Visual reflection mapping

How often when working ‘instinctively’ do we stop to reflect upon the process? It can be tricky to be mindful and document it accurately when working on instinct. The reason this happens is because different parts of the brain are being used. If the pre-frontal cortex is effectively bypassed, then the executive function that tracks processes and details does not fully engage.

If we need to critically reflect on our work, then how can we activate the pre-frontal cortex during the making process? Sometimes, particularly when that process is all-consuming, it can be hard to retrospectively remember the steps taken and put the experience into words. Taking notes during the process can seem interruptive, but it can also help to process and digest and then critically reflect on the making of the work afterwards.

Mapping, or taking a diagrammatic, process-led approach, may work, as it can allow thought to remain in a state of flow whilst creating. Both mapping and creating can involve visual and spatial processing and articulation of ideas and so, representing ideas and thinking in this way can help to understand one’s process. Reflecting on the processes used may slow us down and allow us to see what is at play whilst also engaging in an active, intuitive process.

It is always good to be mindful and to deconstruct what we do as artists, as it is easy to get lost in the moment or to purely focus on being instinctive. I notice that a lot of thinking still takes place while I am creating, but it is hard to capture sometimes as the making takes over.

Making a map of thoughts and processes is one further step to deconstructing the creation process and requires some thinking in order to fully break things down and assess them. The creative brain tends to be less verbal, action oriented and forward thinking. The critical brain tends to be more involved with the verbal, verbal reasoning, deconstruction, changing timelines and moving between them and looking for connections. It is hard to be in the two places at once and integrating this part actually leads to further critical reflection.