Patricia D. Stokes

153.3/5

22

Perfect

0826178456

9780826178459

Yes

Scholarly & Professional

0.4 in

9 in

9 Oz

6 in

BF408.S78 2005

2005-018663

English

182 Pages

Creativity from Constraints : the Psychology of Breakthrough

2005

Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated

"Stokes's book is well-written, to the point, interesting, and practical. She covers art and the scientific theories but also offers suggestions for stimulating our own creativity. Along the way she discusses architecture, advertising, music, fashion, and literature. Best of all is the insight, well-supported by her research, that we can stimulate creativity through constraint!" -- Mark Runco , PhD, Editor, Creativity Research Journal "Pat Stokes is a highly organized thinker undertaking the Herculean task of codifying the chaos called 'Creativity.' (Tantamount to holding a pint of water in your hand.) Densely packed with convincing examples, her concept that problem-solving and obstacles propel creativity is fed to us step-by-step until we understand how we got where we are." -- Les Richter , Former Creative Director of Ted Bates, and professional potter "Ground-breaking! Dr. Stokes will redefine how we think about creativity. This is the first book to demonstrate clearly the many ways that defining problems, inventing rules, setting boundaries, and creating constraints paradoxically enhance imaginative thinking. A must-read for anyone who believes that creativity is synonymous with 'thinking outside the box' or that artists express themselves freely, without constraint." -- Bert Root-Bernstein , PhD, MacArthur Fellow and author of Sparks of Genius "Meeting Pat Stokes in 2002 was timely. I had just assembled images from my art practice into a digital retrospective, had learned that my early student work contained all the raw elements of my mature work, and was beginning to organize an exhibition inviting other artists to attempt the same exercise. Conversations with Pat not only provided language in which to frame my experience and to mine it more profitably, but also a way to share it with my students. Read in concert with Pat's earlier text on Monet, her questionnaire proved valuable in students' assessments of their own processes in a manner including their entire experience, in an interdisciplinary context. This book is a very useful tool in emphasizing the importance of problem posing in conjunction with problem solving skills, and along the way can enrich approaches to studio critiques."-- Adelheid Mers , Artist and Instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago "In writing about constraints and setting goals, and bringing those goals to successful conclusions or further goal-setting, Dr. Stokes has written a fascinating book giving us insights into the creative process. As a painter/printmaker, much of this hits home and the book has me reviewing my own personal experiences." -- Richard Pantell , Artist and Instructor at the Art Students League, NYC "Using case studies of individuals working in various aspects of the arts, Stokes offers well informed and insightful analysis of the complex phenomenon we call creativity. This survey is a piece of research and exploration that is thorough and engaging." -- John (Andy) Hoogenboom , Printer, Sculptor, and Photographer

Decision-Making & Problem Solving, Creative Ability

Education, Psychology

In this exciting new contribution to the study of creativity, psychologist, artist, and writer Dr. Patricia Stokes delves into the minds of famous creative artists and discovers the surprising source leading to their creative breakthroughs. From Picasso to Stravinsky, Kundera and Chanel to Frank Lloyd Wright, it is not boundary-less creative freedom that inspires new ideas, but self-imposed, well-considered constraints. Monet forced himself to repeatedly paint the way light broke on, between, and around his subjects, contrasting color instead of light and dark, and softening edges in the process. His constraints catapulted the art world from representational to impressionist art. Whatever your creative field--be you an artist, educator, or psychologist who studies creativity and problem solving--Stokes shows you how to think clearly about your creative development and design the vital constraints that will take you to breakthrough., In this exciting new contribution to the study of creativity, psychologist, artist, and writer Dr. Patricia Stokes delves into the minds of famous creative artists and discovers the surprising source leading to their creative breakthroughs. From Picasso to Stravinsky, Kundera to Chanel, to Frank Lloyd Wright, it is not boundary-less creative freedom that inspires new ideas, but self-imposed, well-considered constraints. Monet forced himself to repeatedly paint the way light broke on, between, and around his subjects, contrasting color instead of light and dark, and softening edges in the process. His constraints catapulted the art world from representational to impressionist art. Whatever your creative field-be you an artist, educator, or psychologist who studies creativity and problem solving - Stokes shows you how to think clearly about your creative development and design the vital constraints that will take you to breakthrough., Aims to delve into the minds of famous creative artists and discover the surprising source leading to their creative breakthroughs. From Picasso to Stravinsky, Kundera to Chanel, to Frank Lloyd Wright, it is not boundary-less creative freedom that inspires new ideas, but self-imposed, well-considered constraints., In this exciting new contribution to the psychology of creativity, psychologist, artist, and writer Dr. Patricia D. Stokes explores and dissects the constrained pathways of famous creators such as Monet, Picasso, Stravinsky, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Coco Chanel. Written for psychologists who study creativity and problem quisition and expertise, development and education, this book is also of practical use to researchers and clinicians, the success of whose designs'experimental and clinical'depends on the creative choice of constraints.

Preface The Creativity Problem Constraints and First Choruses Constraints for Creativity in Literature Constraints for Creativity in Art Constraints for Creativity in Fashion Constraints for Creativity in Architecture Constraints for Creativity in Advertising Constraints for Creativity in Music Constraints for Developing Creativity Central Concepts: A Recap References Appendix A: "Working withi Constraints" for Columbia University Students Appendix B: "Working with Constraints for a Group of Students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Index

Textbook

Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated

9780826178459