The beauty of being a creative person is that you can transform all your great impressions and observations into expressive artworks.
An artistic person is someone who regards the world around them as a means of creative expression. In contrast to an analytical personality, a creative mind possesses its own set of qualities and characteristics.
They are often sensitive, attentive, and curious individuals, encompassing various great qualities.
Read below to see if you identify with any of these qualities and which ones you can still discover within yourself:
10 Qualities of an artistic person
1. Aesthetic appreciation
A creative mindset basically says that you have the ability to transform your environment—people, nature, events—into something new. Inspiration often comes at moments you cannot predict through an interaction in your brain.
Often, you immediately have a complete image in your mind of what something should become. In a flash, you see all the details and their meaning. Some artists have more difficulty working out ideas, partly because they are great thinkers.
“The true value of art extends beyond what we see; it lies in its ability to strike an emotional chord and touch the soul.”
Being quickly captivated is a gift that makes you want to keep expanding your horizons, both in your personal life and in your creative process. In fact, a new idea always arises from things you have seen or experienced before. These experiences, for example, a visit to an ancient city, inspire you as a writer to incorporate elements from it into a thriller.
2. Attention to detail
Beauty is in the details that enhance the whole. This is not true of every genre, as certain ideas are meant to be simple.
Looking at paintings by Michelangelo makes us marvel every time at what is possible with art; it is the details in shading, color, and versatile elements that make these traditional works so good.
The attention to detail makes a difference between something ordinary and something extraordinary. In refinement and attention to the smallest things, the true craftsmanship that leaves nothing unseen is hidden.
“Details are the very source of expression in architecture. But we are caught in a vice between art and the bottom line.”
3. Sensitivity
Sensitivity is necessary to see the deeper layers in everyday things. As a sensitive artist you sense how someone feels and you are incredibly attuned to the “atmosphere” in a room.
All stimuli reach you on a deeper level, which can also have negative consequences. But, this sensitivity enables them to authentically express emotions and feelings in their creations. It results in the ability to touch and inspire others with their work, as they can convey deep, universal emotions.
To release yourself from this, your artistic expression will make you feel fulfilled and satisfied again.
So, most artistic persons possesses a high degree of sensitivity. They are receptive to emotions, moods, and subtler aspects of the human experience. They can be deeply moved by art, music, nature, and interactions with others.
As an artist, you have to learn skills like discipline, finding inspiration, and dealing with rejection. This can be challenging, but with perseverance, it is achievable. This is a major difference compared to the qualities and characteristics of most artists.
These qualities present the rich personality type that you can have and develop as a creative individual once you discover them.
4. Rich imagination
Having a rich imagination has allowed creatives like Walt Disney and J.R.R. Tolkien to leave behind a tremendous legacy. Inspiration is something that comes naturally and is intrinsic to their thought process. Deciding to transform it into a drawing, song, or book is up to the artist.
Creative people are often labeled as dreamy or quiet, while in their minds, a world of fantasy unfolds where they can be creative.
They have the capacity to dream, fantasize, and experiment, leading to unique and original creations. Imagination is limitless and fuels their artistic expression.
It provides the ability to create worlds that go beyond the boundaries of reality. Imagination allows you to:
- Generate new ideas and concepts
- Explore alternative perspectives
- Make unexpected combinations
Artists are born with talent, but not always >>
‘Ideas come from curiosity.’
5. Curiosity and open-mindedness
An important aspect of an artistic personality is their constant openness to new things and their study of them. The reason for this is almost always to find new perspectives on what you are doing as an artist.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is not something that is for everyone or enjoyable. Being open to trying new skills and failing at them is a strength. If you are creative, you won’t even find this failure very annoying, because half of creative expression consists of making choices that will be deleted afterwards.
6. Emotional intelligence
Intelligence is often understood in the form of a high IQ. Although an above-average IQ is often associated with great creativity, creatives are often emotionally developed as well.
The ability to transform your environment into creativity requires a high emotional frequency. Emotions such as joy, sadness, and melancholy are the inspiration for creative acts for many artists.
For some artists, there is no choice; a feeling must be incorporated into a piece of music or painting so they can process it. A feeling like fear or anger is as much a form of self-expression as enthusiasm.
