“Sometimes creativity is a compulsion, not an ambition.” Actor Edward Norton (in Entertainment Weekly ew.com), commenting on the documentary “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” (2006) – about a manic-depressive singer. The language we use to ourselves and others about having and pursuing creative talents can have a big impact on our attitudes and motivation. For … Read morePositive Obsessions
Linda Dessau interviews me, Douglas Eby, about some topics in her article “Ten Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist.” From her article : 3. Connect with your MUSE Nurture your relationship with this special inner voice. Listen for its wisdom and carry out its wishes. Daily Practice: Your muse is unique to you, and … Read moreConversation with Douglas Eby by Linda Dessau [audio interview]
“I was kind of a misfit little kid and bullied at school.” – Sara Bareilles Not fitting in with others and feeling weird is a common experience for many of us. A number of artists have found creative work is a way to express their unique personalities and talents, and feel accepted. Singer-songwriter, actress and … Read moreDo you feel like a misfit as a creative person?
Abstract Purpose This article provides an overviews of the concept of racelighting. Racelighting is “is an act of psychological manipulation where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) receive racial messages that lead them to second-guess their lived experiences with racism” Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper articulates four primary ways that racelighting manifests in the lives … Read moreRacelighting Black, Indigenous and People of Color in education: a conceptual framework
Some five hundred years ago, mood disorders were considered to be based on an imbalance in four body “humors” or fluids – yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm. Too much black bile was thought to cause ‘melancholy’ and ‘madness.’ [For more, see the Wikipedia page on Melancholia.] In her article “Clinical Depression Then and … Read moreRethinking Creativity and Depression
It’s a compulsion Toni Collette just wants to be “turned on” as an actor, she notes: “I’ve been doing it [acting] for half my life now and life’s too short to put your energy into something that you don’t believe in, that you don’t find entertaining yourself or doesn’t speak to you in some vivid … Read moreToni Collette on finding meaning in acting
How can being emotionally vulnerable help you be more creative as an actor or other artist? Kerry Washington talks about acting and being vulnerable. “Acting was about really the escapism – it was about loving the idea of being somebody else in some other place and being able to forget about my real life and … Read moreEnhance your creativity – be more emotionally vulnerable and connected
“For an artist, it is a driven pursuit, whether we acknowledge this or not, that endless search for meaning.” Dianne Albin Like passion, meaning is another central element in how we choose which of our talents to develop and express. Finding and making meaning is especially crucial for creative people. Painter Dianne Albin continues, “Each … Read moreMake Meaning To Be More Creative
One movie based on a story by Philip Pullman is “The Golden Compass,” with a talented cast including Dakota Blue Richards (photo), Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman and others. On his site, he addresses a number of questions about his life and work as a writer: Were you encouraged to be creative? No, I was ignored. When … Read morePhilip Pullman on Creative Inspiration: Write to Please Yourself
TATANKA will be an Orchestra Americana As we begin the search to fill many shoes, with the right feet, let us know if you envision yourself in any role, and be sure to tell us WHY your feet should stampede with TATANKA.