{"id":83,"date":"2015-03-26T14:00:06","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T14:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/normamegraphsen.wordpress.com\/?p=83"},"modified":"2025-12-31T13:50:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T20:50:22","slug":"art-is-creation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=83","title":{"rendered":"Art is Creation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pegasus<\/a><\/p>\n

As a senior in the fine art department at Brigham Young University\u2013Idaho, all students were required to take the dreaded Readings<\/em> class\u2014a 400-level art theory course involving two thick textbooks and centuries of philosophy.<\/p>\n

Art students have a reputation for being the \u201cnon-academic\u201d type, taking so-called mickey-mouse<\/em> courses. I can say with confidence that there were no such courses in the fine art department. There was no \u201cA for effort.\u201d Competition was stiff, expectations were high, and if you didn\u2019t put in the hours\u2014if you couldn\u2019t draw\u2014you didn\u2019t pass.<\/p>\n

Naturally, there were strong peer opinions about which professor to take this course from and which to avoid. Unfortunately, the only section that fit my schedule was the one everyone warned me against. Since it was required for graduation, I told myself I could handle a difficult course\u2014and that \u201cboring,\u201d like beauty, was in the eye of the beholder. I braced myself and enrolled.<\/p>\n

To my own surprise, I loved it.<\/p>\n

\n

Learning What Art Is (and Isn\u2019t)<\/h3>\n

Yes, the workload was heavy. Keeping up with dense readings\u2014Aristotle\u2019s theories on what is art<\/em>, among others\u2014was not light work. But the intellectual payoff was worth the effort. I found the discussions fascinating.<\/p>\n

The classroom itself was a long, narrow lecture hall. The professor jokingly referred to sections of seating by grade level. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard from the A students in the front,\u201d he\u2019d say. \u201cLet\u2019s hear from one of the C students toward the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was painfully obvious when someone hadn\u2019t done the reading, and I was determined not to be that student. I didn\u2019t sit in the front\u2014it hurt my neck to crane upward\u2014but I sat close enough to stay engaged. It quickly became clear that what I gained from the class depended entirely on what I put into it. Participation mattered. Preparation mattered.<\/p>\n

\n

Competing Philosophies of Art<\/h3>\n

Throughout the semester we explored many philosophies of art:
art as idea, art as process, art as expression, art as beauty, art as nature, and more. We encountered these ideas through the writings of artists, historians, and critics across centuries.<\/p>\n

I found myself agreeing with pieces of many philosophies, but I couldn\u2019t commit fully to any single one the way some artists did\u2014advocating fiercely for the ideology that defined their particular movement.<\/p>\n

So I began asking myself: What is art to me?<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Art as Creation<\/h3>\n

My answer didn\u2019t come from an artist or a critic, but from someone I believe to be a prophet of God. In an address to the women of the world<\/a>, Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke of the divine nature of creativity:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul\u2026 Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That idea resonated deeply with me<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jack Foster, in How to Get Ideas<\/em>, quotes James Webb Young (A Technique for Producing Ideas<\/em>):<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAn idea is nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Similarly, Jacob Bronowski, in his essay The Creative Mind<\/em>, bridges the philosophies of art as idea and art as creation when he writes:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWorks of art are explorations\u2026 of a hidden likeness [between two unlike elements]\u2026 This is the act of creation, in which an original thought is born.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Creation, then, is not ex nihilo\u2014it is discovery, synthesis, and transformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

The Shared Act of Creativity<\/h3>\n

One of the great joys of creating art is sharing it with others who appreciate it. Bronowski goes on to say:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis view of the creative act\u2026 gives a meaning to the act of appreciation. In the moment of appreciation we live again in the moment when the creator saw and held the hidden likeness\u2026 We do not merely nod over someone else\u2019s work. We re-enact the creative act… In that instant\u2014when the mind recognizes meaning\u2014the heart misses a beat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That moment of shared discovery is what makes art powerful. It is not passive consumption. It is participation.<\/p>\n

\n

If you\u2019d like to read more about how these ideas shape my work, you can find my Artist\u2019s Statement<\/strong> here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Pegasus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A reflection on art, creativity, and meaning\u2014how studying art theory shaped my belief that creation is a sacred and shared act.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","without-featured-image"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6v7yg-1l","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=7","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":0},"title":"What does “me graphsen” mean? On Making, Meaning, and Authorship","author":"normasue","date":"April 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"An exploration of the ancient Greek phrase me graphsen (\u201cwrote me\u201d), authorship in classical art, and how narrative, mythology, and making continue to shape my work as an artist and writer.","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/img_20150217_150900351.jpg?fit=676%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/img_20150217_150900351.jpg?fit=676%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/img_20150217_150900351.jpg?fit=676%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":532,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=532","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":1},"title":"Original Art at Home: Why It Matters and How to Begin","author":"normasue","date":"September 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Why original art elevates a home\u2014and how to make it accessible. Learn meaningful, affordable ways to collect or create original art.","rel":"","context":"In "Luxurious Living"","block_context":{"text":"Luxurious Living","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=21"},"img":{"alt_text":"Every Home Should Have Original Art","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150928_101029011.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150928_101029011.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150928_101029011.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150928_101029011.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150928_101029011.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":596,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=596","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":2},"title":"5 Reasons Every Home Should Have Original Art","author":"normasue","date":"November 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover five reasons original art belongs in every home\u2014from personal meaning and storytelling to how art elevates daily life and creates culture.","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"Every Home Should Have Original Art","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/20151116_112405_001.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/20151116_112405_001.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/20151116_112405_001.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/20151116_112405_001.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/20151116_112405_001.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":636,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=636","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":3},"title":"Creativity: Motherhood vs. Art","author":"normasue","date":"July 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A reflection on creativity, art, and motherhood\u2014and why two of the most powerful creative callings are too often undervalued.","rel":"","context":"In "Creativity"","block_context":{"text":"Creativity","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=40"},"img":{"alt_text":"Watercolor Painting","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/unicorns.jpg?fit=1200%2C820&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/unicorns.jpg?fit=1200%2C820&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/unicorns.jpg?fit=1200%2C820&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/unicorns.jpg?fit=1200%2C820&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/unicorns.jpg?fit=1200%2C820&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":220,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=220","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":4},"title":"Plan C: Make Lemonade","author":"normasue","date":"October 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"A personal reflection on creativity, loss, and finding purpose when life doesn\u2019t follow the plan\u2014and how writing became my unexpected Plan C.","rel":"","context":"In "Creativity"","block_context":{"text":"Creativity","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=40"},"img":{"alt_text":"Creativity: a contingency","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_20151019_164554149-01-2.jpeg?fit=873%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_20151019_164554149-01-2.jpeg?fit=873%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_20151019_164554149-01-2.jpeg?fit=873%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_20151019_164554149-01-2.jpeg?fit=873%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=31","url_meta":{"origin":83,"position":5},"title":"City on a Hill","author":"normasue","date":"April 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"A reflection on faith, creativity, and visibility\u2014why artistic expression, mythology, and Christian belief are not opposed, but deeply connected.","rel":"","context":"In "Personal Muse-ings"","block_context":{"text":"Personal Muse-ings","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?cat=6"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/acropolis-day.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/acropolis-day.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/acropolis-day.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/acropolis-day.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/pegasus-on-the-beach.jpg?fit=451%2C313&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2023,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83\/revisions\/2023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}