Creativity: Product of a Process  Thesis

In fact, much of art history itself views the scope of creative achievement based on the final products of the art as well, "The problem of process is one of the most difficult and risky issues that may face art historians. The scholar's normal inclination is to look at the conclusions of the creative process: at results, at completed acts, at works of art rather than the artists' work," (Seymour & Buonarroti: 89). Thus, creativity is portrayed as a product of both nature and the artist him or herself.

Yet, this product of nature is magnified to even higher possibilities through the process of the hard work involved in creating the creative product. Despite his natural talent, Michelangelo himself understood the important of putting in the necessary effort, pain, and sweat to create true masterpieces. He acknowledged the hard work he had to commit to his craft in order to bring it to level of expertise he achieved with works such as the rooftop of the Sistine Chapel, "I struggle more that any man ever has, in bad health and with the greatest labor, and still I remain patient in order to reach the desired goal," (Seymour & Buonarroti 1995:93). It was an arduous process to hang below his work and labor intensely for hours. Looking at the work and process of another natural talent, Norman Rockwell, also represents the talented mind filtering ideas through the creative process of labor and revisions. Rockwell would prepare plans for all his works before hand with the use of full-scale charcoal drawings. In fact, he would not even begin working with oils, his intended medium, until all compositional elements and structures of the soon to be paintings were first worked thoroughly through the charcoal drawings, "To him, the final drawing was the real foundation of a picture. All issues of composition, tone, and detail were resolved at this stage, with revisions being made until the drawing expressed the story exactly as Rockwell intended," (USA Today 2008:1). In fact, Rockwell had spent years of his life studying and honing the product which was his creativity; essentially perfecting the process which would later produce amazing works of art. It is through such a process which the idea of creativity is developed not only as an innate talent, but also a product of a process -- of the arduous labor which is necessary to create such masterpieces.

Creativity holds aspects of both a product of nature and a process of fine-tuning those talents nature had instilled within the mind of the artist. Innate talent does manifest itself within the minds of specific individuals. This creativity can then be exhibited in a number of ways; through fashion, decorating, craft making, painting, music, dance, basically every facet of producing a desired aesthetically pleasing image within a realistic context. Yet, this innate talent elevates itself to sheer mastery through the process of honing one's craft -- slowly learning, revisiting, and adjusting. The labor behind great masterpieces proves just as great. It is much harder than outside observers may believe it to be; yet it proves an old proverb right. The struggle is worth the glory; the work put into art is seen in its excellence.

References

Bunarroti, Michelangelo. (2006). The creative process. Mountain Eagle Marketing. Retrieved April 11, 2009 from http://www.mountaineagleweb.com/Creative/Creative.htm.

Henkes, Robert. (1997). Portraits of Famous American Women. McFarland.

Kincade, Thomas. (2004). Thomas Kinkade: painter of light. Art by Thomas Kinkade: Painter of Light. Retrieved April 11, 2009 from http://www.artbythomaskinkade.com/thomas_kinkade.html.

Nettle, Daniel. (2001) Strong Imagination: Madness Creativity and Human Nature. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.

Seymour, Charles & Buonarroti, Michelangelo. (1995). Michelangelo: the Sistine Chapel Ceiling: Illustrations W.W. Norton.

USA Today. (2008). Norman Rockwell in black & white. bNet. Retrieved April 11, 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2758_137/ai_n27946900/