Limitations Don’t Hamper Creativity…

They build it. I know this runs counter to the conventional wisdom and what most creatives believe. We say things like, “I want creative freedom to do whatever I want.” We see boundaries and constraints as enemies of the creative process, but they aren’t. As a matter of fact, I maintain that limitations and boundaries actually force us to be MORE creative. Some folks will wait to create until the conditions are perfect. Those people will likely never create much for anything. The reason is simple. Perfect is pretty uncommon. Boundaries and limitations are staples to the creative process. Think of the most basic one, the dimensions of your canvas, paper, etc. You can lament the need for a bigger canvas or you can figure out how to do something really cool within the confines of what you have. Limited budgets are another consideration. You have two possible things you can do when your budget is limited. You can either get creative figuring out how to make do with what you have, or you can get creative with how to raise more funds.

Then some of us lament parameters and constraints put on us by the people who are footing the bill, but even this is not a good argument. I can’t speak for you, but there are times where a blank canvas is intimidating. What should I put on it? What should I do? I can create whatever I want to create. I’m just having a hard time figuring out what to create. But now suppose someone says “I want you to paint an elephant.” Is that a limitation? Yes, but there are still an infinite number of ways to create that elephant. You can bring your style to it, your flair. You can create a multitude of poses all the limitation does is helps you to focus your effort. There are still infinite possibilities, you’re just been given a jumping off point. Of course the other side of that is more practical. When we create “whatever we want” we have no idea whether or not anyone else will be interested in purchasing it. While the guy who asked for the elephant will likely pay for the elephant, giving you the resources to create another day.

Bottom line, “Limitations don’t hamper creativity. We do when we wait for every condition to be perfect and see the limitations as insurmountable rather than what they are—stimuli to make us more creative.

Boundaries are you friend, dear artist, embrace them and become even better.