So one of my favorite things about this blog is that it is all about creativity. I have always been a creative person, and think that creativity can be applied to every area of life.
There have been many people who have inspired me to keep being creative. And I find that looking at what they have to say, maybe even on expressing creativity, helps me to continue to be the creative person I am.
I thought that I would share some of my favorite quotes on creativity, as well as my thoughts on them. I love finding quotes on different areas of my life, and was so surprised when I realized that I hadn’t shared my favorite creativity quotes! So without further ado, here are my top 10 quotes on creativity.
1.CREATIVITY IS INTELLIGENCE HAVING FUN- ALBERT EINSTEIN
This has always been one of my favorite quotes. We normally don’t think of Albert Einstein as a creative person- we normally think of him mainly for his work in the science field. Yet, he also loved playing the violin, and also played a bit of piano. Music was something that he enjoyed. So although Albert Einstein is definitely an intelligent person, he also recognized the importance of creativity in his life. Just because he was a scientist doesn’t mean that he couldn’t be creative!
2. LEARN THE RULES LIKE A PRO, SO YOU CAN BREAK THEM LIKE AN ARTIST- PABLO PICASSO
I love this quote so much! In order to master your craft, you have to learn some basic rules or tricks of the trade. But once you know what they are, you can take risks and experiment with your art. You don’t have to stick to the rules, you just have to know what they are. I think that this can also be applied to life in a way. When it comes to growing up and leading an independent life, you need to know the rules of how to “be an adult”. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still be a kid at heart, or that you have to live exactly how everyone else does. Know the rules, but don’t be afraid to break them. Yeah, I think I just found my new life motto.
3. I FEEL THERE IS NOTHING MORE ARTISTIC THAN TO LOVE PEOPLE- VINCENT VAN GOGH
(By the way, thanks to everyone who voted for this quote in my poll!)
This is one of my favorite quotes, but let’s be honest, it’s hard to pick a favorite Van Gogh quote. I think this one has to be in my top five. Most art that is created is born out of some kind of love. Wether it be an emotional break up song, a painting of a lovely night, or a song expressing the way someone lights up your world; all of those things are born from love. And loving people is an art form, because it takes someone who is willing to open their heart up to show how they really feel.
4. WHEN IT COMES TO ART, IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO HIDE THE MADNESS- ATTICUS
I found this one not too long ago, and it really stuck with me. Art is messy, that’s for sure. It’s filled with trial and error and ink and paint stains everywhere. It can take practice to work out the kinks. And then the process itself can be a swirl of complete madness. You just go wherever your inspiration takes you. You might spend hours upon hours just to complete one drawing or finish that next chapter. It involves sleepless nights and loads of coffee. But from that madness comes the most amazing art. So it’s important to embrace it, because it’s needed to create amazing things.
5. WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND NOBODY NOTICED, DO NOT BE SAD. FOR THE SUN EVERY MORNING IS A BEAUTIFUL SPECTACLE, YET MOST OF THE AUDIENCE STILL SLEEPS- JOHN LENNON
I absolutely love this quote, because it really hit home for me. I struggle with the feeling that my art isn’t good enough if no one loves it. I think it is a common thing for all creative minds; if it isn’t noticed, it must not be great. Maybe we get into the mindset that if nobody really cares about what we are putting out there, why even do it at all? Because it is what we love and it is beautiful. Just like a beautiful sunrise, those who do rise and get to appreciate it are in awe of its beauty. So even if it seems as if no one is noticing, there is probably someone out there who is anxiously waiting for what you have to say. We make art because we love it, not for applause. That is a lesson I still struggle with applying, but this quote puts it in a beautifully simple way.
6. CREATIVITY IS ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MAKE MISTAKES. ART IS KNOWING WHICH ONES TO KEEP- SCOTT ADAMS
I love this quote, and love that it’s from the guy who created one of my favorite comics. Making mistakes is a huge part of the creative process. It’s how you improve, and it’s how you learn what works and what doesn’t. So when you learn what works, that’s what you keep. You keep your best work, the art you are most proud of, and you share it with the world.
7. TO INVENT YOUR OWN LIFE’S MEANING IS NOT EASY, BUT IS ALLOWED, AND I THINK YOU’LL BE HAPPIER FOR THE TROUBLE- BILL WATTERSON
Although this quote is not directly about creativity, I thought it still applied. This man is amazing and has many gems of wise words. Calvin And Hobbes is something very dear to my heart, and it itself offers a lot of wisdom. This quote emphasizes the importance of making your own choices. What you define as success and what you choose to do with your life is your choice. For you, your life’s purpose or meaning may not be climbing the typical ladder of success. But that is okay, because it is worth the while to figure out what matters most to you. He touched on this in further detail at his commencement address at Kenyon. You should definitely check it out- it is amazing and chock full of good stuff.
8. GO CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS. LIVE THE LIFE YOU HAVE IMAGINED- HENRY DAVID THOREAU
When I was first writing this post, I was shocked that I hadn’t included this quote, because it is one of my all time favorites. I love Henry David Thoreau, and the writing style of Walden is something I aspire to do. Sometimes we lose faith in reaching our goals. The end destination seems so far away, and we wonder if we are ever going to make it. But despite that struggle, we must keep going, and remember why we started. In order for us to live out our wildest dreams, we need to have faith that it will work out. To go confidently in that direction takes a lot courage, but it will be alright. Because if you do so, you can live the life you have imagined.
9. THE WAY TO GET STARTED IS TO QUIT TALKING AND START DOING- WALT DISNEY
Walt Disney has a lot of amazing quotes, so it wasn’t easy to narrow it down. I thought this one was great, because it is too true. With a lot of creative processes, the first step is almost always ideas. You can get so wrapped up in the idea stage, or talking about your big plans, that you forget the most important step: doing the work. I know this too well when it comes to writing; I love to talk about my ideas and where I see them going. But you can’t put those ideas into the world without doing some work.
10. WE DON’T MAKE MISTAKES, JUST HAPPY ACCIDENTS- BOB ROSS
Whenever I’m having a rough day, this quote helps me feel a bit better. Sometimes our roughest times and worse mistakes get the better of us. This quote reminds us of the importance of making those mistakes. Bob Ross was a master of turning the “mistakes” he made while painting into a beautiful masterpiece. So remembering that our mistakes are there to help us grow can help us move on, and then go on to make something beautiful from it.
So there you have it! These are some of my favorites, but I’d love to hear what yours are as well, so let me know in the comments. And as I mentioned before, if there is a specific area you would love for me to do some quotes on, let me know that as well! I love finding new and inspiring quotes, so if there is something specific you would like me to cover- maybe on fear, goal setting, or confidence to name a few- I would love to help!
Until next time 🙂
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