Yosemite Range of Light from Shawn Reeder on Vimeo. Here is a clip from cinematographer, Shawn Reeder, featuring one of my all time favorite places in the world, Yosemite Valley, with other shots from the Eastern Sierras, Mono Lake, and Joshua Tree. One of the most important aspects of understanding creativity is seeing the dynamic, ongoing changes happening all […]
Creativity and the Luminous Aesthetic of Photographer, Jonathan Mandel
For quite some time, I had been in need of some head shots. Since I work both as an architectural designer and as a creativity expert, I did not want something that was run of the mill. I wanted something that conveyed the dynamic, interdependent, deeply mysterious nature of creativity that I attempt to illicit […]
Creativity in Everyday Life
I just wanted to share the simple but beautiful image of a pilaster (a decorative column on a wall) and the surrounding brick facade. Taken in Old Oakland, little details like this are reminders of the creative efforts of all the unknown people who have come before us. Bricks have a special place in my […]
What are the links between creativity, karma, and creative insight?
Some time ago, I spent two years living on a Buddhist retreat center along the Central Coast of California. Being an architectural designer (and a third rate carpenter) I was there to rehabilitate the center, which needed a lot of loving care. The place was located on 40 acres at the back of a long […]
Creativity and Photography: The Hauntingly Profound Work of Michael Kenna
I must say, a friend of mine turned me on to the creativity of photographer, Michael Kenna and I just can’t stop looking at his engaging body of work. The contrast of light and darkness, of earth and sky, of the solid and ethereal have left me transfixed and mesmerized. I am amazed at his […]
Excerpt from Austin’s new book, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening
Here is an excerpt from my new book, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening. In it I explore the compelling parallels between the outpouring of creativity in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge’s infamous reputation as the world’s number one suicide destination. It is my opinion […]
Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of “Eat, Pray, Love,” On Nurturing Creativity
This is one of my all time favorite talks on the nature of creativity and creative genius by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the phenomenally successful book, Eat, Pray, Love. The TED talk was filmed over three years ago now but her message is timeless, a return to the mysterious origins of creative insight. I love […]
How to Promote Creativity in Young Children
Children are naturally creative. Yet certain activities encourage that creativity more than others. According to Dr Rebecca Palacios, it is important to encourage creativity in children by presenting them with open-ended materials where their ultimate use is created by the child. Objects with specific functions, however, such as a toy that is designed to illicit […]
You want creativity in your life? You can’t selectively numb emotion
It is my belief that true creativity, creativity that enlivens, inspires, and enriches the lives of everyone around them, most especially the person(s) willing to undertake the creative offering, is based on living from a place of authenticity. In this vein, I love this talk by Dr. Brené Brown as it gets to the core […]
An Amazingly Informative Animation On Creativity and Education
In this amazing animation, Sir Ken Robinson, international leader in creativity, innovation, and education, illustrates the lack of creativity in education based on the lingering paradigm of the Industrial Revolution. Sir Ken Robinson is a gifted speaker and brings to light the creativity crisis through the lens of history, and posits solutions as to what […]