Creativity can happen anywhere, in any kind of environment. Mobile, stationary, collaborative, barely conscious, secluded, etc. By the time that an artist has accomplished a few creative projects, he or she probably has a good sense of what sort of environment is conducive to their own particular creative process.
Should we keep our creative spaces orderly?
In one small study in 2013, researchers found that people in an environment of disorder were more creative (in coming up with new uses for ping pong balls). The researchers preferred the following explanation: “[C]ues of disorder can produce creativity because they inspire breaking free of convention.” And also, the researchers explained that “[b]eing creative is aided by breaking away from tradition, order, and convention [citations omitted], and a disorderly environment seems to help people do just that.”
We shouldn’t argue with science, of course. But might there be some downside to doing creative work in a disheveled environment?
In a 2016 study, the researchers apparently confirmed what many already know: our ability to give focused attention to something is lessened when our “visual cortex” must complete with other items. Let me attempt a translation: clutter distracts us.
Somewhere I once read a description of a very successful artist’s creative work space. A large family family room in which the artist created in one small area in the corner–by necessity, because the rest of the room was completely filled with items related to or resulting from her work. Not in a good way. In a hoarding way. Little pathways to and from the actual creative space. The reporter of this scene was shocked at the sight.
Artists each develop their own level of comfort in the spaces in which they regularly create. Yet, artists probably are exactly the kind of folks that do not need “cues of disorder” to inspire their creativity.
Besides, tidying up can a meditative practice.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Copyright 2019 Justin Stark
