What is creativity? Is it something we can measure? A trait that can be nourished? Or an odd convergence of abilities in someone's brain? A genetic mixture of traits that we inherit or a combination of a lot of influences? One question that always comes up in discussions of how one happened to become an artist is. " Have you always had talent?" Of course I can only assume what is meant by "talent". The ability to draw is often what people who haven't been trained mean. But to an artist, talent is the ability to be able to see and express yourself differently than other people. To be unique; to have a vision; to have an inner drive or need to express yourself whether anyone cares or not. Usually this need is also combined with another ability like rhythm, sensitivity to colors, dexterity or coordination/ What causes this drive to express oneself? Ask any artist and they will describe this drive almost like a hunger that needs fulfilling.

As a visual artist, I think that the process of creating establishes a zone, like the act of meditation changes your brain waves into a rhythm that is pleasing and fulfilling. When sitting at a drawing board or easel and working on a piece of art I can feel myself slip into an altered state that is as necessary to my sense of well-being (and as satisfying) as athletes describe as being in the zone. As I got more and more experienced as an artist, I could create that feeling in my brain almost at will. I often wondered if I was consciously altering my brain-waves? I find that when I go through a period of not doing art, I begin to feel flat and two-dimensional. Is this a learned need or a genetic need?