What is creativity?

When the word creativity passes my ears, I think of wild ideas put on paper, canvas, made of marble or bronze, water color or oil, art glass. but creativity comes with specific discipline. It doesn't always wildly zing its way around our imaginations. 

The definition of creativity varies somewhat, but it is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness. This definition is according to the Oxford Dictionary.

Are artists creative? We all hope so. Art is created from different ideas, and different materials.My discipline is oil paint. It takes unique disciplines for me to paint in water colors. There is a specific set of skills for each medium. Does it mean a difference in creativity? Imagine Michelangelo working in marble. Each tap of the chisel produces a shape. The marble behaves in a unique manner. Each application of tools requires thought about how that material will be affected. Imagine Michelangelo working in bronze.Some art historians believe there are 2 bronzes attributed to Michelangelo. Did he use wax to design the piece? The discipline required to do that would be entirely different. Michelangelo is also credited with some of the worlds most beautiful paintings, yet another discipline and creative outlet for him.

Engineers, architects, builders are all incredibly creative. They seek a solution to an issue. In my humble opinion the Hoover Dam is an extraordinary product of creativity. Lawyers are creatively thinking of ways to effectively present their cases to get the desired outcome.

Some synonyms of creativity are imagination, talent, inspiration, productivity, fertility according to Colliers English Thesaurus. Somehow those words restrict the word creativity to me. 

I learned creativity is a skill and it takes practice, which is the magic.  If used the creativity reproduces. John Lennon and Paul McCartney created some of the most iconic music of our time. Song after song came from the partnership and from each one of the individuals who made music for them to share with us. If we want to be more creative we must practice. We must recognize what works and what doesn't work. Often the story we tell becomes the reality of the moment and it feels like another dimension. I think that is such a special place, a place to be protected and a valuable place to be.