I’ve been thinking about the relationship between creativity and chaos for quite some time. What is the connection between the two. Here are some questions:

1. What is chaos?

2. Is chaos negative?

3. How deep into chaos can a person go and still rise up with creative outcomes?

4. Can a person effectively avoid chaos and still be creatively productive?

Those are too many questions to answer now. (aren’t you glad?) Briefly, however, I think we all have our own definition of chaos as well as level at which we identify or tolerate it. I remember working with preschoolers who were creating, learning and have a wonderful time. While I thought things were great, the teacher next door thought my classroom was chaotic. Perhaps some chaos is labeled as such due to a lack of understanding and/or tolerance.

We know there are different types of chaos that affect the artist. I would certainly agree that external chaos as well as personal chaos exists. While we often have little control over external chaos, our attitude toward it and how we allow it to effect us, IS more in our control. Usually the only thing we can change is ourselves and our attitudes.

I think that artists and other creative individuals may purposely create their own chaos. While I definitely agree with the theories that talk about the insight that comes from quiet calmness, other theories note that out of chaos comes innovation. Innovation, however, only comes out of chaos if we act upon the disorder. If we become a victim of chaos, nothing good comes.

An example of my self inflicted chaos comes from having many different things going at the same time. Giving my art form multiple dimensions leads to some degree of chaos. This picture just looks like clutter, but it’s also a sample of many things happening at once. There’s sewing to be completed, sheet metal that is set for measuring and cutting, handmade flowers and completed jewelry pieces that are ready to go out for sale, a bead tray set for project completion, etc. If this isn’t enough to drive you crazy, let me say that this is only one corner of my four corner studio and you DO NOT want me to open those closet doors!

My studio remains in this condition for several days while ideas fall into place. A flower that gets pushed over against a group of beads can lead to a combinatory productive idea. A quick glance at finished pieces of jewelry may show me that I’m in a color rut. A color combination in a piece of fabric can lead to a new idea for a necklace. These ideas arise out of the chaos. If, however, I don’t try them, the chaos is not productive.

Chaos builds tension for me. I can only stand it for so long and then it starts to really bother me. Yet, the most productive period is just before that tension becomes too much. The trick is to figure out when I’m about to reach that tipping point and alleviate the chaos at the right time. I reached that point yesterday and the pictured corner is in order today.

I still have many unanswered questions about creativity and chaos, but currently, I believe a little chaos in my life is a good thing. Whether or not it yields something creative is entirely in my hands.