Many years ago I worked in Tokyo, the first and only foreigner in a well-known and highly-respected firm.
One day, I was chatting with one of the company’s managing directors about innovation.
“The secret” he told me, “is copy-copy-copy-CREATE!”
While enthusiastic folk want to leap directly to CREATE! — and sometimes believe they can — a more sober investigation of creativity suggests many years of dedicated apprenticeship.
A master artist I know bemoans too many art students — encouraged by today’s raft of art teachers in art schools — skipping the hard work involved learning to draw and mix paints, and instantly leaping into “originality.”
“They leave art school and… don’t really know the basics. But you know, it’s hard to get a job in illustration or graphic design if all you are is ‘original’ — and a know-nothing about the craft.”
Apprentices learn their craft, ideally from an accomplished master.
Apprentices copy.
Apprentices copy, copy, copy — and once they’ve mastered their trade — CREATE!
Music — like art — is so rich and varied, we can be apprentices always.
And that — that is the joy in creativity!
