ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
Unleash Your Creativity and Think Your Way Out of the Box
The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways we don't yet understand and manages to create everything we see. Working at odds with the rest of the body it performs best when we're not consciously trying and it is exactly this right-hemisphere activity that contributes to some of our most creative moments. Creativity is the lifeblood of every facet of life. From the arts to business, without it, things would become stale very quickly. Yet, as society is becoming more complex and process-driven the struggle for educational institutions is just how to stimulate creativity. One easy answer is watercolour painting. The gentle movements of a brush have a relaxing, de-stressing effect which has also been noted in activities such as calligraphy, whilst the mix of colours and their application energise parts of the brain which would normally get scant stimulation. Couple this to the mix of a visual/tactile experience as your painting emerges and presto! Right-side thinking is the order of the day and you haven't even thought about it! British Management Institute research figures show that whilst engaged in right-side thinking activities stressed-out business executives exhibit the same degree of relaxation and satisfaction that's normally reserved for when they're on holiday. A study conducted in mixed-occupation classes showed that out of the 85 people who took part 90% reported feeling calmer about life, perceiving the world in a more positive way and feeling better about themselves after they took part in a three-hour long watercolour workshop. Hugh Templeton, an artist of 25 years' experience, who specialises in running such workshops thinks he knows why his classes have that effect: "Painting a watercolour is a life-affirming thing. You have an image of the world in your head. You start getting it down on your art paper and before you know it you have captured a piece of the world around you and it's been through your own efforts. What could be more satisfying that that?" Hugh is the first one to acknowledge that just enrolling in a watercolour class is not enough. "It comes down to technique," he explains, "watercolour painting, like any kind of painting, is not easy. The danger is that if the instructor is not alert enough to make it easy for those taking part to express themselves and become attuned with their inner vision then their frustration and negative feelings will grow, not go away." Hugh has made a name for himself precisely because he has spent most of his life developing a teaching technique that teaches the technicalities of watercolour painting almost by stealth. "The idea is that when you're painting you should be focusing on the most important element of the equation. Your inner world. That's where your creativity resides. Anything else is a distraction." To help promote the principle Hugh has written an interactive theme-driven How-to book on watercolour painting titled "Hugh Templeton's Watercolour Guide for Absolute Beginners". The book was featured in the Times Educational Supplement as a means of helping teachers develop creativity in the classroom and it's been popular with stressed-out executives who have little time to attend classes. Published by innovative internet publisher Cool Publication (www.coolpublications.com) the book has been one of their best-selling titles from the moment it was published. "It is easy to use. It comes in 25 theme-driven sections and you can start painting effectively from the first chapter," says senior editor Chris Walker, "we tried it when Hugh first approached us and even we managed to paint a passable watercolour and we haven't touched anything beyond a computer keyboard for the last thirty years. Hugh Templeton's technique really works, we all forgot we were learning and it was so much fun we felt great for hours afterwards and we tried it out in an editorial meeting!" About The Author David Amerland is a freelance journalist and editor. His website is at www.amerland.co.uk. His latest book, Revelations, on the similarities between modern physics and the occult can be downloaded from www.coolpublications.com.
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Creating Reality ? Discovering the Magician Within We all create our own reality each and every day, whether we are aware of the power that we possess or not. We all have a built-in mechanism that runs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year, non-stop. How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think that increased creativity is something that would improve your life? 9 Ways to Live Creatively Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability or power to create; characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative. Ok that sounds great, wouldn't we all like to be more creative every day? Sometimes the hardest part to trying something new is the first step. Here are nine inspired steps to help you start living a creative way of life: Creativity Management ? Overcoming Blocks Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Breathing Out Stage Fright You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and last minute stage directions. In the audience are the director you'd like to work with, the reviewer everyone listens to, and your first acting coach. The blood pumps in your ears, your heart is racing, and your throat is so dry you can't possibly speak your lines. Every muscle is tense and you want to run. Top Ten Brainstorming Techniques for Business Success We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into our minds. We recognize creative imagination in everything from a pastel painting to a business plan. By trying these ten tips, you will discover some amazing creative abilities that may surprise you. Creativity and Inspiration Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world of the mystic all is one. This means that there's only one Creator. Your job as an artist, painter or writer is simply to attune with this One source of all creation, listen and report on what you're told. This is the essence of divine inspiration. It's similar to the advice I was given as a young businessman when my boss and I were on our way to an important meeting. He turned to me and said, "Keep your mouth shut and listen good." Mindfulness and Teaching: Lessons From Dynamic English Back in 1983, I was hired to teach English in rural northern Japan. I had no experience teaching, and didn't speak a work of Japanese. Three Ways Journaling Can Boost Your Creativity and Your Business I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity for a long time. She's extremely uncomfortable thinking of herself as "creative." We've been working together on it, and making progress. One of the tools that's really helped her has been journaling. Charge Your Imagination (1) "The challenges are not in the marketplace. They are in the mind"....... Jean Bernard Innovation Through Concept-Combination There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors to come up with new solutions to old problems. For sheer innovation, though, it's hard to beat the technique of concept-combination. Just start combining ideas and things, and voila, you're having fun - and maybe creating something new. Achieving Limitless Creativity There are many out there who wish to help individuals achieve limitless creativity. Such a noble endeavor to help fellow man; some creativity coaches are indeed working to set out simple principles which can help any individual get to that space. They are stead fast in their mission. One such gentleman I recently met was Dr. Nick Arrizza. He said; 12 Ways To Boost Your Creativity At Work As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find ourselves doing more with less. How do we stay ahead of the workload while staying sane? The key is to put your creativity to work for you so you can do more with less and shine like never before. Finding A Little Adventure I have had more than my share of exciting times and I'm grateful for every one of them. Creative Memory Tricks What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you make using them a habit. So when you take the time to learn a technique, use it until it becomes automatic. Here are some to try. How To Master Your Game Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right way. Start out by finding the people and books that will make you exceptional. Seek out the best sources of information that you can afford. Make EVERY DAY An Artist Retreat Day What do you enjoy most about going on an Artist Retreat Day? For most of us it's getting away from our "normal routine", having our creativity sparked by new surroundings and having the luxury of "open time" to work on our creative projects. What Every Manager Should Know About How to Think Creatively You may have heard of Roger von Oech's book, A Whack on the Side of the Head: How to Unlock Your Mind for Innovation. It's as much fun to read as its title suggests. It covers the ten common obstacles to creative thinking. It's about ways in which you can unlock your mind for innovation, for change, for more interest, or even for a career change. Creativity Management ? Sustainability through Passion Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched my focus to my training and work as a music therapist. I love sharing my music with my clients with special needs and it continues to be an incredibly rewarding field of work.
|
|
|
|
|
