I was reading Brian Clark's recent post, "What does creativity mean to you?" and was struck by how infrequently I personally think about it. I'm an artist. I lead the team that produces and maintains a website that is all about the online artist community. I am surrounded by the outward signs of creativity pretty much 24/7. But how often do we, as artists, actually think about what creativity means? Or take the time to consider our personal creative process? Is our art *truly* creative per some of the definitions put forth in Brian's post? When does our job of making beautiful and meaningful objects become just another job, another layer of pigment in the never-ending process of production? Has our art become rote? Formulaic? Are we simply painting by numbers?
These are gritty questions. Perhaps ones we don't want to think about in this era of economic uncertainty, where the need to keep food on the table perhaps outweighs the need for authentic vision and artistic integrity in every single piece we produce. It's certainly easier to keep creating something we know that will sell now because it's sold well in the past. Or simply give up the dream, convinced that the art market is drying up, or rationalizing that your time and resources would be better spent on other pursuits.
EBSQ blogger Natasha Wescoat recently wrote about the evolution of her art, of the creative process in general, and how we, as artists, can either be one hit wonders, painting that same thing over and over ad naseum, or we can make creative leaps possibly at the risk of alienating our audience. How do we, as artists, balance creating what feeds our souls with creating a commodity that feeds our families? How can we stay inspired? How do we keep the artistry in our art?
Which brings us full circle: What does creativity mean to you?
Amie Gillingham
1 April 2008
Get out of the vacuum and express yourself!
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