Monday, November 2

Can You Teach Someone To Be Creative? Can Creativity Be Learned?


Today’s Image
Adobe Afternoon
Acrylic on Canvas
Copyright 2007

I recently ran across one of my first acrylic paintings (and Today's Image). At the time, I felt so creative, and it was an energizing feeling. It got me to thinking.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m not that creative,” or worse, “I’m just not creative”? Maybe the person was feeling particularly inadequate after having visited an art museum or art gallery. Maybe they had previously tried drawing or painting and gave up when their efforts did not meet their expectations.

Too bad. How unfortunate to go through life, or the rest of your life, feeling uncreative.

I’m talking about creativity in artwork—drawing, painting, collage, sculpting, and the like. Of course, there is creativity in every human endeavor, and I don’t like to ever impose limitations, but for the sake of this discussion, the focus is on creative artwork.

Can you teach someone to be creative? Hmmm… I am not really qualified to say in the same sense that an art professor or psychologist would be.

I will, however, give you my opinions on the subject for whatever they’re worth. Some may seem to be in contradiction with each other; be that as it may:

I think creativity is not equally endowed by every person.

I think not all people are able to express their creativity through artwork.

I think all people have the ability to be artistically creative at some level.

I think people can unlock some level of creative expression if they are willing to take the time to try.

I think some people are overflowing with the ability to create art.

I think creativity is as varied as fingerprints and snowflakes.

I think the new, the different, the unusual, the out-of-the-mainstream, and the avant-garde do not necessarily equate to creativity.

I think one man’s or woman’s creativity is another man’s or woman’s eye-sore.

I think creativity, like art, is in the eye of the beholder.

I think creativity is not a learned behavior (if it can even be called a behavior).

I think you cannot teach creativity.

What do you think?

Cheers!

4 comments:

  1. Interesting post, Byrne. I think you're right, creativity in itself can't be taught, but I think we can be taught strategies and exercises that open us up to creativity we didn't know we had!

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  2. I agree whole-heartedly! That's why I said in the blog:

    I think all people have the ability to be artistically creative at some level.

    I think people can unlock some level of creative expression if they are willing to take the time to try.

    Byrne

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  3. Sweet! nice job on this one! love the lighting

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  4. Thanks, and thanks for leaving a comment! Painting shadows and light is what I like best no matter what the medium is. That's also why I like Edward Hopper's work so much.

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