As the father of a great (fictional) man once said: “Everything is achievable through technology.” The words may have come from a minor comic book character—Howard Stark, founder of Stark Industries and father of famed genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man—but they nonetheless ring true. There are few aspects of day-to-day human life that technology hasn’t touched, influenced, and made better.
We use technology to do work, entertain ourselves, and stay in touch with our loved ones. We also use technology to keep ourselves informed about and connected to a world that we simply can’t see from our respective windows. Culture and the arts have benefited from technology as well. From bombastic CGI effects that heighten realism in blockbuster feature films to digital artworks of a comparable level to the ones created by the masters, technology has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for creatives. Here are a few ways that technology can contribute to your creativity and help you express yourself:
Treat Technology as One of Many Tools
Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just a painter. The quintessential Italian polymath and Renaissance man was also a scientist, an inventor, a sketch artist, a sculptor, an architect, and an engineer – among other occupations. He worked with various mediums, surfaces, and materials.
Like da Vinci, you can enhance your skills and unleash your creative side by using a variety of tech tools. The digital art world is a vast one, and there are endless ways to become a content creator. You can experiment with digital photographs, upload homemade videos to online platforms such as YouTube or Bigo TV, write content for online fiction repositories, post art and comics of your own creation to social media sites, and much more.
Integrate Tech in All Aspects of Your Life
Most of us already use a lot of tech to function on a day-to-day basis. We keep our smartphones on us at all times and use computers extensively for work. We tune in to our favorite shows using smart TVs and listen to the news, podcasts, and music on digital players.
The idea is to also use tech for creative endeavors, like taking a candid photo on the fly using your phone camera or sketching outdoors using a tablet and a stylus pen. Both Android and iOS platforms offer hundreds of thousands of apps that creatives can take advantage of to be creative while on the go, from music creation and recording to visual art to game design.
Approach technology by erasing the distinction that some devices can only be used for work and productivity, while others are for play and leisure. Becoming comfortable with constantly using technology helps when inspiration or a sudden creative idea presents itself. You’ll be able to instantly keep a record of it that you can improve on and refine later.
Consume Content Like It’s Going Out of Style
Honing your creativity simply can’t be done in a bubble. Artists and creatives need input and feedback from others to become inspired, to motivate themselves into doing better, or just to broaden their aesthetic horizons. Looking at how others express themselves can open your mind to new ideas and encourage you to try things that you never have before.
The internet is a bottomless pit of diverse content, and it would truly be a shame not to utilize it when we all have such convenient access to the web. A lot of digital content is downright instructional, and they’re a good place to start if you want to learn about something specific. From there, you can inspire yourself by looking at experts and influencers in your chosen creative field. The key is not to consume content mindlessly. Use technology to enrich yourself by subscribing to and consuming content that is both valuable and meaningful.
Use the Internet as a Door to the Rest of the World
From its commercialization in 1995, the internet has really helped make our wide world feel much smaller. It’s now possible to travel to faraway places, take part in different cultures, and make lasting friendships without ever leaving the comfort of your own home.
We live in a truly marvelous age where the collective knowledge of the entire planet is right at our fingertips. The internet is a phenomenal tool for acquiring diverse experiences, learning about things, places, and people that you wouldn’t normally be able to meet or come across otherwise, and using that knowledge to get inspired. Wikipedia alone has 6 million articles (and counting!) in English to sink your proverbial teeth into. One of the best ways to learn about something you probably wouldn’t seek out yourself is by simply checking the front page for its daily featured article.
Creative expression and technology have one major thing in common: they’re both best when shared with others. Without an audience, creativity would not have a chance to flourish. Don’t be afraid to use tech to tell your unique story. It may resonate with more people than you think!
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets
