Ingenious genius

Ladies and Gentlethings, I bow to the divine in you. 'Yikes, what is that?' you might well exclaim. It is (in my humble, unlearned opinion) your ability to create – to make something new from something old, to manifest – almost as if by magic – something new and beautiful…or hideous and irrelevant (as the case may be).

Recently scientists have begun to second what your mother always knew – everyone has the potential to be creative. It's there in you – all it needs is watering twice a day, manure and yes, someone to love it. In other words – the most creative people are in fact the people who are working hardest at it. And like exercise, the more you work at being creative the better your muscles and mind will perform. Like a well oiled machine, your creativity will always be ready and willing to serve.

This idea challenges some of society's most dearly beloved ideas of creative people. Having to work hard at something implies that creative people might be responsible and reliable (yes, really). In fact, when the Mirror Magazine cornered some unsuspecting innocents, we realised that occassionally, being creative on demand could literally be a matter of life and death. Meeting deadlines, satisfying crochety customers and taking that perfect picture (before your million rupee model stalks away) makes steely self discipline a bare neccessity.

As for that creative flash – you know like the one that the 'eureka!' dude had in the bathtub? Well, it turns out that there really isn't any magic there. Instead, its simply your brain using everyday thinking patterns to slowly gnaw away at a problem. The 'flash' just seems so wonderful because it happens when you're not expecting it or trying too hard. As always there's a simple explanation – when you stop hounding yourself to find a solution to a problem and instead try doing something unrelated, you activate different areas in your brain. The result? Say it with me now – the 'flash!'

Creative people have tons of ideas – most of which are completely unworkable. It's almost like sifting for gold, and it's definitely that much hard work. And as in the case of all hard work, you can always use a little help. Keeping a watchful eye on the world in general and on your field in particular can pay rich dividends. Everywhere inspiration lies in wait. Remember talking shop with people from entirely unrelated fields can lead to that staggering leap of imagination that provides a startling answer to a tough problem.

The creative process appears on the surface to be a simple one – first comes the idea, then comes the evaluvation and finally we have the execution. If it doesn't work, it's back to square one and the next roll of the dice. However, what the disinterested oberver might not see is the amount of raw courage and dogged determination that is required. A creative person will take risk after risk and probably make lots of mistakes. Work hard, say the experts and take frequent breaks, but stay with it over time. In the end, it seems mere common sense to do what you love. But before you can do that, a little self love is essential. Be willing to believe in yourself and your ability to create something amazing…but don't expect it to be easy.

In an attempt to nail down this wonderful quality, the Mirror Magazine hunted down several 'creative' people. Having sold our souls for numbers and email addresses, surfed dodgy websites boasting intense poetry, wrestled with fax machines and malfunctioning phones – we can only hope you will enjoy the little peek we are offering into the creaking, cranky, shiny, sparkly creative mind. Take a look, but be warned that the management is not responsible for what you may find.

Of things unexplained
Name: Alefiya Akbarally
Describe yourself: Mosaic Artist and photographer
When are you most creative? I guess I am most creative when I see something inspiring, art, architecture, a painting, anything which sparks off something I can't quite explain.
What's your choice of stimulus? Kandos Chocolate orange, and some handpicked music.
The secret to being creative? Nurture and Nature. I do think that you are somewhat born with it... and it’s partly how it has been encouraged and nurtured through the years.
Your creative masterpiece?
This is for others to judge!

Up his sleeve
Name: Sean Amarasekera
Describe yourself: Medical Professional, Musician, Thespian, Voice Artist… An Extroverted Aries!
When are you most creative? On waking up… maybe creativity lurks in the subconscious, like trying to remember a good dream…
What's your choice of stimulus? Coffee-coffee-coffee! (Said like Lorelei Gilmore J) and music… from Floyd to Radiohead, Rachmaninov to Phantom of the Opera
The secret to being creative? Feeding off others creativity. Hardly anyone one creates 'De Novo.' I think we're all inspired by what has gone before…or in other words "Creativity is the ability to steal…Talent is the ability to steal without anyone noticing…Genius IS Ability (without needing to steal)."
Your creative masterpiece? I suppose some of the music I'm working on right now gives me personal satisfaction, but in the words of John Mayer "I'd like to think the best of me is still hidden up my sleeve.”

