Let’s talk about being artistic versus being creative. Have I ever told you about my mom? She was a preschool teacher for as long as I can remember. I think if I’m correct she was a teacher right out of college and then when my brother and I were born she stayed home for a while and once we were old enough to be responsible for wiping our own butts and not burning the house down when making a pot of mac and cheese she went back to work.
When I was in college my mom taught at a preschool, at a synagogue, not too far from my school. And there will be times where I would occasionally pop in to say hello and hang out with the kids. We all know I’m one of the artistic ones in the family (sorry Jason aka my little brother).
I definitely was the artistic child in the family. Although if you look at my mom and dad my dad although he is a chemical engineer also had a brief stint with still life oil paintings.
I believe I still have many of his nearly completed canvases in my garage somewhere. Both of my parents are artistic in terms of playing musical instruments. Both of my parents were decent dancers and I think that all kinds of envelopes the overarching theory of being artistic.
But my mom didn’t think she was artistic. I don’t think she thought she was even creative. She would have these really great ideas for themes for her classroom at the beginning of every year and I would meet her at school and do all the artwork for her ideas.
But I finally began saying to my mom after the umpteenth time that she was claiming she wasn’t “artistic” Maybe she should look at the two as separate entities. She was “creative” because she came up with these really great ideas. But maybe she wasn’t as “artistic” because she had trouble actually turning her ideas into tangible creations.
One year it was “Miss Bobbie’s Bees” She needed a bee hive for the front door of her classroom. She wanted Little Bees for each of her students and their names on them flying around The Hive on the door. She wanted each of their desks to have their name with a cute little bee next to it. She had the greatest idea for how to create this classroom culture that surrounded Miss Bobby and her beehive. I loved it. And I loved every second of making all that for her too.
I actually found an article that fully supports my theory (okay, apparently it’s not entirely my theory but it definitely came up with the idea of explaining it to my mom all by myself lol) the article says,
“A creative person uses their imagination to formulate ideas and solve problems. An artistic person, however, uses one of many physical processes to create tangible works of art. Artists require creativity to further their craft. While only some people have artistic abilities, everyone is, or can be creative.”
Dude, how dead on balls accurate am I? (Thank you My Cousin Vinny) lol
Anyways, apparently EVERYONE is creative. E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. You just need to find the outlet to let it shine. While there are very specific differences between the two, it’s important to define them and figure out how to spark your creative juices! Forget the artistic stuff and be CREATIVE!
Recently I’ve been working with a seventeen-year-old girl who is probably the most talented artist I’ve come across of her age. Her work and drawing in pencil and color pencil and watercolor surpasses pretty much every adult artist I know. She is Artistic and she is creative. And sometimes that intimidation makes others feel like they aren’t artistic or creative. Who are we if we don’t compare ourselves to everyone else right? LOL
The article goes on to say that, “One of the most important differences between creativity and art is the fact that creativity isn’t bound by the shackles of art itself. Art comes into being in the physical realm. The end result of art is something that must be either seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled, etc.
Creativity, on the other hand, exists on an intellectual plane and is not restricted by physical limitations. Another word for creativity might be “idea”. Ideas, and thus creativity, can be experienced across all areas of human existence. Creativity can be applied in the areas of business, relationships, health, and technology. Creative thinking can be used in all areas of life.”
Bryan takes it a bit further in the article.
“Creative ability is hardwired into human DNA. As our species developed and began to take over the world, creativity became a huge component of our successes in the face of potential predators and natural disasters.
As artistic people go, we humans may not have been the strongest, or the largest, but we did have the ability to outsmart and out-invent any possible adversaries. Creative thinking came in the form of high-level problem solving. When the weather got too extreme, we built shelters. When food became scarce, we grew it ourselves. The innovation gene has always been with us.
Although most modern humans no longer have to deal with prolonged food shortages and attacks from sabre-tooth tigers, our creative streak remains as prominent as ever. Setting up a business, for example, is a more modern example of high-level creativity.
Sourcing the materials, hiring the right staff, and developing a brand are all aspects that require a serious amount of innovation and creative expression. Whilst these endeavors may not be ‘artistic’, they still require boatloads of advanced cognitive application.
To be a creative individual means to use mental imagery to conjure up an idea, business, solution, or product that didn’t exist in that form before. It can be as simple as inventing a new game to play with your kids or as complex as building a multi-million dollar corporation. “
However, to be artistic Bryan says, “It could very well be argued that artistry has been with us just as long as creativity. There are an abundance of cave paintings, sculptures, and musical instruments that date back even to prehistoric times. Art is a skill that provides a much-needed outlet for the cavalcade of complicated emotions that is the essence of the human experience.
Artists are inherently creative types. They’d be unable to express their ideas if they didn’t think of them in the first place. Being artistic happens when a person applies a skill to their creative idea. The creativity serves as the genesis, whilst the art itself is the final realization of those ideas.”
So, no matter what you think, you can use some of that self talk that you read in my previous blog and get to being creative. Perhaps you can do some soul searching and you may find that you have been creative all along but you just needed a better definition for it in order for it to stick.
Because I know my mom is going to read this blog I want to reiterate that I think that you are very creative and just because in your words “I can’t even draw a stick figure” doesn’t mean that you aren’t creative. You’ve inspired me in so many different things and you and Dad both supported my let’s call it “slight Obsession” with art supplies. LOL