Creativity Quote by Ed Catmull
““People who take on complicated creative projects become lost at some point in the process. It is the nature of things—in order to create, you must internalize and almost become the project for a while, and that near-fusing with the project is an essential part of its emergence. But it is also confusing. Where once a movie’s writer/director had perspective, he or she loses it. Where once he or she could see a forest, now there are only trees. The details converge to obscure the whole, and that makes it difficult to move forward substantially in any one direction. The experience can be overwhelming.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Pixar Animation Studios, 2012
Deep creative work can engulf creators, blurring detail and whole, making progress hard and confusing.
In simple terms: Intense focus on a project can cause loss of perspective.
Key Takeaway
Balance immersion with periodic distance.
Themes
creativity
focus
overwhelm
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- software development
- research
- writing
Key Concepts
project immersion
perspective loss
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you regain perspective?
- When do you step back?
A Different Perspective
Too much immersion can stall progress.
