Creativity Exercise II - Team Drawing

Rule #1 of creativity is 'reject nothing'.
The improvisational theater has another name for it:
'Yes... and..'

'Yes... and...' is very different from 'Yes... but...'
'Yes... and...' means building on whatever came before.
If you've ever watched "Whose Line is it Anyway", you've seen 'Yes... and...' in action. No one on the stage can reject an idea, no matter how bizarre.

Angie and I frequently do an exercise that tests our 'Yes...and...' skills.
For the exercise, we use a 3"x5" index card and a marker. One of us starts a drawing with one line or one feature. The other has to build on what what was drawn. We go back and forth until the energy dissipates.

We've done this on airplanes, and in bed (too much information, I'm sure), but most often in restaurants. It usually attracts attention. More than once, a waiter has asked us about it.

The drawing above, drawn while we were in India, was appropriately named "Catbataloupe" by Angie.

If you're looking for a way to develop your openness and flexibility - and have a little fun - give it a try!