Creativity and Negative Capability

Short PBS video on creativity. The creative process is relevant not only to artists but to anyone who must solve complex problems.

Julie Burstein explains her view on the creative process and negative capability at the beginning of the video:

[Creativity implies] the ability to stay in a space where you don’t exactly know what’s going to happen next. Willing to chase down ideas, and also willing to understand that not all of them will lead somewhere. But knowing that the experience of pursuing an idea will influence the next step.

Each creative person develops his or her own set of tools. The creative impulse is one piece of the process. But at a certain point you have to sit down and do the work. Understanding how to work is a key part to bringing your creativity to a point where you can share it to other people.

“Inspiration is for Amateurs. I just get to work.” (Chuck Close)

(via FarnamStreet)