The Power of Creative Vision

Never underestimate the power of your creative vision. Creative vision is the ability to envision something in whole or in part that does not yet exist. As a creative person you have been given an inherent ability to look at an empty canvas and envision that space filled to fullness. You see beauty where others see only the ordinary. You can look at a beat up chair at a yard sale and envision it fully rejuvenated to serve an even greater purpose than it was built for.

You possess passion in expressing color, texture, life and energy just by speaking your creative vision. This is a gift that many times will cause people to respond in arrant awe. It flows out of you so naturally because it's a connected part of who you are. It has always been present in your reality.

Vincent Van Gogh sold one painting while he was alive. Van Gogh's finest works were produced in less than three years. That is a remarkable fact about Van Gogh as an artist. It wasn't until after his death that his creative vision was recognized giving fame to the priceless works we are familiar with today. The lack of sales during his lifetime did not lessen his vigor to express his creative vision. In 1990 his painting entitled "Portrait of Dr.Gachet" sold for $127 million dollars to Christie's, New York.  Van Gogh's biography says;  "He was determined to give happiness by creating beauty." What a wonderful and often lacking conviction in our modern culture today.

I gravitate towards creative vision that is not focused on producing a product for financial gain as the goal. I am partial to pure inspiration as the prevailing influence with the focus being placed on creative expression. Financial gain may become the end result of the latter but it need not be the prime motivator. The focus should be narrow and deliberately pure. Even though creative vision is not limited to the arts, the idea of untethered expression works best within the arts. A medium that invites appreciation more than a required function.

I believe there is a distinguishing difference between highly skilled and highly creative. I will not argue that the combination of the two can produce extraordinary results. Dale Chihuly is one example of an artist that illustrates this point. His work in glass blowing bursts with intense colors that encompass large-scale, breathtaking sculptures. He is best known for entwining his glass creations with nature. His creative vision has revolutionized the studio glass movement.

Just as the world needs skilled architects, auto mechanics, carpenters and pilots, we are in desperate need of those gifted few who carry in their soul creative vision. Expressing their vision for the creations sake not solely focused on profit. Creation that enriches our lives and causes us to stand in awe as we are overcome with exhilaration. As it was for Vincent Van Gogh, not all creative vision is meant to be immediately embraced. It can bestow upon us eyes to see what we could have never envisioned on our own, tempered by patience allowing the world to catch up. That's called being ahead of your time.

The world desperately needs creative vision determined to give happiness by creating beauty. Now more than ever, in a time when we trade counterfeit happiness as if it were gold. Selling shallow and fleeting beauty to the highest bidder. It is my deepest desire that you never underestimate the power of your own creative vision. But rather that you pour out your gifts with vibrant and unbridled passion. We're all counting on it.

"I could have told you Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you"
Don McLean

Listen to Don McLean's song Vincent    Read Seth Godin "Art That's Not For Sale"

Comments

[eddie]

Why do we need creative vision? Creation is the impulse behind all of the arts thru history. It's drama and beauty inspires and raises the higher self in us all.
Art is a language of cultures. What moves us? What are the signposts of cultural heritage. What's inspiring? A painting by Van Gogh (as illustrated by Ray) , a monumental architectural masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright or a cathedral in Europe, a Dali or Beethoven's ninth, The 'Call of the Wild' or 'Poems of Rumi'.
Beyond basic necessities of life there is one over arching need in man. The need to convey and preserve the artifacts of his greater self. His highest ideals, his triumph of the spirit. This is the food and blood of all cultures. The heiroglyphics of continuity. The preservation of the nobility of civilization.

During the retreat of the Germans across Europe as WWll was drawing to a close, a field commander,in direct contradiction to Hitlers orders to loot all masterpieces , spirited away some of the great Italian masterpieces stolen by his soldiers. He left them behind to be found in their country of origin. Why? Why did he feel so strongly that these artifacts should remain with their rightful owners in their native country? What moved this officer to disobey orders and risk his life over some canvas ,wooden strips and paint. The answer is in the telling of the story.
Surrounded by the horror of war, reduced to the most base part of his nature, amid the destruction of Europe, a mans heart and spirit,his higher self, rose above to do what he deemed was his moral imperative. This is the power of art, art that could never be without the harnessing of the creative spirit that resides in us all.
However you use it, however you manifest your creative vision and in whatever venue large or small...do so...it's a valuable gift to yourself and to the collective spirit us all.

[mrbesilly]

Well said Eddie. Your comment ads real depth to the subject here. Bravo Sir!

[Thea Westra]

Now that's very weird. After not hearing or being reminded of the song for many years, suddenly within 15 mins. online, I am led to the song "Vincent". :)
Must be a gift in there for me somewhere. Best read the lyrics again, slowly.
Saw Don McLean live at The Palais in St Kilda, Australia, many moons ago, and was in Holland just last year.
Namaste,
Thea

[Lora]

Years a go I was helping high school students make web pages for their English class. I felt it would break up the boredom of writing yet another paper for class. What I found blew me away. Straight A students found the assignment difficult and whined. While the D, F students rocked the house. It really made me think hard about how students are taught.

Creative people are great problem solvers because they see outside of the dotted line.