BACK TO BASICS: Noticing/wondering/being curious about…
*TEXTURE*
“Curiosity fuels creativity.
If you can notice and wonder, you can create.”
Pat Zietlow Miller
I know that you’ll all already know what ‘texture’ is, but I decided to start this week’s email with a simple definition. Why? Because it got me thinking!
TEXTURE, noun:
the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance.
We usually associate ‘texture’ with ‘touch’ - the feel of something. But it can equally be about appearance, which I found interesting.
In my notes which I wrote when planning this month’s Weekly Wonders, for this week I wrote ‘blind touch, visual texture’, which pretty much says the same thing!
We can feel texture, but we can see it too.
So this week I’d like you to do both!
Creative Thinking Prompts (w/c 17 June 2024)
1.
Try, at certain appropriate moments in your week, to close your eyes and just touch an object. Trace your fingers around its shape and surface, and feel for the changes in texture.
It could be your coffee cup, a pencil case, your chair, a cushion, a piece of fruit, or even the keyboard of your computer! Texture is everywhere!
Question if there is a reason for the changes of texture, e.g. my water bottle has sections on the side which are slightly bumpy. Why? To help with the grip I presume. There may be logical reasons like this one, or perhaps they are more aesthetic?
By forcing ourselves to use a different mode than our eyes, we are activating new parts of our brains, creating new neural pathways. This is exactly what we need to do in order to increase our creativity and make creative thinking easier and quicker when we need to utilise it.
In a study in 2022 which focused on “The Creative Touch”, researchers concluded that:
“participants who actively touch objects generate more creative outcomes and engage in more creative analogical thinking than those who do not touch the objects.”
So use those hands this week everyone! And then….
2.
Try to notice texture with your eyes.
This is possibly easier in nature - tree bark, smooth leaves, gravelly soil, or furry moss - but try and also notice texture on man-made objects around your house. What impact does a variety of textures have on us when we walk into a room?
From an interior design point of view, this is an important factor to think about when choosing finishes and accessories. If you have a room with all one texture, there is less interest. More texture adds depth, and homeliness - it is more inviting and ‘cosy’. With a neutral interior scheme, texture is crucial in avoiding a very bland-looking space.
“Creating texture is not simply about how decor and soft furnishings feel, but it’s also about ‘visual texture’ – using different materials to add interest and breathe life into a room.” WeDezine
We live in a three-dimensional world, and texture plays a big part in our enjoyment of it. When we are creative it is also important to account for our innate attraction to layers and textures, depth and contrast. And this can be for both practical and aesthetic reasons.
Even when you think about your business and need to work creatively on it, thinking about what you’re doing in terms of adding depth, layers and texture is a great way to go deeper into the meaning of what you’re doing. For example, the different levels of work you offer provides a variety of ‘touchpoints’, some going ‘deeper’ than others. Variety and texture in this respect is a great thing for your business.
I found these textural images online in an article about texture in interior design. You can read more here.
As ever with these weekly topics, there is SO much more I could say, but these emails are just prompts to get you thinking, and activating those creative muscles…
👆
A very experimental photo of me touching and hiding behind reeded glass taken this week at Passion & Purpose Club with the lovely Karen! Thought it represented this email quite well!
P.S. LAST CHANCE to get your ticket for our INSPIRATION DAY in Saltaire on 5 July. I need everyone to book by Wednesday 26 June if possible - and let me know any dietary requirements!
You can book your ticket here and don't forget to use code WONDERCLUB to get your £15 discount.
“Wonder makes us more creative and more desirous of studying the world around us. It makes us humble, less materialistic, more generous, and better community members… Wonder makes us less stressed and feel like we have more time… Wonder quite simply makes us want to be better, more tolerant people.”(Parker, 2023)
