Dr Cathryn Lloyd believes that creativity is our greatest natural resource and is at the heart of being human. Cathryn caught up with photojournalist, Colin Bushell about her book, Seriously Playful Creativity: An A-Z of Creative Action and Reflection.

In the opening line of Seriously Playful Creativity, Dr. Cathryn Lloyd states, ‘The magical, curious world of creativity can be intoxicatingly palpable and elusively slippery’. It’s an identifier that Cathryn returns to, but never with a sense that it is a constraint. In fact, rather than indicating that creativity is something that’s out of reach, this is a book that offers a limitless sense of creative playfulness for all. Whether you are an enthusiastic but artistically impeded aspirant, or an experienced creative whose river of ideas has run dry, Seriously Playful Creativity is a soaring, spirited read.

“The book tackles the type of scenarios that anyone taking a creative path may go down,” Cathryn said. “Four years ago, I started to think, ‘what is creativity?’ I explored concepts and experience, and looked closely at what helps and what hinders creativity. I started journaling ideas, kept notebooks and began considering what a cohesive format would look like that was useful to me, and then useful to other people.”

As Covid-19 began to change the landscape of the world in 2020, Cathryn saw it as a catalyst to bring the ideas into something tangible. “I’d been given a gift of time to focus and began the process of curating the ideas and graphics for the purpose of the book. The concept of an A-Z of ideas came down to creativity being about action. What would a format be that people could relate to? I didn’t want it to be academic, I wanted it to be practical resource for people who want to explore their creativity, and those looking at things in a different way. It’s also for people who don’t think of themselves as creative, but want to take a different path.”

Cathryn’s Doctorate in Creative Industries (QUT) focused on Artful Inquiry: an arts-based facilitation approach for individual and organisational learning development. Now an experienced creative facilitator and coach, she is the Founder and Director of Maverick Minds. She has a background in design, education and was the Professional Training Manager at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of Arts London

The book proves an equally resourceful tool when Cathryn is working with organisations; an area that would – on the face of it – seem considerably more difficult to navigate than individuals with focussed ideas and ambitions. “I look for openness and curiosity, and create an inclusive environment of exploration and discovery. It’s important to give people ownership of their creativity rather than being told to be creative. There’s no simple fix, but whatever the approach, my values are underpinned by the fundamental belief that we are all creative, and there is absolute value in going on the journey.”

Creativity, it seems, literally has no end. “Now is the time to re-imagine, put your creativity into practice, and plan your next creative adventure.”

‘The End…Or is it the beginning?’

You can learn more about Cathryn, Maverick Minds and Seriously Playful Creativity at www.maverickminds.com.au

https://www.instagram.com/maverickminds1

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