Innovation, Exploration and Discovery

Originally I had planned on writing about recognizing the difference between exploring and being stuck in extended exploration. This first stage in the creative process involves research and once that is complete, moves on to the incubation phase. As I was exploring on the web, however, I discovered all sorts of great articles and posts on innovation, exploration and discovery. So for today’s post I’m letting you know what I found that was interesting and new on these subjects. There is a wealth of blogs and sites that affirm the need to explore and discover. Being curious seems to be part of human nature. So if you are interested in becoming more innovative, developing new problem-solving skills, or just want to learn to think “outside the box,” check the websites, articles and blog posts I’ve listed below. Next week if I’m still exploring, I’ll address creative blocks, and the art of extended exploration.

First related article on innovation, exploration and discovery was found on the Creativity Post website. In “There is No Such Thing as Failure,” creativity expert and author Michael Michalko essentially says that mistakes can be a good thing.  He cites several examples of failures including those made by the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.  It maintains the theory I used in teaching art, that there are no mistakes, only discoveries.  In art classes, I often used Picasso and Van Gogh as examples of artists who made mistakes.  I would ask, did these artists start their process with the end result in mind? Then, I’d point out the change and differences in their art from the beginning to the end. I’d call attention to what has been recorded as esthetic or academic flaws in these artists' as well as others' art. I gave examples of how these flaws (?) often led to new ways of looking at form and composition, and often changed the way in which we perceive art. Check out this post from the Huffington Post on Michelangelo, and you will be surprised at all the unfinished work and "mistakes" he made!

All my art lessons started with this premise. These observations eliminated the fear of making a mistake while making art and cleared the way for fun and discovery.

Next, I found Science and art share the ‘aha’ moment: lecture kicks off Princeton’s Pi Day elebration. Here, author Nathan Serota writes of the connection between humanities and science.  While teaching, I found that the subjects of math, science and art were often the noisiest times of the day. Why? Because students were busy exploring, thinking and problem solving. In math they were focused on different ways of solving equations and using data. In science it was a scientific method of investigation.  First in defining the problem, then in developing a hypothesis and finally experimenting to prove that hypothesis right or wrong. In art it was developing new ways to express with color, line and form and whether they were able to convey that message clearly. In all three subjects students conversed and collaborated to problem solve as well as learn from each other different ways of looking at their topic.

For information on how artists interpret science along with an exhibit of artists work, visit the Vast and Undetectable Panel Discussion: Visual Languages of Art and Science held at the San Francisco Art Commission Gallery on 3/21/12 at 6 - 7:30 PM, the Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave. room 110B. The exhibit runs throughApril 14 2012.

Visit Bridges Math Art Galleries to view the many possibilities of mathematics in art.

Finally I found several websites that are great for articles on creativity that span across technology, education, activism, psychology, business and so on. The Creativity Post may be something you would like to check out as well as the

Think Jar Collective and

The Huffington Post Arts

Explore the California Arts Council for related articles on art and view

The National Creativity Network

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