Seeing in a New Way
I’m currently in a 3 month class called “Mark Making”, it’s been eye opening to spend a little piece of each day just making marks. The prompts and daily drawing are helping to reveal what my signature marks are. Watching how they are developing day after day has been eye opening. This class and the daily drawing required in it have sped up a process that could have taken years instead of months!
Our last class focused on prompts that increased our way of seeing. It was difficult at first to focus on an everyday object so intensely, writing about it in great detail, then drawing it until the timer went off. Before this session we were given an article to read called “To Change the Way You Think, Change the Way You See” by Adam Brandenburger. Branderburger says “Great creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs look at the world in ways that are different from how many of us look at things. This is why they see opportunities that other people miss”.
I have linked the article here so you can check it out, it’s quite interesting!
The article brings up de-familiarization which in my creative life, I've discovered there is an important push and pull between de-familiarization and habituation.
De-familiarization is looking at or presenting something in an unfamiliar way so we are forced to have a new perspective. Habituation on the other hand is a decrease in response to stimulus after repeated presentations. A great example of habituation is the Febreze commercial that talks about being “nose-blind” to something! After a while we don’t even notice the “offending” smell.
While de-familiarization pushes me to see the world with new eyes, habituation can sometimes desensitize me to my surroundings. Finding the right balance between these two influences is key to growing in creativity. Here is how I navigate these two opposites and how it impacts my creative process.
De-familiarization injects excitement and newness into my art. It's about breaking free from routine perceptions and discovering new perspectives within the familiar. When I engage in de-familiarization, I challenge myself to look beyond the surface and explore alternative ways of seeing.
It’s those moments when I stumble upon something ordinary but suddenly see it in a completely different light. Maybe it's a mundane object that becomes a source of inspiration for my next project, or a familiar place that reveals hidden beauty when viewed from a new angle. These instances of de-familiarization ignite my imagination and push me to see in a new way.
On the other hand, habituation offers a sense of stability and routine in the midst of creative chaos. It's about becoming desensitized to the familiar, allowing me to navigate my daily life with ease. While habituation may seem counterintuitive to creativity, it plays a crucial role in providing a stable foundation for my art, or any creative activity.
Consider the daily habits of successful creative people. From writers who swear by their morning writing rituals to musicians who have a designated practice schedule, these habits serve as anchors in so much uncertainty. They provide a sense of familiarity and routine that supports creativity and allows for a deeper exploration of ideas.
The challenge lies in finding the right balance between de-familiarization and habituation. Too much habituation can lead to creative stagnation, as I become overly accustomed to my surroundings and experiences. Conversely, too much de-familiarization can be overwhelming, as I constantly seek out novelty without taking the time to ground myself in familiarity.
The real magic happens when I can blend the excitement of de-familiarization with the stability of habituation. It's about striking a balance between embracing the new and finding comfort in the familiar. When I can achieve this balance I create an environment where creativity can thrive without feeling overwhelming and then paralyzing.
To sum it up, de-familiarization and habituation are really two sides of the same coin (as far as my creative process goes). While de-familiarization pushes me to see the world with fresh eyes and explore new possibilities, habituation provides a sense of stability and routine that grounds me in my creative practice. By navigating the dynamic interplay between these two forces, I create an environment where creativity can thrive, allowing me to push the boundaries of my imagination and unlock new realms of inspiration. Hopefully resulting in exciting, new, ever-changing pieces of art!