and processes to broaden your creativity. And don’t be afraid to experiment on your own to invent new techniques. That’s where real innovation rises to the surface.
Research, research, research.
The more you know about your subject matter the more opportunities you’ll find for innovation. Look at the historical roots of your subjects. Consider different cultural interpretations. Study both past and modern concepts. Your imagination is boundless. Unfortunately, reaching into its depths requires the right vehicle. Knowledge is your best ally in this effort. Feed your creativity with ideas that will stir your imagination.
Design and Re-Design.
This is a game I like to play to make certain I’m not cheating my projects by not spending enough time conceptualizing what I want to do. I’ll create a concept that reflects the subject I’m building. Once I’m happy with the basic elements – the silhouette, the core shapes, and some rough details – I’ll redesign it. I’ll change something major in the design – something that alters it in such a way that it feels like an entirely new creation. I’ll keep redesigning the original concept until I have roughly 10 usable ideas to choose from for my project.
Three-Concept Challenge.
Here’s another game that relies on a bit of imitation. For your next project, choose 3 very different designs (they might even be from 3 separate subjects) other artists have created. Study each piece, paying close attention to the key details that immediately stand out. Using those key details, create an original design that incorporates elements from each of the 3 works.
Found Object Challenge.
This last game has to do with your ability to experiment (and is geared for artists that work with 3D or those interested in recycling old items). Choose an uncommon item for your usual process – an old toy, an empty wine bottle, a mismatched candle holder, or maybe parts from a vacuum cleaner (anything will do). Build the design for your project around that item. You can use other elements in the concept, but make certain the found object is the foundation. There’s a tendency to want to cheat with this challenge and choose an item that might fit an idea you already have. If you want to really make this a test of your creativity, have a friend randomly select an object for you.
KingUnicorn is a guest blogger here at Grimvisions. You can see more of his work at http://kingunicorn.blogspot.com/
