I did a painting of a boot this morning. More specifically, I did a painting of a boot about to squash a ladybug.
Coinciding with this is a discussion about creativity on a mailing list. The same person that I complained about, the one who had the audacity to tell me what I need to do with my creativity, insinuated that another individual was "boring" and "afraid". Why? Because she preferred art of substance and refused to do art for others, just for herself. I rushed to her defense, as did one other person.
What makes a person try to tell another person of the merits of their personal style of creativity? The man who does this, in my opinion, lacks talent. But I realize how subjective that is and would never dare presume on his potential as an artist or the caliber of his creativity.
His persistent need to tell others that their style is wrong is suspect, however. The need to always do this reveals an inherent insecurity in his own work. Logically critiquing something resembles a love for art. But an unconstructive "your values and ideals about your art are completely wrong" indicates the need to simply feel better about oneself at all costs.
Telling someone that a certain color would go better or suggest a little trick to help master a technique is constructive. To say "you're boring because you don't do it my way" is just a feeble attempt at projection.
I dont feel that people are born artists. I don't think the first time you pick up a pencil, or sculpt clay, or dip a brush in paint, you are automatically brilliant. Those that say so either had it pushed on them at such an early age they were forced into mastery, or prefer some cloud of elitism to feed the ego.
People are born artists only in the sense that it's an overriding passion to do their art, and they would not be happy (and sometimes even sane) if they didn't create. But as far as technical mastery, how many people do you really know who can comprehend negative space or perspective without it being explained to them, or at least practicing a few times? The skill comes through repetition, from doing it constantly.
The inspiration comes from the mind, and is something close to religion. It comes from developing the mind, being in touch with ideas, and learning techniques to bring them out.
What defines creativity is that it arises from the individual and is highly personal. This means our limitations are personal, our struggles are personal, our voice is personal. You can no more tell a person that their style of creativity is wrong than you can tell a person that their religion is wrong. Some people are going to do that, but it's a very ugly quality and it reveals more about the accuser than it does about the accused.
Sometimes, an artist does stuff on command to pay the bills for their "real" projects. The extent to which you are willing to do this is up to the individual. Most artists don't make a living at the stuff close to their heart. Some get jobs as teachers, others as curators for art museums, photographers for weddings, graphic designers or doing illustrations for medical texts. Some artists decide to wait tables their whole lives or drive a cab. Where the line is, and what is most palpatable, is a truly individual course. A friend of mine that owned a gallery once told me "I got a lot out of going to art school. But if you go, and find it stifling, then by all means you should get out." Anyone with a love of art can understand that when something interferes with your art, you need to get away from it.
If you can be a commercial artist, and it pays your bills, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, is it creative to replicate on command? Is that art? Or is it more of an elaborate logic puzzle? That's the question.
The only answer is that creativity comes from within. If you do something for money that you would never do for fun, then it ceases to be your art and becomes your job. If that job lets you have fun, then by all means go for it.
But don't ever let the necessity replace the passion, because really that's when creativity is dead.