5 Advantages of Creativity to an Artist

Albert Einstein quipped that "imagination is more important than knowledge". It now dawned on whoever cared to listen that this power of imagination is similar to creativity. The purpose of this article is not to enlighten you on why imagination is more important than knowledge, neither is it to tell you how to be creative or harness creativity.
            This write-up focuses the lens on artists who are creative and on the would-be-creative artists. Creativity is a pre-requisite or requirement of every visual artist. Do you know why? It is because artists are supposed to be ideators. They're meant to be creators and originators of unique ideas and elements. In so doing, artists are second creators beside God. This is not to equal mere artists' creativity to the divine and supernatural creative power of God.
             Artists who are creative usually invents and re-creates things that are not in nature, as well as those that are in nature. What this imply is either invention or innovation.
             Without mincing words, below are the advantages of creativity to an artist:-

1. IT ADDS VALUE TO EVERYTHING: Wouldn't you enjoy a limitless reservoir of ideas that you could draw upon at any time? That is what creativity gives you. For that reason, no matter what you're currently able to do, creativity can increase your capabilities. Creativity is being able to see what everybody else has seen and think what nobody else has thought so that you can do what nobody else has done.

2. IT INCREASES ONE'S CREATIVE ABILITY: Creativity builds on itself and increases the creativity of the thinker. Poet Maya Angelou observed, "you can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have".

3. CREATIVITY DRAWS PEOPLE TO YOU AND YOUR IDEAS: Creativity is intelligence having fun. People admire intelligence, and they are always attracted to fun. If anyone could be said to have fun with his intelligence, it was Leonardo Da Vinci. The diversity of his ideas and expertise staggers the mind. He was a painter, sculptor, anatomist, musician, inventor and engineer. The term Renaissance man was coined because of him. Just as people were drawn to Da Vinci and his ideas during the renaissance, they are drawn to creative people today.

4. CREATIVITY HELPS YOU LEARN MORE: Being creative is being able to see or imagine a great deal of opportunity to life's problems. Creativity is having options. It almost seems too obvious to say, but if you're always actively seeking new ideas, you will learn. Creativity is teachability. It is seeing more solutions than problems. The greater the quantity of thoughts, the greater the chance for learning something new.

5. IT CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO: If you desire to improve your world_ or even your own situation, then creativity will help you. The status quo and creativity are incompatible. Creativity and innovation always walk hand in hand.

                Other advantages of creativity to an artist are:-

• Become a better problem solver.
• Save money.
• Expanded sense of time.
• Self awareness and expression.
• Freedom.
• Stress Relief. etc.

What other advantages of creativity to an artist do you know? feel free to share it in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!

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5 Reasons why Plagiaristic Artists are No Artist

When you see another person or individual copy or use your original idea or innovation as their own, that is not pleasant., is it? The world is filled with people of various areas of human endeavour who got their foots in the door simply through imitation! They copy the works and style of others who came before them, or is more outstanding than they are., and use that as foundation or base for their success.
          However, in the world of arts, especially the fine arts, lifting or copying the works of other artists is a serious matter that have led to most artists being unable to develop individual style or identity. In case you do not know what the word 'plagiarism' means, I'll save you the time for going to check your dictionary by defining it right here.
          Plagiarism is the "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" and the representation of them as one's own original work. You have seen it now., plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethics. Before I move ahead to state the reasons why plagiaristic artists are no real artists, which is the title of this write-up, allow me to quote the word of legendary artist Pablo Picasso., "Good artists copy while great artists steal". If you don't understand this statement, then let me narrow it down by explaining in brief the last three words. The last three words explain that a great artist uses the idea, theme, style or subject of another artist to create or formulate his own work and idea. This is why it is called "stealing", not direct "copying" which is plagiarism.
          Below are reasons why plagiaristic artists are not considered real artists:-

> Plagiaristic artists mostly copy or lift the works of others.
> They produce knock-off works.
> They don't use their creativity., or most of the time lacks creative imagination.
> They are usually bereft of ideas that make an original artist, so they end up not having an identity.
> Most plagiaristic artists only take art or practice art as fun. As a result, they don't have need to develop originality or technical skill.
          These are the reasons why plagiaristic artists don't fall into the category of "real artists". For the real artists out there, i'll add that plagiarism is not in itself a crime, but can constitute copyright infringement. In academia and industry, it is a serious ethical offense.
          So, which other reasons do you know? Share it by putting it down into the comment section below, your inputs is welcomed.

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Perceiving the power and energy in African Rhythm.

