The Silk Road to Harnessing Creativity
I find inspiration in many places; I pay attention to a lot of details whether that is flowers, paintings or pictures I see online. I often start by finding fragments of work or ideas that inspire me or simply by thinking of something that I would like for myself or someone else, I think about the project and the process of getting this done, I prototype, think some more about the design and the process, prototype until I achieve what I want.
However, I often feel like I am not making progress in my work.
Understanding this feeling of discouragement is part of the process and has made me a better maker and a better designer. I remind myself this when a project feels like it is going nowhere; to keep going and to believe in the process. I initially questioned finishing this piece (took months to finish this--thanks Chithra for encoraging me to finish this piece) for example, but I finished it and now you are reading it. Yay!
My biggest take away is to follow through with my project ideas even when in doubt. Whether this is by making a 5-minute prototype or making a full piece. Whether something works out or not, what matters to me is putting my ideas to the test.
Some of my most successful designs and pieces, I doubted ever making and have put down on the table after starting for a few weeks or months. I respect this process, if I am not feeling an idea or a project, I let it rest. Until I am in the right mindset. But I try to not wait for too long; also known as procrastinating.
A lot of my creative development depends on me not being afraid to play with my ideas and the possibility of ending up with a piece I don't like.
I have learned that if you want to create or innovate, you cannot let the fear of not succeeding paralyze you. You just have to push a little more.
“Jewelry teaching assistant Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza '19 begins working on her latest creation in the Claflin Jewelry Studio” —Dartmouth News
Photo c/o Robert Gill