Do you engage in a creative practice outside your main art form? If so, how does that practice inform your work? Or does it? Is there something else you’ve longed to try? What do you do to stretch your creative muscles? What can you do that will keep your vision fresh?

For me it’s iPhone photography. These are pics shot and edited with my iPhone 3G for the iPhone photography class I’m taking. I’m having a blast with the class and learning tons. It’s very technical and my mind doesn’t grok technical easily. I’m a complete newbie to using any kind of camera. But I’ve always been fascinated with photos that aren’t your typical family vacation/reunion photos.

It’s a creative practice that takes me beyond my comfort zone and helps me notice smaller moments. Photographic moments. Split second sightings full of story, mood, environment, character. And it’s begun to seep into my directing. I noticed it last night when we worked moment by moment through a scene in Hedda Gabler. My awareness was heightened and I began to see tiny glances, body angles, gestures as if they were full and complete stories unto themselves. If someone snapped a photo the moment Hedda glances at Thea and says, “Oh, yes. Bravery. If only one had that, …” If her glance were caught frozen in time and perfectly still within a snapshot, that photo could reveal the entire play.

Still not convinced an excursion beyond your primary art form is worth the time or effort? Here are a few excellent reasons for taking a trip outside your creative comfort zone:

1. To have fun.
2. To try something new.
3. To stay fresh.
4. To learn.
5. To see through someone else’s eyes.
6. To take notice of what you haven’t noticed before.
7. To stretch yourself.
8. To express some as yet unidentified thing that is calling to be expressed.
9. To satisfy that little voice inside that says, “Ooooh! Look at that. Capture that. Let’s play with that.”
10. To consider the world from a different angle.
11. And – to have an excuse to go for a walk and explore.

Tags: Art, Creative Process, Creativity, Inspiration