Experiencing feelings faster also allows for more recognition in your environment; you have feelings for how others are feeling and are empathetic.
Emotional intelligence also means that memories are deeply rooted in a particular feeling.
7. Strong observational skills
Since sensitivity is already a significant characteristic of an artistic personality, a set of observational skills comes with it. These include:
- Visual perception
- Active listening
- Flexibility
- Objective assessment
- Interpersonal awareness
At a glance, you can already determine whether something appeals to you or not. You notice subtle details such as lighting, shadows, facial expressions, body language, and environmental sounds.
They have the ability to observe the world with a keen eye and ear, allowing them to offer unique perspectives and interpretations.
These observational skills enable them to capture the essence of a moment and reproduce it authentically in their creations.
8. Independence
In a world largely in survival mode, there is not much regard for the developing artist. In addition, a creative spirit requires a strong vision of one’s own, without outside influence.
The search for originality is not always easy, especially when an audience is only familiar with what they already know. An artist is therefore unconsciously forced to perform his craft in solitude.
Even when having great success, the need for independence is no less. The bigger an artist, the more outside interests there are; each has their own idea about the work that comes out.
‘I want to be able to do whatever I want. I’m going to be true to myself. I’m going to be independent.’
9. Problem-solving mindset
Creativity = a problem-solving mindset.
As an artistic person, you are more inclined to think in terms of possibilities in your creative expression. The sky is the limit because you are the master of your own work.
“Every problem has a solution. You just have to be creative enough to find it.”
A creative individual is capable of approaching challenges and obstacles in a creative and innovative way. In everyday life, thinking in terms of possibilities is seen as a valuable quality. It is often the artistic souls who possess this attribute and help others see things from a different perspective.
This mindset enables them to find new and innovative solutions, allowing them to effectively realize their artistic vision.
10. Authenticity and self-reflection:
An (experienced) artist will constantly be busy finding his or her own style, which sometimes comes naturally and gives the artist the choice to stick to it or break new ground.
Indeed, a large part of the creative process is not the “making” in itself but the evaluation of what has been made and whether it meets what you actually had in mind.
This quest can also lead to perfectionism, but it is meant to challenge your artistic identity and expand your horizons each time. After all, it is satisfying to know that you are delivering music, art, or stories that are original and give your audience something new.
It is good to ask yourself if you find it exciting to face your own work without having to make a big judgment about your own ability.
How can I challenge myself in this project?
Can I surpass myself with my next work?
An Analytic World Filled With Creative People
The world is driven by creativity; new developments in medicine and technology are born of thinking in terms of possibilities.
However, if Mazlov’s pyrimade is to be believed, basic needs come far before the need for creative expression. The drive to live off of music, art, or any other form of creative career is much more difficult than working in any other area.
Although platforms like Patreon and Youtube make it increasingly easy to make money as an artist, the majority leave it as a hobby.
In addition, almost every part of the creative sector—film, music, dancing, and animation—is extremely competitive to break into. This requires not only good skills but also networking and knowing the right people.
As difficult as it may seem, it is not impossible to make your passion your job.
The genius outcasts
Interestingly, these qualities were evident in many individuals we now consider geniuses.
People like Vincent van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, and Gustav Klimt were seen as absent-minded and dreamy individuals, greatly underestimated. Having their own artistic will and passion made these artists groundbreaking.
If you are dreamy and creative yourself, it is often because your thought world is rich in ideas and inspiration. This is not an obstacle to be rid of but a power to influence yourself and the world around you.
This definitely doesn’t mean that if you’re very extroverted or highly social, you’re not an artistic person.
It is often the case that the peculiar and eccentric individuals are the ones who write the most beautiful music and excel as geniuses in a particular art form.
Which Artistic Personality Do You Have?
It’s not difficult to determine if you have an artistic inclination. If you recognize yourself in any of these qualities mentioned above, that confirms you have a creative personality.
There are four personality types that most frequently occur among artists, but to be sure, this quick test will make it clear right away.
Final Thoughts
The qualities you can possess as an artistic person depend on your upbringing and personal development. You can be incredibly sensitive while finding it difficult to be independent and create without fear. Every artistic person is unique and will express their creativity in their own way.
