Siena professor studies creativity

Dr. Patricia Trutty-Coohill, a professor of art history at Siena College in Loudonville, recently spoke at the Lateran University in Rome , Italy , as part of a symposium on creativity.

A Leonardo da Vinci scholar by trade, Dr. Trutty-Coohill has done significant work in following the development of his "brain-storming drawings," which were often sketched circles and bare ideas that led to finished paintings.

"You see how, from what seems like chaos, comes the most beautiful Madonna and Child ever done," she said. "He works it out as he goes along. It's not pre-conceived. There are all different ways of being creative, a million ways of doing it."

Creation

While Leonardo "lived to be creative," Prof. Trutty-Coohill said, when he trained art students, he began in the most traditional way: copying paintings of the masters.

When he wanted those students to make something new, however, he would have them look at stains on a wall.

When Siena professors teach creativity, she said, they will often have students make dozens of different designs before they exhaust all the conscious ideas and "really get somewhere new -- into a new level of creativity."

Mystery

For thoughts on creativity, the professor often looks to artists like Leonardo, because they "are the ones who give evidence as to what creativity is."

Dr. Trutty-Coohill believes that creativity -- and creation -- "is a much greater mystery than we think and one we may not be able to figure out. If artists can do things so differently, can create in many, many ways, what can God do?"

The world, she added, "is always evolving into a new place. It was built on what was, and it is going beyond what it was. Artists are really good at going beyond their pasts and creating in the present.

"When you really hit something that's creative, that's a whole new level of awareness, that's when you feel alive and connected with everything. If you wanted to speak in religious terms, you could say [you were] in touch with God."

(12/13/06) [[In-content Ad]]