What have my kids taught me about creativity
It seems like creativity should be a built-in function for any makeup artist. But what is creativity and where does it come from?
The term “creativity” is closely connected with art in our imagination, but creativity is not about art, it is about building new connections and create new things or generate new ideas using things that have already been known very well. Creativity is all about seeing beyond the obvious things.
We are all creative
even though it might seem that some of us are more creative than others. It might be but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be changed. Creativity is not for some people, it is a basic ability all humans have.
What is more, creativity can be trained and developed. We at OMA have already come up with a list of great exercises and activities to boost your creativity, but there is one more source that can teach us a lot about how to be creative - these are kids. Kids know everything there is to know about creativity and how to develop their imagination. And here is what i’ve learnt observing my kids.
Children are not afraid to try and test things. They adjust things to their interests and needs. So if some rules are no fun, they change the rules. And I am not saying that we should break the rules to promote our creativity, but sometimes a small twist you can make to usual things changes it all completely. So ask yourself “What if I do it this way or that way?” “What if” questions allows you to have a different look at things and see what was left behind.
Children are not afraid to try and test things. They adjust things to their interests and needs. So if some rules are no fun, they change the rules. And I am not saying that we should break the rules to promote our creativity, but sometimes a small twist you can make to usual things changes it all completely. So ask yourself “What if I do it this way or that way?” “What if” questions allows you to have a different look at things and see what was left behind.
Children are incredibly playful. Everything they do is a kind of game. Do we, adults, often play? We have our busy lives full of things to do and remember. But games are crucial to creativity. So get a board game outside a wardrobe or dress up for a theme party to boost your imagination and creativity.
Ask questions. Children do it all the time. Tons of questions, absolutely ridiculous questions about everything and everyone. Be curious, think and reflect on everything around you.
Children don’t think of what others might think of them. They do what they like and enjoy it. If they don’t like it, they change what they do or find something they like. They don’t focus on failure, they keep searching and trying.
Like what you do and do what you like. It is almost impossible to make children do what they don’t want to or dislike. But if they are keen on something, they do it again and again. Passion keeps you motivated and engaged in what you do, it makes you try something again and again allowing you to become a real expert at what you like.
Children are stubborn
If there is something they want, it is often easier to get it for them rather than to make them give it up. They pursue their goals and dreams even if it’s a new toy car that they will forget about two hours after they’ve got it. But still before they have it, they will do their best to get it from you.
So what I have learnt from my kids is the following:
Be passionate
Don’t be afraid to try things out
Don’t give up
Ask questions and learn
Play
It helps me to come up with new ideas, enjoy my work and become better both as a professional and as a person at the same time because I really enjoy what I do.