Human creativity is not a spontaneous act! 

Creativity is not about finding something completely new. It is about taking what we already have and using it in new and unexpected ways. This is what makes human creativity so powerful and adaptable.  

While setting up a therapeutic arts and crafts studio back in the early 2000’s, it became clear to me that human creativity is not a spontaneous act that arises from a vacuum. It is inherently a process that builds upon our previous experiences, knowledge and materials. By making connections between these elements, we are constantly making mental connections which lead to new ideas, possibilities and innovations. 

• We are social creatures. We learn and grow from our interactions with others. This includes exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, and giving and receiving feedback. These social interactions can spark new ideas and help us to develop our creative skills.  
• We learn from our experiences. Everything we experience, both positive and negative, shapes our understanding of the world. These experiences provide us with a rich source of material to draw upon when we are being creative.  
• We are surrounded by materials. The world is filled with objects, tools, and ideas that we can use to create new things. These materials provide us with the physical and mental tools we need to express our creativity.  
• Humans are “pattern-seeking” creatures. We are constantly scanning our environment for patterns, and this ability is essential for our survival. The ability to find patterns also allows us to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas – which is the foundation of creativity. 

In essence, creativity is not about starting from scratch. It is about using what we already know and have experienced to come up with new ideas.  

• A musician can draw inspiration from the music they have heard to create new melodies and harmonies. 
• A painter can use colors and textures from their surroundings to create new and exciting visual compositions. 
• A writer can draw on their own experiences and observations to create fictional characters and settings and they can respond to those who have gone before, creating a dialogue through the ages. 
• An inventor can use existing technologies to create new products or solutions to problems.  

The more we know and experience, the more creative we can be.