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Never run out of ideas again: Book tips on creativity

Update


Let's start with some news: I've won a competition! For a page of an art calendar, the proceeds of which will go to a women's refuge. I'm very happy that I can once again do something good with my work. You can find more information here and I will of course let you know as soon as the sale starts :)

Screenshot der Website von Aristanet
I am part of it! For the 2026 charity art calendar

I'm currently back in the studio painting new pictures – even bigger ones! As I'm working on several at the same time, as usual, so that they influence and advance each other, it will still be a while before I can show you something finished. Here's just a little sneak peak:


Some snatshots and close-ups of work in progress - paintings by Jeanette Bohn

I'm continuing with HaBits, because I still can't let go of the subject. How could I – I recently tried to go without a smartphone for a weekend and quickly reached the limits of what was possible. Even if I celebrate my small achievements – like reading books again on train journeys instead of looking at a screen – I'm still part of this digital society and wouldn't want to miss out on its benefits. It's all a process – a dance.

 

Speaking of books: there are a few books about creativity and creative processes that have had a lasting impact on me. I would like to introduce some of them here. I believe that they can be useful not only for artists and designers, but for anyone who wants to find new ideas and realise creative projects in any form.

 

Of course, this only applies if you want to get involved. I can only speak for myself, but the fun comes when I solve problems, when I approach a solution bit by bit. It's hard work, but it's fulfilling.


The Creative Habit (Twyla Tharp)

A picture of the book "The Creative Habit" on an e-reader

In this book, ballet choreographer Twyla Tharp writes about how to create the right conditions to live a creative life.

 

She presents countless techniques and exercises in the book. In addition to practical tips and habits that help in the creative process, she also addresses emotional aspects. How can you overcome fears or cope with loneliness while trying to be creative? How do you find your own "creative DNA"? How do you start a creative process well prepared?

 

I can't possibly name all the strategies here. But perhaps an extract: It's about mindfulness. It's about walking through the world with open eyes, seeing things that others might miss. I think about it often when I find something curious or beautiful along the way, inspirations from the side of the road, so to speak – little pieces of the puzzle for future works.

 

What particularly impressed me about the book was the discipline with which Mrs Tharp goes through life and keeps herself fit even in old age with lots of training so that she can continue to dance and choreograph. I therefore find not only the book but also her as a person very inspiring.


Nea Machina: Die Kreativmaschine [The creative machine] (Thomas & Martin Poschauko)


A picture of the book "Die Kreativmaschine"

If it were necessary to prove that it's not one technique alone that can deliver the most creative results, but rather a combination of many – this book would be the answer. The book goes far beyond theory. In countless examples, the authors show how they use the interplay between head, gut, hand and computer to create very novel, unseen results, surprising themselves again and again.

 

The message is this: Design becomes innovative when we don't just rely on our cognitive power and our digital tools, but mix them with analogue techniques. On the one hand, more unpredictable things happen with real materials and the haptics allow our hands to intuitively find different solutions. On the other hand, digital tools offer other possibilities for further work, remixing and manipulation. So why not play with it and switch back and forth between the different worlds?

 

A picture of a double spread page of "Die Kreativmaschine" to give an example of its content

 

Flicking through the pages always gives me a huge desire to experiment and create. At the moment, I usually only use digital methods when I'm unsure how to proceed with a painting. Then I sometimes take a photo and test the next steps on the iPad before returning to the canvas – with different results again, of course. A more far-reaching option would be to follow up on the digital edits and develop independent works from them – using all the tools that the programmes have to offer.

 

Echtzeit: Die Kunst, intuitiv zu denken [Real time: the art of thinking intuitively] (Michael Matthiass)


A picture of the book "Echtzeit"

I recently read this book. Michael Matthiass has a background in advertising and knows how difficult it is to develop outstanding ideas. He deals with where flashes of inspiration come from and how to recognise whether an idea, a concept, a film etc. is good.

 

Broken down to its essence, the process of brainstorming is something like this: we have to formulate the core of a problem precisely so that our “slow thinking” can work on a solution in the background. This is the launch pad for all ideas. Then we let the thoughts flow. In the subsequent evaluation phase, we need to trust our gut feeling: Because we intuitively realise whether something will work, even if we may not yet rationally know why.

 

The author breaks down these cognitive processes step by step and leaves you with the feeling that we can all do this, that it is not the privilege of a handful of creative people – as long as you take the right steps and learn to trust your intuition.


A picture of a double spread page of "Echtzeit" to give an example of its content

 

Combined


In my opinion, all these contents complement each other perfectly: the preparation and framework conditions, the practical work with various tools and the cognitive-intuitive strategies. One book often explains a theoretical aspect of a practical exercise from another. And the result is an overall picture of how creativity works.

 

More?


A picture of the books "Doom & bloom" and "The Work of Art"

I'm currently reading two more books that I'm expecting a lot from: one is ‘Doom & Bloom’ by Campbell Walker (Struthless). It's about how we can still find creativity in a world that threatens to overwhelm us with bad news and developments. I'm very excited! It is beautifully designed and an aspect that has not yet been explicitly discussed in the books above.

 

A picture of a double spread page of "Doom & Bloom" to give an example of its content

On the other hand, "The Work of Art" by Adam Moss is a recent arrival. He is interested in creativity as an experience – the initial approaches, the concerns and frustrations, the triumphant feeling at the end of a process. In this very comprehensive book, he interviews creative people of all kinds, shows sketches and notes, half-baked and discarded works and is much more interested in the journey than the destination.


A picture of a double spread page of "The work of art" to give an example of its content

 

I wish you a creative summer!


A photo of all 5 books together

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