Spark - How does creativity work?

How did Richard Ford‘s childhood cat influence his novel? How were Chuck Close‘s paintings influenced by his inability to remember faces? What pivotal moment helped Rosanne Cash understand the healing power of the stage? Creativity is an elusive subject; we enjoy its fruits: movies, novels, paintings, songs—but we are rarely privy to what happens during the creative process. In Spark, Julie Berstein traces the roots of some of the most influential thinkers and creators of the 21st century, including Joyce Carol Oates, Yo-Yo Ma, David Milch, Isabel Allende, and Joshua Redman. Berstein uncovers the sources of these artists‘ inspirations and the processes that bring their work to life. "These artists may not have changed lead into gold," Berstein writes. "But they lifted objects from their familiar contexts, combined them, reshaped them, and transformed them into works of art that change the way we see the world." Spark is an invaluable resource for the aspiring writer and artist, but the need to create extends beyond the world of paintbrushes and typewriters; Creativity is an integral part of work, parenting, education, science, and perhaps most influential in our personal relationships. Creativity books rarely illuminate and inspire; but this wonderful book will inspire you and help you find your own spark. Al-Obeikan Publishing