The Difference between an Artist and Creative

TALKSWITHMONALISA.

Have you ever wondered about the difference between being an artist and being a creative? Do you ever find it difficult to identify yourself within the creative world? I can certainly relate to these questions and the confusion they can cause. As I’ve built my personal brand and fashion business alongside my husband over the past 5 years, I’ve often felt conflicted about how to present myself as a creative.

Let’s delve into this topic and see if you can relate as well.

To provide some context, the artistic ability is defined as:

“the skill and talent to create works of art such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or musical composition.”

On the other hand, creativity ability involves:

“the imagination and generation of original ideas, particularly in the production of artistic work.“

It encompasses the skill and talent to use our imagination to create and solve problems.

After reading these definitions, it becomes clear that artists and creatives are distinct types of individuals. Artists focus inwardly, then, put their art into the world, while creatives are more outwardly oriented, aiming towards end goals such as marketing, event planning, or creative directing. There are, of course, instances where the two overlap, with both drawing inspiration from within and tapping into their creativity to create.

Both artists and creatives play essential roles in society. Creatives allow us to view and solve problems, opening our minds to possibilities we once thought were impossible. They broaden our perspectives and introduce us to different beliefs. On the other hand, artists record and preserve our human history. Art influences society by changing opinions, instilling values, and translating experiences across time and space. Studies have shown that art impacts our fundamental sense of self. Painting, sculpture, music, literature, and other forms of art are considered to be repositories of a society’s collective memory.

In a way, artists and creatives are similar yet different in their own ways. Which of these do you identify with? Are you a creative, an artist, or perhaps neither? Embrace the unique qualities that define your creative journey.