I’m diving deep into how to cultivate your creativity with daily practice and awareness by following the exercise in Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit…our first book in the DSS book club!
This book isn’t what you think it is.
It’s not a quick checklist of creative activities to do so you feel like you accomplished something. This book goes deep into the psyche of how creatives think. Not just visual artists but musicians, writers and dancers. It stabs you with truths and realizations that really make you think. So much that reading this book didn’t happen quickly. I would stop at a sentence and allow the words to sink in.
It was hard to pick my favorite exercises and take-aways but I managed to select my Top 5 Big A-Ha’s from the book.
After the episode, join me over on the Deep Space Sparkle Facebook page for a discussion on what you thought of The Creative Habit.
Patty’s 5 biggest takeaways from reading The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for Life by Twyla Tharp:
1. Twyla’s 5 Big Creativity Fears
– people will laugh at me
– someone has done it before
– I have nothing to say
– I will upset someone
These are so universal, aren’t they? I share my thoughts on these inside the episode.
2. Muscle Memory
How copying and repetitive action leads to personal inspiration and mastery. I literally LOVE this one so much. It’s an undervalued an underestimated practice.
3. Start with a Box
The power of collecting ideas so they won’t be forgotten is just so liberating. It helps creative folks “capture:” their ideas so they are free to move on with their day knowing their idea won’t be lost.
Such a powerful exercise.
4. Scratching
Permission to do research and the hunt for nibbles of ideas. Go with an intention of not stopping until something triggers inside you.
5. Skill
The importance of building skills in order to develop creativity means that sometimes you just need to step outside your comfort zone.
“Success will happen by consistently doing the work of feeding creativity. Not judging the process. Not analyzing but just feeding, the sifting. Basically, experimenting without expectations.” – Patty
What do you think?
Please join me over on the DSS Facebook page for a conversation about the book. Look for Book Club in the events.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
LINKS & RESOURCES
Henri Matisse Apples on a Table Artwork
AME episodes mentioned in this podcast:
My Mini Burnout and How I Plan to Recover: AME 120
The 6 Stages of the Creative Path with Nicholas Wilton: AME 112
Best Practices for Acrylic Paints: AME 091
You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram
Patty Palmer At Home Instagram
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Setting aside time to listen to the audiobook tomorrow! #friyay
Looking for the book today!
This was very helpful. So many talking points resonated…happy to report, I was home under the weather, ie ADHD a bit hampered, so I could sit and listen to my first AME AND work with FIMO for the first time ever to make a Monarch butterfly for a door wreath celebrating their upcoming migration. Just put the book in my amazon cart.
Thank you! Book was important to me a few years ago. Appreciate hearing your takeaways and being reminded of things. I always remember her egg exercise, And contrast my laid back lifestyle to her go go go new York lifestyle!