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Creativity vs Art

Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by admin in blog

Over the last few days, I had the chance to talk with a photographer friend of mine about creativity, art and many of the truisms that are tossed around in today’s culture regarding those two topics. It seems that some folks have the word ‘creative’ in a stranglehold – creativity is not a brand. You can’t trademark the affect art has on you, it’s too personal and subjective.

A high level of creativity does not equate someone as an artist, creativity only grants people the mental tools to turn an original idea into something – a product – which is usually not art. Art, as my friend so elegantly spoke – ‘grabs you by the balls’ – so in other words, art has an affect on you in a blunter and sometimes more painful way.

During this road trip conversation, which shifted between backpacking trips and truck parts, we had pretty much reached the conclusion that truisms sucked – such as fishing in the rain, sucks. Just in time too, because by then we had reached our shoot destination had taken off our philosopher fedoras and extinguished our ridiculously long filtered cigarettes.

No more time for thinking, there was work to be done.

Studying art does not make you any more creative than say, wearing a fedora. But what studying art can do is make you aware of what affects you and the techniques used to make this impression deep in your conscience.

For example, I’ve always been affected by van Gogh’s ‘The Sower’ since I first saw it reprinted on a greeting card given to me by my girlfriend’s sister, which still hangs in my office after many years.

Something about ‘The Sower’s’ clean composition, the straight lines that make up the form of unplowed wheat and the story that I place in the furrowed field has always appealed to me – or affected me in a more painful way.

Clean composition has always appealed to me. I’m not sure why really, maybe because I’m so scattered brained and the clean form of lines focus my eyes and thoughts. Yes, layering your work – especially in photography – makes your work more visually appealing but I’m not talking about being appealed by a visual. I’m talking about focusing my thoughts and emotions – the true value I see in the art that affects me.

Art is personal, man.

Shifting gears. I leave you not with a painting of dogs playing poker but an iPhone photo of my dog, Sophie.

Is this photo, art? The short answer points to no, but let’s not get personal here, do that in the comment section.