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Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
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Is Inspiration Killing Creativity?

consumption-design-via vidget.com

“The reality is that it’s easier to be inspired than it is to create an original idea and we are hardwired to take the path of least resistance. It’s easier to jump onto a design inspiration gallery site than it is to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. It’s easier to follow a pattern than it is to test-drive new options. It’s easier to copy a style or idea that works than try something that might miss the mark or outright fail. Above all, it’s cheaper mentally for us to rally around what’s already been done and emulate it…”

The above excerpt is from a brilliant post by Owen over at Viget.com. Well worth the read. Do it.

Personally, I couldn’t agree more. How much time is the right amount to stroll thru galleries, troll creative sites, and watch online videos?

And what about you?
Are you too busy getting inspired by the work of others to create your own?
Do you read about the failures of others, so you don’t have to try?
Is the convenience of information actually reducing your willingness to struggle to make something worthwhile?

[stumbled on this via my pal @pixelatedimage]

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81 replies on:
Is Inspiration Killing Creativity?

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  1. Pingback: being inspired « sputnik scribbles
  2. Lee says:
    August 28, 2010 at 10:24 am

    The Catch 22 is that most of the people reading this, (who are truthful) visit your blog/web site Chase because you inspire them!?! Most “Creatives” (I know) are inspired by most everything around them in one way or another. The difference is the moment inspiration strikes they passionately bring that vision/inspiration to life. What we are talking about here is knowing when inspiration hits how (and when) to move on to doing inspiring things…

    Maybe some of the Creative’s here will find this of interest – this Blog post I came across “In my world, Creative is a Noun…” http://www.izeondesign.com/in-my-world-creative-is-a-noun/113/08/12/2010

  3. Pingback: Jasmine Star @ CreativeLive | Daniel Caro, Blog. Fotografía: De Estilo. De Vida.
  4. joy says:
    August 22, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    abso-fing-loutely. I have actually been in the process this year of slowly diluting my blog/website/stumbleupon/internet consumption. In the beginning of my interest in photography it was beneficial, essential even, to consume what was necessary (which was almost everything) in order for me to learn and grow as quickly as I possibly could creatively. Now? Not so much. The occasional kick in the arse that inspiration provides for me now is often my greatest downfall. There are the constant comparisons (positive and negative which carry weighty consequences in either direction), the wasted time and energy (that could have been used to create something amazing) and the back pain…from sitting on my tush doing,absolutely.nothing.

    do i miss out on competitions (that I probably wouldn’t win anyway) because i wasn’t following every second of someone’s blog? sure.

    but I’m a heck of a lot more creatively satisfied.

  5. tony sweet says:
    August 21, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Look, it’s real simple.
    Inspiration is for amateurs. Professionals deliver.
    I can count the times I’ve gotten truly inspired and more importantly, motivated by inspiration on one hand.
    Nothing replaces hard work and persistence. The end.
    There are no secret handshakes, secret shortcuts, or secret potions.
    Inspiration is not killing anything. Sitting on one’s duff waiting for it, like buying lottery tickets hoping to win
    a retirement fund, is killing creativity.

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