Over the Fence: From Rags to Riches was painted to convey the difficulty of overcoming barriers to success and financial security.
The drive to create is a defining quality of being human. From the time we are born, there is an impulse to bring into existence something that wasn’t there before. Scientific research indicates that exposure to natural environments stimulates curiosity and imagination, while psychology and neuroscience confirm that creativity is fueled by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. More than a survival tool, creation fulfills a profound human need: to explore, express, and shape the world around us. For many, the urge is so strong that it becomes inseparable from who they are.
I am one of those people. Talent has little to do with it. What matters is that the act of creating makes me feel alive. To put brush to canvas or words on a page elevates my spirit in a way I can hardly describe.
Theories about the purpose of art abound. Some scholars suggest that cave and rock paintings were meant as records for future generations. Yet as we leap forward in history to the Baroque period, we see art take on a different role: beauty for its own sake, an act that unites and uplifts. Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Rubens, and Rembrandt pushed boundaries, leaving works that shaped generations far beyond their own time.
The artist Raphael Soyer captured this impulse perfectly:
“If I don’t paint, I don’t feel well physically or mentally. But when I paint a full day, I feel satisfied and everything seems to be OK. I would never stop, never retire. I can’t see how people can retire; I can’t understand that.”
Soyer also described writing in the same way:
“When I do write – especially if I get something on its way to publication – I feel as if I have had the best possible physical workout, as if I have swum a couple of miles.”
Like Soyer, I feel fortunate to live with two outlets—painting and writing. They give me balance. No matter how turbulent the world may be, creativity offers me a path back to inner peace. That doesn’t mean I ignore the horrors around me. I protest injustices, and I speak out. However, art and writing allow me to replenish my strength, so I can continue fighting.
When my son was diagnosed with cancer, anger and grief overwhelmed me. Painting became my way through. I poured my frustration onto the canvas and emerged steadier, able to support him through the long year that followed. Today, I channel my fury about environmental destruction into writing. My words become a bridge for those less attuned to nature, helping them see what is at stake and why the earth must remain a clean, green, and livable planet.
Creativity is not the possession of a chosen few, and it’s not confined to art. It is found in cooking, sewing, gardening, repairing a broken object, or repurposing its use. It lives in everyone, waiting to be nurtured. If you don’t cast it aside, creativity can keep you hopeful, energized, and resilient. It allows us to leave the world just a little better than it was when we first arrived.
References
- Kaufman, S. B., & Gregoire, C. (2016). Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind.TarcherPerigee.
- Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). “The Standard Definition of Creativity.” Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92–96.
- Richards, R. (2007). Everyday Creativity and the Healthy Mind: Dynamic New Paths for Self and Society. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. Harper Perennial.
- Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.
- Kellert, S. R., & Wilson, E. O. (1993). The Biophilia Hypothesis. Island Press.
- Collins, D. (20210. A relentless Drive to Create. Creative Grimorire. Retrieved from https://www.creativegrimoire.com/the-grimoire/the-drive-to-create
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I look forward to your comments on my blog post. Whether through cooking, sewing, fixing cars, painting, photography, or writing, please share your creative outlet on my blog site.
Over the Fence: From Rags to Riches is a 21 x 25” framed acrylic painting on canvas. It is available for sale at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/1975474/over-the-fence-from-rags-to-riches#/
Questions? Contact me at
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Universal & Reflective
Creativity is more than talent—it’s an essential part of being human. From ancient cave paintings to modern art and writing, the urge to create helps us heal, connect, and find meaning in a turbulent world.
Personal & Emotional
For me, painting and writing are more than hobbies—they’re lifelines. The irresistible drive to create gives us resilience, renews our spirit, and reminds us that beauty can emerge even from pain.
Activating & Inspiring
We all carry a spark of creativity within us. By embracing it—whether through art, music, or words—we not only transform ourselves but also leave the world a little better than we found it.
What if the water your community depends on disappeared overnight? That question drove me to write The Water Factor. By turning a serious issue, the corporate takeover of water, into a story, I could explore it with intrigue, tension, and heart. I imagined a group of young activists taking water trucks from the company draining the local aquifer, fighting for the lifeblood of their town. To my surprise, the scenario wasn’t entirely imaginary: water trucks have been stolen across the U.S. Writing fiction allowed me to transform my fear into a warning, inviting readers to see how close reality can sometimes be to the stories we tell.
The book can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Ask your bookstore to order a copy from Ingram. Please leave a review.
