Art and creativity are two different concepts. Yes, they are correlated, but one does not imply the other *at least, not automatically. * The skill of being creative develops curiosity and, along with it, brings new opportunities forward. Being creative means seeking ways to change the normal and think out of the box. Linking creativity with persistence can result in art, which is the result of creativity and constant effort combined. Motivation has to be another element in the process of creation for art to result. There cannot be art without creativity, but creativity can exist without art. We will explore the differences between art and creativity further in this article, and we’ll leave it up to you to debate it if you feel like it.

About Creativity

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, creativity is the ability to create and the quality of being creative. By means of using the imagination as a primary tool, creative people are, therefore, creators of new tools, painted images, music, dance moves, etc. A creator is a person who is dedicated to originality and authenticity. He or she brings something new into this world to help people in some way or another. A creator, however, does not need to create art. However, he or she must be in harmony with the following knowledgeable pillars.

▪ Opened to play. A creator will be an explorer who never stops. He or she will not be taken back by previous discoveries or preconceived notions. They will succeed because they are continuously open to new possibilities. Creators won’t see failure as a drawback but rather as a means of achieving greatness by becoming aware of what could improve.

▪ Creators don’t force creativity. Some people would argue that “you can create creativity.” Unfortunately, research is showing us that this concept is illusory and, therefore, not accurate. Creators are either born with a predisposition for creativity, or they are creating their reality in such a way that imagination becomes a massive part of it. If we don’t give enough attention to this process, it will never become part of our life. Thus, we’ll never be able to make art or create change.

▪ A constant duty. Creative people are constantly engaging in creating something new. They don’t wait for something to happen or for “the right moment” to pass by. They are creating circumstances for the creation and, therefore, increase their chances of success in whichever they are doing.

This is how the creative process looks like

Step One. Preparing for creation. You have to do the work and get prepared for creating something new. This does NOT mean waiting for the right time to come to take action. It means you are preparing yourself for a long ride and understand where your motivation comes from. It means that you are taking in the arguments for which you are starting the process and what benefits this creative process will bring to you.

Step Two. Incubating the ideas selected. After you’ve prepared yourself for the process, it is time to brainstorm ideas and see what you want to create. What are the best ideas you came up with, and why do you think that they are good? But most importantly, how will you act on them?

Step Three. Implementing the ideas chosen. Without action and persistence, creation will never manifest into physical reality. Step three is all about taking action to create the physical reality of your ideas and thoughts. So, what do you have to do for that?

About Art

When we discuss art, things are a little bit different. Now that we’ve talked about creativity, you know that being creative means possessing creative skills. You also know that you need to go through the steps presented above by preparing, incubating, and implementing your ideas for creation to happen. Art, however, is not the creation process in itself, but rather an outcome of it. Art requires discernment and persistence. It is one thing to come up with ideas and another one entirely to transform those ideas into art.

Art allows us to share our feelings and emotions in ways that make sense to us and *sometimes* the world. Through art, your ideas take shape and can raise emotions in other people. Art expresses what words cannot express and brings ideas and concepts to life. Even if most artists want to be perfectionistic and quickly transform the creation process into manifestation, this cannot always happen as desired. To keep yourself sane *if you’re an artist, you need to accept the error and the possibility of mistake. Artists know when to stop and take breaks. However, artists can also go through a so-called “Artistic creative process” that can look something like this:

Step One. This looks AWESOME.
Step Two. This is quite tricky.
Step Three. This is not at all good. It is miserable.
Step Four. I am miserable.
Step Five. This might be OKAY.
Step Six. This is truly AWESOME & I’m satisfied.

The difference between Art and Creativity: Revisited

Someone possessing creative skills could create art or something else that serves a practical role in the world. Usually, creators ask themselves these questions, is the thing that I am about to create useful, does it serve a real purpose? And is the thing that I am about to create unique?

They go through the creative process and come back to it if conditions are not met. They are open to failure and consider it a life lesson.

On the other hand, most artists, while creators by concept, do not contemplate too much on the idea of failing itself. That is because art results cannot be “wrong” in any way and cannot be “not practical,” they are. Art is the process through which many people express their deepest emotions, while creation is getting there. Most people come up with something with practical use or a form of art in itself through the creation process. Therefore, creativity is an endless cycle of progress that can never be stopped while art can be a result of it.

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