The Altered Consciousness of Zen Blue Brain

©2013 Erin K. Nolan  "What Happened to the Honey Bees?"

There are times when I become engrossed in a creative task.  Time seems to pass more quickly; my attention to the project at hand is all-encompassing.  I am not aware of human needs such as food, drink, or sleep. The next thing I know hours have come and gone. It is almost like a productive trance. I call this state my creative hum.  Other creatives that I’ve spoken with have this same sensation. Thanks to science, we now have a name for it: the Blue Zen Brain.

While reading an article by Ann Holm I recognized a description of my creative hum.  It is called a synchronous brain state–where all regions of the brain are working together in harmony and at maximum amplitude. The mind is both focused and relaxed and is shown as blue on an EEG.

This state is often achieved when a person is engaged in an area of expertise; however, it is also reached when grappling with an unfamiliar problem or envisioning the future. The entire brain is activated in order to realize an answer. This answer is many times a fully-actualized, complex solution; yet how the person arrived at this solution is difficult to discern or verbalize.

So, why would one want to achieve this state?  Through personal experience, I find that I am more creative, have enhanced problem-solving abilities, am productive, focused, happy, and can work on a single project for longer periods of time.  Left-brain, right-brain theory agrees. 

Now that we are “living in the future,” there are devices such as NeuroSky which teach a Blue Zen Brain state through biofeedback.  The device, which is worn like a set of headphones, monitors when a mind is simultaneously alert and calm–just the right state of mind to learn mathematics or a new language. There are brain wave sensor products for gaming, academic, business and medical applications as well. 

In my life, working on my artwork activates this altered state of consciousness, but others find that repetitive tasks, music, or simply daydreaming takes them there.

What activities do you participate in which activate your Blue Zen Brain?  Let me know!

Research for work in progress

I've mentioned before that my current painting is of a seahorse. Why? I don't know... They are exotic, otherworldly, peaceful, patient,small creatures. I want to be able to post the painting RIGHT NOW(!) because I am so excited about its development. As I painted "Crocodile Dinner" I regained knowledge on patterns, textures, contrast and color using a limited pallet. This one is SO much better and I can't wait for it to be completed, but I have to pace myself. I don't want to ruin the strides I've achomplished. While the previous painting showed action, this painting shows calm.

I drew this funny little shrimp character as how I imagined a shrimp to be. Then I did research to find out exactly what one looks like and which types a seahorse eats. I thought shrimp were similar to crayfish in that their legs were attached just below the main shell of the body and the gills were in the tail. Being from the Midwest and seeing more corn and beans than shrimp, how was I to know? I guess shrimp's "legs" are IN their tail and they swim backwards. This particular type also has a little spike on the back with barbs. I wonder if that is a type of protection from predators?

Anywho, research is so much fun. I get almost fanatical. It's like I am obsessive-compulsive. I ask myself a question and look for the answer which, in turn, leads me to ask ten more questions. Those questions just HAVE to be answered as well until it spirals out of control I literally have stayed up all night "learning." The sad part is that my memory is so horrible that by the next day I've completely forgotten everything. I just hope that it just seeps deep down into my brain and jumps out as subconscious twists and turns when I need to be creative.