'African Rhythm'
by Onwe Kingsley Ndubuisi

Music is indeed the food of the soul. Nobody who has perceptual ability for sweet sounds, either natural or mechanical couldn't help grooving or nodding to the melody. That was why musicians invented instrumentals to produce musical vibrations and rhythms. Do you know what resulted? The result was that pop, reggae, jazz, hip-hop and every other music genres got invented. Well, have you ever attended an African music festival or listened to an African instrumental music? If you think that this article is about modern music like pop, Jazz and even disco, you better find your way back to the title of this page. I was asking if you have ever attended African music festival or maybe listened to an African instrumentals. If you have done so, you must have noticed that nothing electronical accompanies their music. No kidding here buddy., we're talking pure African instrumentals. Now back to our discussion... We were saying that nothing electronic accompanies their play (right?), not even an electronic instrumental is used (good). It is like listening to the 'Ogene', a metal gong used in Igbo part of Nigeria, or the 'Gwari kaburu' from Hausa, or maybe the 'Bachama' flute from Gongola . Now that is what i'm talking about_ pure instrumentals. Non-electronical instrumentals when combined, produces different rhythms that are melodious., just as every good music is sweet to the ears. This my painting you can see which is titled 'Tuturu-Gegem-Tumange' is expressing the power and energy in African rhythm. Come to think of it., the word 'Tuturu-Gegem-Tumange' sound like some language (right?), well, it is not a language. Am just kidding. The word is used to mirror the sounds of the musical instruments in the painting! The instrument on the left is called 'Igba' in Igbo language, while that on the right is 'Oja' , again in Igbo language. The 'Igba' is produced from animal hide or skin which is treated, and tightly stretched on a hollowed wood or metal, the 'Oja' is a flute made from wood. But some can be produced using metal. Now from the sounds made by these instruments, I picked the title of this painting. Let's look at the words and the instrument it came from:- >TUTURU- The 'Oja'. >GEGEM-   'Igba'. >TUMANGE- 'Igba'.           The 'Tumange' word is a combination of two sounds., 'Tu' is from the 'Oja', while 'Mange' is from the 'Igba' (drum).            Furthermore, an observation of the painting shows rhythmic flow and connection of the background design. This is to express the power and energy in African rhythm.            Finally, thank you for reading this article! I encourage you to SHARE it if it pleases you. Thank you once more. You can FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @ www.twitter.com/kingsndubuisi LIKE my FACEBOOK ART PAGE:        www.facebook.com/RealityXpression

Review of 'The Narrow Escape' Painting (A Non-fictional true life story)

It was 3.20pm that fateful day. I was returning from 'No way Out' where I went to watch John Cena Vs Great Khali. When I reached the 'Death Valley', I saw pandemonium. People were shouting, running helter skelter and with their hands on their heads. Chikena, their slippers were flying in the air and their heels was touching the back of their heads. Wetin katakata be this?? One obgeni said Na Boko haram o, another Madagascar dey say na armed robbers.

When I don come walk only 200 feets, i ran into the trap. Wahala dey o! quickly quickly, i dived for bush like Arnold schwarzzenegger. Unknown to me, the part where i dived to has got a slope., so down i go Zzzzzzzhzzzh like jangle over. When i finally landed, i climbed back way to the top, peeped unto the street and thanked God for saving me from their bullets or even bombs. I dusted myself, put hands for pocket and discovered that the luv letter i want to send to a prospective girlfriend in china has disappeared! LOL, it is just a joke!!

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WHY IT IS FROM AFRICA_ THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PAINTING

Africa though, a black continent., is the second largest continent after Asia.

Africa as a continent is known for its rich and diverse cultural and traditional heritages. These heritages serves to express the people's beliefs, customs and traditions. The usual outlets for the dissemination or expression were through arts, music and worships.

'Why it is From Africa' beam the searchlight on the painting above titled 'FROM AFRICA'., in the light of Nigerian culture nay Africa.

The two dark motifs on the left originates from the Igbo traditional decorative motifs., and they are called "Isi-Oji" and "Okala Isi-Oji" respectively. These motifs are gotten from the kolanut, which is a sacred fruit traditional among the three dominant ethnic groups in Nigeria_ Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. This kolanut fruit is for welcoming visitors as well as in carrying out rituals according to customs.

The calabashes with its own decorative patterns are mostly used by the Fulani people of the north for milking, eating and herb preparation. Calabashes are generally used in Africa.

The background colours stand for the Rich and Beautiful  African landscapes so much blessed by God., together with abundant natural resources.

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Landscape Study: Peace and Unity

Whenever the word "landscape" is used

in painting, two things comes to mind., an aspect of nature and things on land. In painting, the term landscape denotes work representing non-living things in the environment especially houses, mountains, hills, trees and so on, which are skilfully arranged in order of perspective (that is bearing distance in mind). Most of the time, landscape painting and nature painting are used interchangeably to mean the same thing., but they do not mean the same thing., although they are closely related.
PEACE AND UNITY is an oil on canvas work depicting and expressing unity, love and peace, irrespective of one's tribe or nationality. The piece has rich colours that complemented each other, presenting the eyes with delightful natural-looking strokes that I achieved through close observation of nature and realism. This is not to say the work was copied from nature., it is clearly one of my African piece.
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7 ways to make your Oil Painting on Non-absorbent Canvas Permanent

When it comes to using canvas as your support for an oil painting, what is usually borne in mind is to achieve an excellent and permanent art piece that can last for an adequate period of time. However, canvas of various textures, weight and types are utilized. While some of these canvasses are primed, some are not., and while some are absorbent (suitable for a permanent finishing) others are non-absorbent.
In consideration of all the above qualities, painters no doubt choses canvas that aids the free and smooth flow of the oil paints, absorbs the paint and ultimately dries to achieve a permanent piece e.t.c more than any other type of canvases.
Non-absorbent canvas is largely unsuitable and unprefered in oil painting., reason being that they are usually heavy or thick, doesn't absorb paints and it disposes paints to rub-offs. But I want to convince oil painters that Non-absorbent canvases can be made use of, albeit certain steps are to be taken to make your work permanent and rub-proof.
Below are the steps I took to achieve this:-
1. Frame your canvas before use.
2. Begin your painting process, but ensure that your oil paint is thoroughly thinned down using linseed oil or any other thinners. e.g. kerosene.
3. After the painting process, place in the sun to evaporate and dry off. This will leave the work powder-textured when felt or touched, but willn't blow away.
4. Using Glue or adhesives that becomes transparent when dry, apply first coating over the piece.
5. After the first coating, place in the sun to dry.
6. When dried, apply a second coating., and leave to dry.
7. Congrat! your work is now rub-proof and permanent. You can now make use of all your Non-absorbent canvases, enjoy yourself.
N.B: Your coatings must be light. Do remove brush hairs that are detached during the coatings as attempt to remove them when the glue has dried will cause peeling off of that area.
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