Creative Process

What I learned about the creative process...

When approaching a time-consuming and repetitive task, it's important to have patience and be kind to yourself. I often encounter creative roadblocks when I feel frustrated or when I try to rush the work. Setting small goals for myself each week helps keep me on schedule and provides a sense of relief as I see my progress. Since my project was a collaboration with my mother, I also had to learn to communicate my thoughts and ideas effectively so she could understand them. I had to compile lots of photos and drawings and plan extensively before beginning to work. Exchanging feedback with my peers in CPSA250 helped me with this challenge. Learning to grow from criticism helps you consider other perspectives as an artist. We worked together to constructively analyze each other's work and developed skills to think critically about how we can improve.

In class, we discussed the culture of nice, the inability to openly disagree with one another in fear of becoming disliked (Lew 2023). When giving feedback, we have to think deeply and constructively; if not, we keep the person from improvement. It’s extremely valuable to get another set of eyes on your work to understand the effect it has on others. Giving shallow feedback offers them nothing to work with and develop. I’ve benefited a lot from honest feedback that inspired new ideas.

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Lew, C. (2023, February 9). Kill the culture of “nice”: This is how you create a positive work environment. Canopy.