Melissa Crowton on the Value of a Messy Creative Middle
What do the New York Times, Google, and Deseret Magazine have in common? They all feature the work of BYU design professor Melissa Crowton. In her Faith + Works lecture for the College of Fine Arts and Communications, Crowton explored the creative process — especially the uncertain, messy middle she calls “the hole in the whole.”
Crowton drew inspiration from artists like Giuseppe Penone and quoted philosopher Gaston Bachelard: “It is not until late in life that we really revere an image, when we discover that its roots plunge well beyond a history that is fixed in our memories.”
In 2020, while balancing full-time studio work and freelance illustration, Crowton hit a major creative block. “It may appear as if I have all my loose ends tied up, but in actuality, my middle is still very messy,” she shared.
When the pandemic paused many of her projects, she returned to basics, using note cards, glue, and cardboard to create abstract collages. “I was feeling really restricted by a too-familiar creative process,” she said. The stripped-back materials helped her explore without the pressure of perfection. Her experiments evolved into ceramic vessels, interactive books, and graphic narratives.
Though she values collaboration, this period of solitary exploration helped her reconnect with her creative instincts. This stripped back approach allowed her to have an intimate conversation with herself and make decisions that were her own and not influenced by anyone else.
Crowton emphasized the importance of flexibility. As a younger artist, she thought finding one style was key — but now embraces her evolving voice. “I love the idea of being unresolved, flexible, open,” she said. “I continually comfort myself with the idea that this version of myself is not the final version.”
For Crowton, mistakes and detours are essential. “There were many projects that I made mistakes of, and I actually find those to be just as valuable.”
For more information, check out the original article here.
