What does creative mean? Is all art creative?

I wrote a blog post about being compelled to create. I think everyone has the capacity to be creative in some way or another but for some, like myself, it's comes naturally and is very significant to my wellbeing. It could actually be detrimental to my wellbeing if I had to create for others for commerical purposes with deadlines etc.

The painting below was some years ago. It was my take using a reference photo as a guide (even though my version looks completely different). It was with some lessons with a professional artist, who did not force her style onto any of the students. We could chose what we wanted to paint and our own styles were encouraged. We were also learning skills such as various techniques.

I finished the painting off at home. The boat with the little people was completely improvised to cover the 'dog poop rocks'. The professional artist replied with 'we've all had dog poop rocks.' The fern motif was improvised as well. Improvising is definitely creative problem-solving.​ Someone adopted that painting but I paint quite differently now, further developing my own style with experimentation.

Summer Romance by Xanthe Wyse

Definition of creative

'Creative' is both an adjective and a noun. I'll give some dictionary definitions and a few examples of what I think is creative and what is not.

Here are some dictionary definitions:
adjective: producing or using original ideas
noun: a person whose job is to suggest new ideas or design, draw or write things
Cambridge dictionary 

adjective: a creative person has the ability to invent and develop new ideas, especially in the arts
noun: a person whose job is to be creative
Collins dictionary

What is Creativity?

Dictionary definition:
noun: the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new and imaginative
Cambridge dictionary

Unverified quotes:
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein
"Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognise ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others." Robert E Frankin

am I a creative?

I am most definitely a creative (adjective) person. However, I am not a creative (noun) as per the dictionary definitions for a 'job'. My creative efforts are more a passionate hobby than a 'job' (job usually means set paid employment). I would not want to work as a creative (eg a graphic designer in advertising) as a job, as this kind of work is very prone to burnout, constantly needing to use creative skills for others.

The main ways I am creative are through my creative writing and visual arts (improvised original paintings are my favourite). I am also creative when I paint rocks, improvise when cooking, solve any issues, including with my part-time job. My job has a low need for creativity.

I am also creative when I improvise a piece of music.

Others recognise me as being creative. I am actually proud of this trait (which unforunately is linked to significant mental health issues).

Is art or music always creative?

Now, this might ruffle a few feathers, but I would say no.

The creative part is when someone makes an original artwork or original piece of music or an original piece of creative writing.

Copying a photo to try look exactly like a photo or playing a piece of music to mimic the original composer is technical and reproduction skills, not creativity. If it's not significantly altered to make ones own, then it's more mimicry and very low in creativity. It can be a learned skill, which some can learn more easily than others. Drawing and learning to play an instrument can actually be low in creativity but learning skills. It depends on whether someone is putting their own version into it or not, on how much creativity there is.

Also, artificial intelligence 'art' is not art, in my opinion. It's merely generated pixels. I would say there was creativity involved in the developing the computer programs. Although, that could also be more technical skills.

I saw some definitions of creativity that said that the ideas or products created needed to be valuable. Well, that's all subjective and I think if it has value to the person creating it, that is value enough. If others enjoy what is created, then that is a bonus. Also art doesn't need to be 'beautiful' or 'pretty' to have value and to be appreciated.
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is a content creator always creative?

'Content creator' is a term I've seen a lot on social media. It mainly seems to apply to digital content for educational and entertainment purposes. Could also apply to a blog or vlog. Some become 'influencers' (more a popularity contest with aim of making money for some).

I would say, it depends. In most cases, I would say that a lot of 'content creators' are just regurgitating what others have said (nothing new or original about it). Also, I don't personally see anything particularly creative about slapping on filters. 

So, mostly low creativity in most cases, with 'content creation.' More so, if someone uses their original art, original photography and makes their own original material (but even then, I don't see it as necessarily creative, more productive).

I improvised all my videos, without scripts. So, in a way, that is creative but not in the ways I liked to be.

It feels creative in a small way to pair a nature or art progress video I have taken myself with some music. 

My blogs are original content, more stream of consciousness style. However, I would say not very creative compared to my books, which I write in a completely different style, for storytelling.