| 12 Traits of Highly Creative Faux Finishers (HCFF’s) By Debbie Ellison for Paintin'
the Town, Faux “I’ll never paint like Leonardo da Vinci.” Have you ever said this or some version of it to yourself? Comparing yourself to the great artists and faux finishers is belittling and discouraging. No, you’ll never be like them…AND they will never be like you. There is only one of them - and there is only one of you – a genius in your unique way. Instead of comparing yourself to those you admire, study and apply the traits of their mastery. Be inspired, not intimidated; model their greatness, don’t mottle your greatness. You are as unique as the faux finishes you create. When Michelangelo was asked how he created a sculpture, he answered that the statue already existed within the marble, that God Himself created it. He believed his job was to get rid of the excess marble that surrounded God’s creation. You too are a one-of-a-kind sculpture; the magic is in getting rid of the excess “garbage” (your blocks, the negative things you tell yourself, the things that stop you) that surround the traits and creativity you need to be extraordinary. Are you a Highly Creative Faux Finisher (HCFF)? See how many of the following traits you possess. 1. ADAPTABILITY/FLEXIBILITY - Flexing Your Mental Muscles Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Rather than adapt to something, HCFF’s choose to adapt things to suit them. They look at things from multiple points of view and produce multiple answers, while others are content with one solution. HCFF’s resist doing things the same old way and are willing to consider new options and try new things. When they think they have the “perfect” finish, they keep experimenting and expanding their options. 2. BEING SELF-ACTUALIZING – Getting “Primed” for Actualization HCFF’s are constantly engaged in growth and development, always striving to be the best they can be and to discover their specific talents. When Psychologist Abraham Maslow coined the term “self-actualizing” in the 1960s, he was talking about the desire to be all you can be, what you were meant to be. Achieving excellence in faux finishing or any area of your life requires this trait. 3. COURAGE – Go-“Faux”-It Attitude Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move ahead in spite of fear. It takes courage to do and see things differently than those around you. HCFF’s are risk takers and opportunity seekers, never afraid to try new things or enter the unknown. When en is added to courage, it becomes encourage. En is a prefix meaning “to be at one with.” 4. CURIOSITY - Inquiring Minds Want to Faux Leonardo da Vinci was curious, with an unrelenting quest for learning. After his death 7,000 pages of his notes were found on thousands of subjects. HCFF’s are curious and ask a lot of questions. They find mentors and experts in the faux finishing industry and learn from them. They continually accumulate information; take classes on decorative arts, business, and related subjects; and read books to keep up with industry trends and the latest techniques. 5. IMAGINATION – Going Where the Ordinary Dare Not Faux Albert Einstein’s most essential mode of discovery was what he called Gedanken – imagination games and thought experiments. He spent time every day dreaming. One day he imagined riding on a sunbeam into the universe. He mentally traveled into eternity and discovered himself returning to the place from which he began. He concluded that if he traveled forever in one direction and returned to the place he began, the universe must be “curved.” And so was born his theory of relativity. The most creative faux finishers are the most imaginative, those who can create masterpieces in their imaginations – and then produce them. 6. INTUITION – Knowing the In“faux” Be“faux” You Know How You Know HCFF’s trust their intuition and follow their hearts.
They don’t let anyone or anything stifle their self-confidence.
They listen to their inner voices rather than other people’s advice.
This is a characteristic of great leaders and creative geniuses. A heart
listened to will never lead one astray. “Simulsensous” people use all five senses. Da Vinci called this “seensazione” - the continual refinement of the senses as the means to enliven experience. HCFF’s are highly observant and keenly aware of the obvious and the not-so-obvious. They create new ideas and innovative finishes, employing all five senses - seeing, smelling, feeling, tasting, and hearing it in their mind’s eye as vividly and realistically as possible. Then they make it reality. * Simulsensuous – all senses peaking simultaneously - coined by Debbie Ellison, 2004 8. PASSION – You Must Be Faux HCFF’s love and are excited about what they do. Passion comes from the soul and is an intense love and affection for what one does. Without passion, creativity is never fully expressed, nor is the artist ever fulfilled. When true passion is present, one cannot NOT bring creativity into the world. A writer cannot NOT write, an artist cannot NOT paint, a musician cannot NOT compose. Self-expression is as natural as breathing. 9. PERCEIVING THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY – Stepping to the Music of Faux “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” (Henry David Thoreau) HCFF’s view their lives and their art from different perspectives, opening up their minds to unlimited possibilities. HCFF’s see what others see, but also see what others don’t see. Never content with the status quo, they think in new combinations of colors, techniques, textures, and ideas; they go outside the norm and color outside the lines. 10. WHOLE-BRAINED THINKING – Being *Bitingual (* See definition below) Would you choose to walk with only one leg or use only one arm? Would you choose to keep a patch over one eye and only use the other? Then, why in the world would you choose to use only one side of your brain when you have two brilliantly functioning hemispheres? HCFF’s use the right and left brains in concert. Da Vinci was the ultimate “whole-brain” thinker. He called this thinking “arte/scienza” - development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination.“ To be a successful faux finisher, you must not only be highly creative, you must be business savvy. This requires logical, analytical thinking (left brain) and imaginative, innovative thinking (right brain). * Bitingual - both brains (right & left) tingling in concert - coined by Debbie Ellison, 2004 11. SEEING POSSIBILITIES – Opening Your Heart to Miracles “Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.” (from Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach) HCFF’s live in a realm of possibilities, believing that anything is possible. They expect miracles – and, thus, they live in them. “Dead normal,” average people, because they are fearful or resistant, cut off possibilities. They are often resigned to the illusion that they have limits. 12. VISION – Seeing Beyond What You “See” HCFF’s know they have a destiny, a purpose in life. They know what they want in life. They strive to achieve great things, not just for themselves but for the betterment of humankind. When they see their work from the perspective of helping others and the world, their creativity and prosperity expand. Highly Creative Faux Finishers are at the top of their game; they are able to maintain creative states of mind more often than the average person. When in this flow state, there is a sense that time and space are suspended. Clear goals are present every step of the way, i.e., the musician knows intuitively what notes to play, the artist knows what to paint. There is no fear of failure. The experiencer is one with the experience - instead of performing the creative act, he or she is the creative act. It is as if, when painting, the hand is moving, but a greater force is guiding it. These traits are not reserved for a chosen few. Anyone can develop them. There is a Highly Creative Faux Finisher in you! Just get rid of the excess “marble” that surrounds God’s creation. ___________________________________________________________ Debbie Ellison is a freelance writer and editor in Atlanta and teaches writing and creativity seminars. Contact her at debbie@paintinthetown.com. ___________________________________________________________ This article may be shared with
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