Art vs. Craft: Understanding the Difference Helps us Understand Our Creativity

Photo on Visualhunt.com

I wondered down the steps of a bookstore in Boulder. I knew I really didn’t “need” a new book, but my obsession was calling. My husband was there which meant I couldn’t truly have any fun. I knew I needed to make it quick. We ended up in the spiritual/mystical section by accident. It was like something led us there. It was that one spot of the store where we could be alone and browse. I kind of glanced down and saw some words that intrigued me, “Freeing the Writer Within”. The words were fitting for the journey we were on. My husband and I were looking for freedom to live our new lives and I had been desperately searching for experiences, knowledge, and the understanding that it takes to open up hidden artistic expressions inside yourself and truly let go. I bought the book and found my artistic bible.

“I thought that writing practice, the foundation for the teachings laid out in Writing Down the Bones, might help me write lyrics for songs. Instead, writing practice became a sustaining means to its own end, and the book became my guide for living.”

Bill Addison

Art vs. Craft

We live in a results driven world. For those of us who are natural planners and results driven people we live to obtain a result. Most of us have to plan and achieve a result at work so we have some skill in planning. Some people are driven to achieve and make continuous plans. Others kind of live by the moment. They don’t think too much ahead and are kind of happy letting the day unfold on its own. They don’t get too excited about stuff at home and don’t live as if they are on a consistent time crunch. Overachievers and planners think everyone else looks lazy and the relaxed think planners are crazy.

In 1938 author R.G. Collingwood, released The Principles of Art, a book written to provide a practical bearing upon the current condition of art in England in 1937, and provide artists with clarity on the difference between art proper and other aesthetic theories of the day. In this book Collingwood starts by clarifying the difference between art and craft. A difference that I think is helpful to understand in our results driven world and that can help us understand how we are creating. Understanding our creative…