What is creativity?

As we go through the new year I begin to think more about creativity, being creative, art and what it's all about. Our human lives are full of ideas that come into being because of those ideas. As humans we see and touch the tangible things and there is so much that is tangible and yet there is so much that isn't. The world is not just full of things we can touch, smell, hear, see and taste but there is the part where things take shape in our minds before we turn it into something that others can see and enjoy. The products of our making first form in our minds. We might not even think about it and it can happen. We can go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning with a new idea. Most likely our brain mulled over it subconsciously for some time before. 

This is the world of our mind, imagination and creativity.

As a kid and even as a teen I remember that creativity was somewhat frowned upon. Being creative and drawing a nice painting is a good thing. Finding a creative way to dodge responsibilities isn't a good thing. Creativity seems to be this gray area that people don't know what to do with, especially when it comes to the younger generation. People want control, clear lines, rules, logic and results. Creativity is basically seen as a loose canon and something that can't really be controlled.

During school it was usually best to follow a textbook and clearly written instructions from a teacher. I get that that is important to learn and will help one in their adult lives as they find a career. It wasn't really seen as a good thing to get creative unless teachers allowed it on a project. There's this clash of logic versus creativity where logic often wins out. As a kid it should be encouraged to be creative and they should learn when it is good to and when it isn't good to. 

The more I continue in my creative endeavors the more I realize how important it is. It is a hard thing to grasp since it is not a tangible object and it seems to happen even without us wanting it to. Creativity is behind so many things that people don't even realize. This leads us to the topic of the creative arts. The creative arts include things like painting, music, fashion, film, books, food, mind sports and more. There are those who love the creative arts and are really into it and there are those who see it as a waste of time and for those with their heads in the clouds.

Creativity isn't about having one's head in the clouds. It's about taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. 

It's about not just seeing things at face value but focusing on all the little details and learning about it much more. It's about appealing to not just the mind or the sight or being smart but about appealing to all the human senses. We as humans want to feel good, taste something delicious, hear music that makes us want to dance and so much more. This is part of being human. Being creative becomes a critical part of the process as we go about trying to put together something that we and others can find pleasure in.

To successfully create a masterful piece that will impress and please is not just about making something appealing. The artist will need to draw out the beauty and the details that make up something and perhaps turn it into something else entirely. This takes skill both creative and technical. People shouldn't think there isn't logic behind art. There most definitely is and a masterpiece includes both sound logic and creativity to bring it all together.

Unfortunately it's no secret how much artists struggle to make a living and it's a sad situation to see. I often wonder how to help struggling artists as I know exactly what that's like. There doesn't seem to be a set formula on how to come up with a good piece of art and inspiration seems to happen when one least expects it. I hope people will realize how important creativity is and how much it already helps us in living a fulfilling life. Living can be plain and simple or it can be extraordinary and brilliant. That is up to you to decide.