With pencil and paper
Name: Tara Kumarasinghe
Describe yourself: An imposter. I shouldn't even be included in this article! A freak chance, coupled with a divine light, a pencil and a paper... (A playwright in other words)
When are you most creative? When I am supposed to be doing something else!
What's your choice of stimulus? A deadline or a target. I always do better if I am working towards something.
The secret to being creative? There is no secret. I think everyone is creative. (Some are just misunderstood!) I don't think anyone can comfortably say 'He is as creative as a brick.' Even a brick is creative. It's got colour, dimensions, texture. It's a perspective.
Name your creative masterpiece? The Colour That Came and Went. Sadly I put too much faith in my computer. Unless it's buried at the bottom of someone's inbox, or missed getting deleted in someone's trash, there is no surviving copy!!

Quiet time
Name: Sonali White
Describe Yourself: I see beauty and art in all forms of life, and like painting, designing, decorating and anything to do with art; though primarily most of my energies are channelled towards designing.
When are you most creative? There is no particular time of the day, though I find I go through stages of being creative and not.
What's your choice of stimulus? Quiet time.
The secret to being creative? I think it is in the ability or the willingness to see beauty in the world around us. The attention to detail in every form of life and substance that surrounds us, and to be able to put it across in an awe inspiring way.
Your creative masterpiece? There are many – especially my drawings and abstract designs and paintings. At work I would say mostly the one of a kind items we turn out that look like works of art.
Any reflections of creativity: I think some people are born with it and the rest cultivate it as they go along.

No lazing around
Name: Timothy Seneviratne
Describe yourself: Film-maker, photographer, children's author, musician and social worker.
When are you most creative? Late in the night. Starting around 11-12 and going on till morning.
What's your choice of stimulus? 'Herbal' tea and fruits
The secret to being creative?
Just don't think like everyone else.
Your creative masterpiece? It's not done yet. I think an installation of black and white nudes I'm working on now might be it...
Any reflections on creativity: There's creativity in every person. You just have to work to get it out. There are people who say they don't have a creative bone in them... they're just being lazy.

On expression
Name: Suresh De Silva
Describe yourself: I am a charming, semi-eccentric, perseverant, uncompromising person who is a musician, vocalist, lyricist, writer, poet, an advertising creative writer, marketer, student… I've also decided that I am going to start my painting again. An architect of the arts… might be a suffice summary.
When are you most creative? No time really, I follow the scent of my muse whenever I am inspired.
What's your choice of stimulus? Pain, passion and pleasure (be it emotional, spiritual, psychological or physical).
The secret to being creative? The secret to being creative is to integrate what you feel with all the ideas and visual amalgamations rushing in your head, so you filter, anticipate, identify and do your best to create something that expresses it.
Name your creative masterpiece: The new compositions for the next Stigmata album are sounding incredible. Brutal, yet melodic, deeply mellow yet melancholic, progressive yet accessible and though there's still so much work to go in and a lot to look into…I would have to say with the efforts bled by all five of us we will make the next record sound absolutely HUGE.
Any reflections on creativity that you might care to make: What you feel is what you dare to explore, experiment and create… don't ever be ashamed of your creativity or creation. Go the distance and don't be intimidated to think out of the box and shed your creative skin. Be inspired by someone or something…not influenced by it. So go create…and spit convention in its pretty, prosthetic face.

Always the new
Name: Eshantha J. Peiris
Describe yourself: Classical/jazz composer
When are you most creative? While travelling (walking, in public transport etc.)
What's your choice of stimulus? I don't choose my creative stimuli.
The secret to being creative? Having a valid personal reason and necessity to create something new.
Your creative masterpiece? I haven't created it yet.
Any reflections on creativity: A society is reflected in the creativity of its time. Creative entities influence the society at large. As such, both parties have a responsibility to feed-off of and guide the paths of each other.