Imagination and Creativity

What type of artist are you? Some artists can draw anything from their imagination. Others are visual artist; if they can see it they can draw it. Is imagination and creativity the same thing? Personally, I think they are related, but not necessarily the same thing.

Imagination is your minds ability to visualize concepts while creativity takes those concepts and produces artistic work. Creativity and imagination go together to help you be a more rounded artist.
At times, depending on the subject, I am able to draw basic doodles from imagination. However when to comes to more complete projects I am a visual artist and rely on references. Is it possible to practice and learn enough to become a strictly imaginative artist? It's hard to say. While there are  talented people who can draw merely from the images in their mind, they are the exception and not the norm. Most art schools are designed as visual centres of learning with a high emphasis on live and observational drawing courses. You can however become a creative genius in time.

Constant practice from observation will hone your skills as an artist. I once knew a man who had studied Kung Fu for many years. Eventually after years of practice his body had developed Muscle Memory so that the movements had become second nature. His muscles knew instinctively what to do with thinking about it. Drawing is very similar. You'll find yourself at times with finger, hand and arm aches from drawing so much. Your fingers may even become numb. That constant practice and specific pencil motion with your arm, hand and fingers will become second nature. For example if you set yourself the task of drawing the same face a thousand times, take a look at your first drawing compared to your last. The last one will obviously be better. Why? Because with each drawing you were developing the necessary muscle co-ordination to draw the next drawing better and better and better.

Regardless of the type of artist you are, drawing is a lifetime pursuit filled with with new obstacles to overcome.