We believe in promoting and inspiring creativity through our fashion and original characters, but we also want to know what you think about creativity.
That’s why we’re talking to other creators about the subject and putting up the responses right here on our blog.
We contacted a great group of cartoonists and illustrators to ask what creativity means to them and get an insight into their creative process. Take a look at their responses…
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is KC Green and I currently make and write comics by myself and with a friend. I do the comic Gunshow, write for the comic BACK, and am currently working on an adaptation of the original Pinocchio story.
What does creativity mean to you?
It means trying something you think is different and always being bored so you think of something new.
Describe your creative process
I make myself write in a text document and keep writing and then go back later and find anything funny in there or something that might spark a bigger idea and write on that. I also sometimes have a fully formed joke in my head so I just quickly write that down in the text document.
When are you at your most creative?
When I’m mad but not brooding. Like when you’re just laughing at how insanely awful something or someone is. It’s like on the brink of wanting to give up, of madness, so things just open up and you laugh and I like writing or tweeting when I’m in that mood. It can be kind of destructive too, but I can’t deny that it’s fun when it can be.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
I don’t have one person who is most creative because all my friends and people I admire are creative and weird in certain ways that others or myself aren’t. I always see bits of things I think are amazing and hilarious in everyone I follow or read, even if they always don’t. Everyone is the most creative person in the world.
Twitter: @kcgreenn
Tumblr: midnitesurprise
Who are you and what do you do?
Artist and co-writer of Unshelved, writer of Not Invented Here.
What does creativity mean to you?
I simply am compelled to make things: software, jokes, comics strips, songs, Lego spaceships…I can never go long without creating. For me, at least, it’s a fundamental drive.
Describe your creative process.
I most often begin writing a comic strip by starting a conversation between characters. I very seldom know how it’s going to end. the funny bit just comes to me.
When are you at your most creative?
When I’m far ahead of all me scheduled obligations. I can make stuff when under deadline, but it’s hard for me to think big and expansively when I’m in survival mode.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
I deeply admire many creators. Currently I’m renewing my love affair with giant-brained author Neal Stephenson. My teenage son recently became old enough to appreciate his books, and so I’m reading them (again). I am always astonished at how good science fiction can inform me about the world I live in.
Twitter: @billba
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Chie Kutsuwada and I am a professional manga artist/illustrator.
What does creativity mean to you?
My creativity helps me to digest the reality and also it boosts my communication/social skill.
Describe your creative process?
I don’t think I have a particular process. I make sure I can get a lot of interesting inputs and always let my imagination go wild, but never forget to make notes. I need a lot of thinking time but when I get something, I speed up in creation tremendously.
When are you at your most creative?
On a public transport or while taking a shower.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
My farther. He’s a professional writer/columnist and he’s been writing nice little pieces regularly and continuously more than 40 years. That’s something.
Twitter: @chitanchitan
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Japanese manga artist now living & working in UK. I produce manga strips and illustrations.
What does creativity mean to you?
Throwing questions to the world.
Describe your creative process?
Research & study of whatever a subject beforehand, then let imagination go free. Then cut out any unnecessary parts, finally execute carefully.
When are you at your most creative?
On a train, in a plane, and in a bath.
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
Rumiko Takahashi (creator of Inu Yahsa, Ranma) She’s always at a new project and her influence on Japanese comedy, horror, suspense, love romance, SiFi manga is incredible.
Facebook: facebook.com/InkoDokotei
Who are you and what do you do?
I go by the artist name Pinali and, as you may have guessed, I’m an artist. A comic book artist, more specifically, though I also do illustration, character design, and some graphic design. Demand for comics is a lot higher at the moment, though.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity means the ability to think of something that doesn’t already exist and have an inescapable drive to make it exist.
Describe your creative process?
Since my job involves taking scripts written by other people and translating them into comic form, I’m not actually the one coming up with the base ideas – something I’m pretty thankful for, because I’m terrible at coming up with ideas for plots, characters, dialogue etc by myself. I’m just not that type of creative.
Usually I read the script a bit like it’s the script for a movie or TV show; shots and camera angles will pop up in my head as I read, and I pick the ones that will work best for comic panels. During the actual drawing process, it’s a 50/50 split between technical skill, and intuition.
There’s a lot of intuition in my process, which makes it really difficult to describe: “I don’t know, it just feels right.” I guess that’s how I would describe it. I just do what feels right. If it feels off, I erase and start again until it feels right.
When are you at your most creative?
When there’s no pressure. I tend to be at my most creative when I’m just messing around; drawing goofy things to make my partner or friends laugh, most of the time.
That’s when I really just start drawing in order to share imagery from my mind; it’s another form of communication for me.
I could spend 5 minutes trying to describe it and know that what’s in people’s heads is still probably a bit different from what was in my own… or I could draw it in 2 minutes and know that they are seeing exactly what I wanted to communicate.
Sometimes I come up with absolutely ridiculous, hilarious concepts when I’m with other creative people. I wish I had more spare time to draw them!
Who is the most creative person to you and why?
I think there’s so many creative people in the world that it’s impossible to quantify – like, creativity isn’t a thing you can measure quantities of to compare individuals.
I think everyone is capable of being really creative in some way, it’s just that the area in which someone can be creative is different for each person. So it’s hard to compare.
I’ll just go with some people whose creativity astounds me because I’m not the same “type” of creative: Neil Gaiman, George R R Martin, Philip Pullman. Anyone who can create a world that’s rich and complete despite that world being fictional; that’s incredible to me.
I’ve tried to come up with fantasy worlds and I just draw blanks, so I have the utmost respect for anyone who can do it, and do it convincingly, seamlessly. I guess I’m just more of an artist than a world builder; which is fine! They’re just two different types of creative.
Twitter: @Pinalinet
Tumblr: pinalinet.tumblr.com
